Results 16,701-16,720 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 Report: Motion (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: When I moved the Bill, I noted that I was not perfect. It might be a surprise to the Ceann Comhairle that I have imperfections. I also acknowledged that the Bill was not perfect. Any Bill sponsored by an Opposition party, which does not have the team of civil servants Ministers enjoy, will have flaws. Not only did Fine Gael disagree with the Bill, however, it lambasted it and my party for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: 2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the meaning of the phrase sufficient progress in relation to phase one of the Brexit talks and Ireland; if progress has been met in the current round of talks; if Brexit talks will move to phase two in December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48487/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: We are still in phase 1 of the talks on Britain leaving the European Union. Three issues are currently being addressed in those negotiations. One is Ireland and what will happen in Ireland in a post-Brexit situation. The European Union says that we cannot move on to phase 1 unless sufficient progress has been made on all three areas and we support that. What does sufficient progress mean...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: What is sufficient progress?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: There are a number of problems with that. The Taoiseach has already said that we will not exercise any veto. That is manna from heaven for those on the British side. Second, there are mixed messages from the Government about the matter. The Minister has several times told the House and me - I have been at many meetings where he has discussed this issue - that it is vital that the North of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: The Minister's view is that the best option is for Britain to stay in the Single Market but that the North should. The Taoiseach said last week that that is not necessarily what should happen. He also talked about divergence and said that it is possible, once Britain accepts the rules. How does that square with the European Union needing to protect the integrity of the customs union?...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: No divergence does not make a customs union. Our position is realistic. Is it unrealistic to ask for the entire island of Ireland to stay in the European Union? Perhaps the Minister now supports one part of the island coming out of the European Union. Is it unrealistic to say that the vote in the North, where people voted to remain in Europe, should be respected? Is Deputy Coveney...

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: The programme for Government commits to 10% of all bus routes essentially being privatised and put out to tender. The Minister will know that in Waterford city, 100% or all five of the bus routes have been put out to tender and we will know the outcome of that today.

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: It is a commitment in the programme for Government. The question I am putting to the Minister is why is 100% of the bus routes in Waterford city being privatised? Is Waterford being used as a guinea pig in the Minister's privatisation experiment? Will he agree that if the Government privatises and outsources the profitable routes - these are five profitable routes - that will have an...

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: It is no surprise that the Minister has not answered my questions at all. The Minister mentioned the University of Limerick study. The Bill the Government is proposing is not in line with that report and its recommendations. That report committed to a six-month look-back whereby the hours in a person's contract would reflect the hours they work over a six-month period. The Government is...

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: Eighteen months is too long.

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: They are too broad.

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: It represents those workers.

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: It represents those workers.

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: The Government is representing IBEC.

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: Precarious work and "if and when" contracts are a problem for many workers in this State. They create uncertainty in terms of pay and how many hours a worker will work from week to week. They lead to exploitation in the workplace, a hollowing out of workers' rights and deep anxiety and stress for the workers involved. We know, and the Minister knows from his previous brief, that many of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: At the last meeting, when the Secretary General from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment was here, I asked questions about the funding for RTÉ. There was then a discussion about whether or not a service level agreement was in place. I have a number of concerns. I fully understand the need for there to be independence and separation between politics and the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: I have no difficulty with that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: I understand that. The problem is that the cheque is written by the Secretary General and is given to RTÉ, but any questions that are put about how that money is specifically spent is then a matter for RTÉ. There is not a service level agreement in place and from what I hear from the Secretary General, it would not be appropriate for him to intervene in how RTÉ does its...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (16 Nov 2017)

David Cullinane: Teachta Connolly made a point. Any questions that are put about practices such as bogus self-employment are not an attack on RTÉ itself. It was unfair for one member to characterise asking questions about how money is spent, which is why we are here, as an attack on an organisation. I am not even asking for a response but saying that it is a bit unfair. I have put it on the record...