tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61863696623537645702024-03-14T06:31:24.256-04:00David Cullinane BlogDavid Cullinane Blog - A Deise ViewSenator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-53855434434216086692015-01-19T12:53:00.003-05:002015-01-19T13:01:41.790-05:00A left alliance to counter the political rightSome commentators argue that left/right politics is redundant. That such terms are outdated and are a relic of the past. They are described as 'old fashioned' and as having no place in our modern political system. Of course it is absolute nonsense. Maybe a section of the electorate do not associate with such terminology or there is a need to change the language - but the ideological battle is theSenator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-64015525267322746482011-05-22T19:00:00.000-04:002011-05-22T19:00:39.277-04:00Appointment as Group Leader in the Seanad
I am extremely proud and privileged to have been selected as the Sinn Féin Group leader in the Seanad. I will join Kathryn Reilly from Cavan and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh from Galway as part of a strengthened Sinn Féin team in the Seanad and the Oireachtas. We will do our best to provide robust opposition and effective leadership.
In a few short months Sinn Féin has fought a number of elections Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-73919583541657642982011-05-07T19:58:00.000-04:002011-05-07T19:58:47.524-04:0029 Assembly Seats, 14 Dáil Seats, 3 Seanad Seats and 400,000 first preference votes – the success of an All Ireland PartyIn the course of the last few months Sinn Féin has achieved significant electoral success. The General Election in February saw the party triple its Dáil representation and win 14 seats. This was followed by a successful Seanad election last month with the party winning 3 seats. The Northern Assembly elections have brought more success with 29 seats in total. All of this is a vindication of hard Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-18252442331215646472011-04-03T16:14:00.000-04:002011-04-03T16:14:47.494-04:00Labours way or Frankfurt’s way – I guess its Frankfurt’s thenOne of the most crucial issues in the recent election campaign was the banking crisis and its effect on the economy, our public finances and the people of this state. Austerity budgets, cutbacks, higher taxes and job losses are all a direct result of a flawed banking strategy that saw hundreds of Billions of taxpayer’s money put into the black hole of Anglo and other stricken banks. This disasterSenator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-43547405222099758282011-02-06T16:16:00.000-05:002011-02-06T16:16:44.074-05:00Reform must start with the DáilToday I joined Sinn Fein’s team of candidates in the upcoming election in launching our national campaign. The party is standing 41 candidates in 38 constituencies. In every constituency where we are standing, Sinn Féin is going out to win. Every TD elected for Sinn Féin means a stronger voice for citizens, for working families, for the unemployed and those struggling to make ends meet.
The Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-49027182309346856372011-01-31T17:41:00.000-05:002011-01-31T17:41:04.331-05:00I believe there is a better wayTonight I attended the launch of my and Sinn Féin's election campaign in Waterford. 300 people packed into the Granville Hotel to hear Mary Lou McDonald and I set our Sinn Féin's policy platform. This is one of the most important elections in the history of this state. I seek election to the Dáil so I can be part of the national debate on how we solve the big problems facing our country and Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-90738837088392672962011-01-26T08:48:00.000-05:002011-01-26T08:48:06.633-05:00Who Mr Gilmore, is guilty of economic treason now?With an election clearly on the horizon the cut and thrust of the campaign has started in earnest. However there is a rather familiar tone to the content of the establishment party arguments. Rather then attacking the policies of Fianna Fail and the Greens - Fine Gael and the Labour Party have turned their attentions to Sinn Féin. They are engaged in a game of smoke and mirrors as they Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-67245342467505057342011-01-09T10:18:00.001-05:002011-01-09T10:19:38.670-05:00A national Republic is still the big prizeToday I gave the main oration at the commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Pickardstown Ambush in Tramore, Co. Waterford where volunteers Michael McGrath and Thomas O Brien lost their lives. Over 300 gathered to remember their sacrifices.
Full test of speech below..
I am proud to be here with family members of Michael McGrath and Thomas O Brien who died in pursuit of Irish Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-85474050505674418412011-01-07T15:16:00.000-05:002011-01-07T15:16:22.155-05:00Budget tax hikes hitting working people hardWe all knew December’s budget was savage and harsh. We knew working families and the unemployed were hit hard. However the severity of the tax increases has taken many by surprise. Married couples on the average Industrial wage are down over €80 a week. This is aside from cuts in child benefit and increased service charges. Only yesterday VHI had announced an increase in their premiums putting a Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-73626135604003558372010-11-28T19:05:00.000-05:002010-11-28T19:05:37.882-05:00Moneylenders are the real winnersWith Christmas fast approaching the country is bracing itself for a savage budget. The Government has sent a very strong signal that the low-paid, those out of work and middle income earners will bear the brunt of harsh spending cuts and tax increases. The country’s top earners and the wealthy will be spared yet again. Undoubtedly we will see further hardship and more citizens living in poverty.Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-23480229916119414742010-11-20T06:00:00.000-05:002010-11-20T06:00:42.097-05:00New politics not old argumentsThe Irish economy has suffered the equivalent of an earthquake. The aftershocks are being felt by ordinary working people and the unemployed every day. People feel betrayed by a Government who has sold its soul. They are looking for leadership and hope. They are looking for people to bring forward ideas about the future. They want real solutions and are demanding new politics.
We need a seismic Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-72176942018276684752010-11-19T12:20:00.000-05:002010-11-19T12:20:09.175-05:00Politicians must lead by exampleThe issue of politicians pay and expenses has always been a contentious one. The common perception is that all politicians are on the make and sure aren’t ye all the same. People’s attitudes have been soured by endless scandals involving un-vouched expenses, exotic foreign trips, first class travel, limo’s, merc’s and five star hotels. The corrupt few have damaged the many.
Most of the Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-81897479738336857702010-11-17T13:52:00.000-05:002010-11-17T13:52:17.283-05:00All changed, changed utterlyWe all knew it would happen as the writing was on the wall. The great bailout has arrived. The Government’s blanket bank guarantee coupled with its reckless deficit reduction strategy has left us without any credibility. The international money lenders deserted us. Our European partners closed ranks. The noose was tightened around our country’s neck. A decision was made to save the Euro and Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-56681366248449832172010-11-14T17:34:00.001-05:002010-11-14T17:34:52.971-05:00A leadership decision at a time of crisisFew events shock me in politics. However I have to admit to being a bit taken aback when I heard the news that Gerry Adams was to resign his assembly seat and later his Westminster seat to contest the General Election in the South. Gerry will seek the nomination in the Louth constituency and will challenge for a Dáil seat. This is a brave and courageous move. He is resigning from one of the Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-79949027676489908612010-11-11T15:35:00.001-05:002010-11-11T18:29:34.521-05:00For what died the sons of RóisínFor the Government the game is up. Those who lend us the money are sending the Government a resounding message – your four year strategy of cuts will not work. Quite simply they are not buying what the Government is selling. And who would blame them. The Government is promising a four year programme of austerity measures and cuts that will contract the economy. Our public finances are massively Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-86808397216586457492010-11-09T18:37:00.000-05:002010-11-09T18:37:13.316-05:00Positive Supreme Court judgement would make future challenges irrelevantI welcome the statement from Government today that it will move the writs immediately for the by- elections in Waterford and Dublin South if it loses its Supreme Court appeal. Sinn Féin has made it clear that it will seek to defend the recent high court judgment.
This development makes any action taken by Fine Gael against the Government irrelevant, as it will be the Supreme Court challenge Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-64472838322726478342010-11-03T12:36:00.000-04:002010-11-03T12:36:20.250-04:00Victory for democracyWell done to Pearse Doherty and Sinn Féin on a very important high court victory. The courts decision today was clear and decisive. It supported our view that the Government was acting in breach of the constitution. Fianna Fáil was showing itself to be a slightly constitutional party. The Green Party was equally as culpable and was today involved in a desperate face saving exercise.
Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-27847775196793773982010-10-31T17:25:00.000-04:002010-10-31T17:25:32.522-04:00A roadmap to recoveryTomorrow Sinn Féin will launch its pre-budget submission. The proposals are fully costed by the Department of Finance and leading economists. It is a roadmap to recovery. We are standing against the cosy consensus of the Government and the main opposition parties and their ‘consensus for cuts’. There is another way and a better way.
Our plan will reduce the deficit by €4.671 billion and provideSenator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-6227323455423641132010-10-19T04:41:00.000-04:002010-10-19T04:41:55.276-04:00Government sinks to a new low in subverting democracyOn Monday I was joined by party activists in a protest coinciding with the party’s high court challenge to force the outstanding by-elections. Sadly this government is continuing to waste taxpayers’ money defending its refusal to hold the by-elections.
This case is about upholding the democratic rights of the people of Waterford, Dublin and Donegal. Our intention is to force the Government to do Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-55916389288381889562010-10-18T17:34:00.000-04:002010-10-18T17:34:20.927-04:00Launch of JobFit in WaterfordThis week I attended the launch of JobFit in Waterford. JobFit is a new programme funded by the Labour Market Activation Fund of the Department of Education and Skills which provides free support, employability training and recognised qualifications to help unemployed people find a job. JobFit will be delivered by TBG Learning, part of the Rehab Group. The programme provides soft-skills training,Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-52291480894049477812010-10-07T15:30:00.000-04:002010-10-07T15:30:49.749-04:00Should we burn the bondholders?The Government mantra ever since the banking crisis began was that the debt obligations of all banks would be paid for in full. The extended Government bank guarantee included bondholders and subordinated debt. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has always insisted that Anglo Irish Bank’s senior bondholders – those with the lowest ranking debt in the bank – will suffer no losses.
In recent timesSenator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-36789606271775630292010-10-05T05:34:00.000-04:002010-10-05T05:34:01.835-04:00Renewing faith in politicsI have been canvassing for the last eight months and I have spoken to thousands of people across Waterford City and County. Feelings and emotions are mixed. Some people are angry. Some are scared. Few are optimistic. Most are apathetic. A huge segment of the population has lost faith in politics. And who would blame them. They elected a Government in 2007 that has dumped 300,000 people on the Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-29587520935059255902010-09-26T12:18:00.000-04:002010-09-26T12:18:47.656-04:00To privatise or not to privatise?Waterford City Council management are currently looking at all options in relation to its waste collection service including privatisation. While no decision has been made it is clear that privatisation is a real option. The council management are tendering for professional legal and financial services so as to advise on the full implications of ceasing waste collection services. A full asset Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-76953624055677462092010-09-23T19:46:00.000-04:002010-09-23T19:46:37.748-04:00Regeneration – opportunities for growthToday I attended a Waterford conference titled Regeneration – opportunities for growth. The conference discussed a diverse range of topics such as the power of collaboration, revitalising the city and looking at opportunities for growth with a clear focus on regeneration. We heard from speakers from Norwich in the UK and Derry City in the North.
The synergies between Norwich, Derry and Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6186369662353764570.post-61867330917883525802010-09-22T18:21:00.000-04:002010-09-22T18:21:01.038-04:00Heroin - a deadly and destructive drugTonight I attended a meeting organised by a community based drug initiative in the city about the challenges of heroin use. The meeting was primarily about raising awareness and the auditorium at Waterford Institute of Technology was packed to the rafters.
The main speaker was Rachael Keogh. Rachael’s story made national news when in 2006 she escaped Garda custody after being arrested in Senator David Cullinanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02014666243914080465noreply@blogger.com0