Results 2,501-2,520 of 5,757 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Risk Assessment (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator, take your seat.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Risk Assessment (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Minister, we are moving on.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Proposed Legislation (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you, Senator. The Minister of State to reply.

Seanad: Teachtaireachtaí ón Dáil - Messages from Dáil (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Dáil Éireann passed the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 on 10 July 2019, considered by virtue of Article 20.2.2° of the Constitution as a Bill initiated in Dáil Éireann, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann agreed on 10 July 2019 to the amendments made by Seanad...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with colleagues in expressing my sympathy to the families of Brendan Grace and Noel Whelan. Noel Whelan contacted me and asked to meet me two days after I was elected to this House in 2014. He met me downtown and spent two hours with me, advising me and expressing his wishes and desires for how the Seanad would develop over the coming years. I thought it was a most generous act. I...

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I support my colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, on this issue. One cannot doubt her commitment to ensuring a proper system for sentencing is put in place with regard to the issues that are of concern to her and those she represents through her association with AdVIC. I will support the Senator's amendment in a vote.

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I will not take much of the Minister's time in what I have to say. One of the great things about being in the Seanad is that we can sit and listen to debate and different sides of the argument. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's passion and conviction in this area is beyond question, as is her commitment to Advic. Those who have suffered at the hands of the cold-blooded murderers we are...

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I cannot begin to imagine what his poor mother and father must feel. At the time of the Moors murders I was living in England and there was the way they played with the families. At least they were locked up and kept there until they expired. What Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell is trying to do is allow judges to state this guy or woman should not go before a parole board for X number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: We are coming up on budget time. I had a communication this morning from a member of the public who is concerned about the contributory old age pension. Every year, the Minister announces increases in social welfare benefits. Generally speaking, we hear that pensions were increased by €5. Since 2012, six streams have been introduced in the pension scheme based on the number of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: What a horrible thing to say.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: While the Minister sees me as a passenger, I got into the car of my own free will and am delighted to be associated-----

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The only one who has had a bumpy ride around here is the Minister.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I admire the Minister for his tenacity and for hanging in there. If we go through Committee Stage today, I will look forward to Report Stage at around Christmas 2020.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The amendment would make the process of appointment more robust constitutionally and would ensure that the procedures adopted by the judicial appointments commission are those which would have received democratic scrutiny by the Government, which has the exclusive power to recommend judicial appointments to the President. We will withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce it...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: We are withdrawing this amendment but reserve the right to bring it back on Report Stage.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 109:In page 38, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:“(6) (a) Lay members shall not take part in the preparation of a recommendation referred to in this section which concerns a statement made under section 53(1)(b) of this Act or that part of the statement referred which formed part of the Published Statement within the meaning of this Act. (b) Lay...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 109a:In page 38, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:“57. The provisions of this Part shall also apply to the Commission in the discharge of its functions under this Act.”.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 109b:In page 38, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:“57. Where the Commission considers that it is appropriate in any case it may determine to make a recommendation to the Minister without ranking the persons recommended in the order of the Commission’s preference.”.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: This is an issue that has bothered me the whole way through this Bill, namely, that the absolute power with respect to the appointment of judges rests with the Government under the Constitution. Regardless of the findings or deliberations of any commission or committee, at the end of the day, the Minister for Justice and Equality, advising the Government, can pick a candidate who has not...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate the Minister's willingness to engage on these matters. It is not the first time he has shown a willingness through what has been a fairly lengthy process. I ask that, before we come back to Report Stage, we all sit around the table and have a look at that specific issue, given it is the one that has brought me into this debate the whole way through. If we can resolve that and...