Results 6,821-6,840 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: ——which was the consistent hallmark of Fine Gael and Labour in government.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: If one goes back to the speeches of pre-1973 and pre-1983 and the last Fine Gael and Labour Governments, to the last time they were in government——

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: ——and compares them to what they say today, absolutely nothing has changed. It is remarkable.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: The earlier speeches could be transposed to today. The language and philosophy are the same.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: Their problem is a consistent one. They promise everything and can deliver absolutely nothing because their promises are, as usual, utterly unrealistic.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: That characterises Fine Gael and Labour in government.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: The difference on the next occasion — if they ever get there, which I doubt — will be that they will have to throw the Greens into the mix and maybe Sinn Féin and the Independents who have utterly contradictory policies in all areas.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: Not alone would we have two parties looking in different directions but the possibility of at least three or even a combination of four.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is easy to predict what would happen to Ireland if these people were successful in returning to power.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: The consequence of decades of under-investment in our transport infrastructure is indisputable. It is clear that the Government has put in place the largest and most sustained programme of infrastructural investment in our history.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is almost impossible to travel a significant distance——

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: ——without coming across a major project that is under way. Increasingly, it is also impossible to travel a significant distance without benefiting from a major project which has been completed on budget and ahead of schedule.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: If the Deputies feel that way about it, they might tell Fine Gael mayors, cathaoirligh and councillors throughout the country not to knock me down when they want to get into photographs. Every week, I travel the country to show pride in the developments.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: While the Deputies' local colleagues understand what is going on and are capable of seeing the benefits, obviously the colleagues in Dáil Éireann have a different view.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is typical of the two-faced look of Fine Gael every time it tries to put a policy forward. While the progress to date is real, it reinforces rather than questions the need for further sustained action to be underpinned by a clear vision of our objectives. The importance of transport to the economy cannot be underestimated. The National Competitiveness Council has consistently highlighted...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: If it was down to Fine Gael, there would be no public transport. If one looks at that party's record of investment, there would be nothing, the country would be at a standstill.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: However, the figures indicate that their plan was to keep high levels of unemployment so that fewer people would try to go to work in those days. They yearn for the days when they could pretend to represent people in this country and promise to do things for them.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: The consistent experience of Irish people over three decades of Fine Gael in office with the Labour Party has been of abysmal results.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: Challenges remain and our population is growing. As we become more prosperous, the number of two car households is increasing. Lifestyles are also changing. Decisions on changing jobs or houses are major ones which affect family life. House prices and not wishing to interrupt children's education impact on the way we live. This in turn impacts on transport infrastructure. These are the...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 is our integrated and focused costed response to that opportunity.