Results 7,601-7,620 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy knows that well.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: It kept the Deputy entertained. It is time he came up with a point with a bit of substance.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The public is being worn down by the same old talk. What is Deputy Boyle going to do?

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The first thing that would happen is that there would be a split among the Green Party, Fine Gael and the Labour Party because their policies are so disparate. It would be impossible for them to work together.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: That is old hat. The Deputy should be a little more original and witty.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The principal reason for taking this approach is to ensure continuity. One must also consider the knowledge the appointee possesses. It is not easy, and may not be easy in future, to recruit someone to a short-term contract. We may have to offer a substantive contract to attract the necessary person with the requisite qualifications and standing to do the job. We have opted for an interim...

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 8: In page 15, to delete lines 1 to 5 and substitute the following: "(1) The Minister— (a) shall designate his or her officers recruited specifically for transfer to the Commission, and (b) may designate such and so many of his or her officers who are Railway Inspecting Officers,".

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Deputy for this amendment. Obviously, I can accept it.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 10: In page 20, line 46, to delete "21,". This is a technical amendment to correct a drafting error caused by the deletion on Committee Stage of sections 19 and 21 from the Bill as initiated.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 11: In page 21, line 12, to delete "2004" and substitute "2007". Section 26 enables the Railway Safety Commission to impose an annual levy on railway undertakings to recoup some or all of the cost of its regulation of railway safety. Section 26(2) of the Bill, as amended, on Committee Stage states this levy may not be imposed before 31 December 2004. The purpose of this...

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 12: In page 22, line 21, after "Oireachtas" to insert the following: "within 3 months of its receipt by him or her". On Committee Stage Deputy Naughten, in his amendments Nos. 14 and 17, made some suggestions on the annual report of the commission. I thank him for those useful suggestions. I am proposing amendments Nos. 12 to 14, inclusive, in response to the issues...

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: Yes, the Deputy is correct.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I was over there for many years.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I appreciate and understand the sentiments expressed by the Deputy but it is clearly established practice that the Minister is responsible and answerable in this House for policy. In terms of the commission and other matters, it is the relevant Oireachtas committee to which the commission is answerable. I have no mandate to change this procedure in terms of the way in which the Houses operate...

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am fully accountable to the House for policy in respect of this body.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have taken on board many of the proposals made by Deputies Naughten and Shortall previously but I am not in a position to change procedures unilaterally. I am fully answerable for anything I have ever done in the House and this has always been my experience. I know there are issues that lead to frustration for Deputies. I have also been frustrated when trying to deal with day-to-day issues....

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I do not wish to be disingenuous, but I am not in a position to go any further on this.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am. I have made the point that I am fully accountable.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Houses of the Oireachtas, for which I have the greatest respect, has a role also. We do not want the same role to be performed here and at an Oireachtas committee.

Railway Safety Bill 2001: Report Stage. (5 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I do not accept that any of my colleagues or I are not held to account for anything for which we have responsibility. We are sometimes held to account for matters for which we do not have responsibility, but that is another argument. The Railway Safety Commission is being set up on the same basis as all other agencies under my aegis, for which I am fully responsible. I have set out in section...