Results 26,701-26,720 of 26,792 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: -----when one considers the real issues in the health service. Will the Leader bring the Minister for Health to the House for statements on the issues Members and those outside the House want to discuss, namely the real issues affecting the health service?

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: I am leaning towards supporting the amendment. We all accept there is a need for reform in this area but Senator O'Donovan hit the nail on the head when he spoke about the need for this State to support entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs take a risk and often when they take a risk it can be positive for this State because they set up businesses, create jobs, pay taxes and we all benefit....

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: I agree with everything the Minister said in respect of those who live lavish lifestyles on the backs of their businesses and put their businesses in jeopardy. I still think it is possible to separate the reckless from the unfortunate and to do so within the three-year timeframe. I support the amendment on that basis. I asked how a person is to be released from bankruptcy. I do not see any...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: I share Senator Quinn's concerns. I welcome the Minister back to the House. I also welcome the fact that legal aid is being extended to victims of trafficking but, like Senator Quinn, I am concerned about the extent of that legal aid. Is it only legal advice that is being made available? Is it only available for matters connected with the commission of the offence or any other offence...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: Just a quick question to ask the Minister to tease out for me what exactly this section provides for. This is a brief section and as far as I understand, it seems to provide for the contracting out of inspections. I am concerned by that because the inspection regime was introduced to deal with some unsavoury incidents. I would be concerned by a contracting out of the sector. We could take...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: Does the Minister agree it is an area where unsuitable staff working in the sector could have dire consequences? I have had to deal with a number of people who were victims of security staff who worked, for example, for night clubs or bars. It is an area in which we must ensure there is proper enforcement. I welcome the Minister's response, but I hope the system and the guidelines under...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

David Cullinane: I support the previous speaker. I have called for the preparation and publication of a code of practice for many years. I welcome the Minister's commitment. It is one of the good aspects of this Bill. It is also important to encourage those who work in the drinks industry to take a lead and, through the joint policing committees, there is an opportunity for this to happen. The Garda...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I thank the Senators for their expressions of best wishes on the birth of baby boy, Finn. It is purely coincidental that it rhythms with Sinn. I thank my wife, Kathleen, who did the heavy lifting. At 9 lb. 1 oz., he was a big baby. Senator Bacik spoke earlier about men in the workplace. I was informed by the Leader of the House that there is no paternity leave for Senators.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: That is something that needs to be addressed in the Oireachtas generally, the Dáil and the Seanad. If we are to have a discussion about men and women in the workplace, this workplace should form part of that as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I thank Senators for their expressions of best wishes. As the House will be aware, there are many bad news stories brought into this Chamber. However, there is a good news story as I am sure the Leader of House will agree, coming from Waterford, namely, that the tall ships event will take place tomorrow. It is being formally launched by the Taoiseach. It will be a spectacular event where,...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Both the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister should be invited; it is a joint office.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I support the amendment. I support the establishment of this Department but the concern I have about the Bill is whether we will see genuine root and branch reform of the public service and public spending. On the amendment, I would question the autonomy in real terms of the Minister's position in the Department because the Department and its...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Senator Barrett asked earlier if this is really a new Department which will bring about the type of reforms we all want or if it is but an extension of the Department of Finance. I mentioned earlier that approximately two-thirds of staff in this Department will be staff moving over from the Department of Finance. The Secretary-General of the new Department has worked in the Department of...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: We support the establishment of the Department. That is different.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: They are being reintroduced.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I am not sure what I can say about public sector reform in two minutes. I welcome the Minister to the House. My party would have shared a broad view with the Labour Party, at least before the election, about the need to ensure that public sector reform was about meeting the needs of citizens. That is the ultimate benchmark in terms of what we need to do in terms of achieving savings. We...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: It is part of public spending reform. The Minister should look at the recruitment embargo which is in place across the public sector. For example, recently I spoke to staff in Waterford Regional Hospital where, because of a shortage of nurses and doctors, it is recruiting staff through agencies and paying premium rates, and that is impacting on its budgets. Even the recruitment embargo is...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Go raibh maith agat.

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Like the previous speaker, I will be laying down roots of my own in Kilkenny shortly as my wife is in Kilkenny General Hospital expecting our second child.

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: We will see about that. I want to put my remarks into context. I cannot agree with previous speakers who stated that this jobs initiative amounts to ambition on behalf of the Government. It has been said on numerous occasions that this initiative is revenue neutral but I believe it is jobs neutral as well. I fail to see where the real jobs will come from and in that regard the context has...