Results 2,781-2,800 of 5,760 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Rents (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Senator should stick to her own matter.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Rents (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Senator has made her point and is out of time.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business with respect to the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018.I do not believe we should proceed beyond Committee Stage today because we need to give the legislation plenty of time. That is what I propose.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: One cannot go down a byroad or city street today without seeing hundreds of posters for hopeful local election candidates. I wish each and every one of them well. As they are my electorate, I do not mind speaking on their behalf. We have repeatedly promised councillors that we will review their pay and terms and conditions of employment, as well as their powers, but, rankly, we have done...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: What is the EU doing about it?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: That is the point I made.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes. The Deputy Leader's point about time constraints was well made, but we have given 100 hours or more to a particular Bill that nobody wants. We could suspend debate on the latter next week to allow more time for the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House. The purpose of this Bill is to sort out some of the mess of residential tenancies. I agree with my colleague, Senator Humphreys. We saw the other night that couples today are paying €2,100 to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Sandyford which they could buy with a monthly mortgage payment of €1,350. We are seeing this all over the place. We...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Chair will forgive me if I address the issue of the attempt made to take all Stages of the Bill today. I was the person who proposed we not proceed beyond Committee Stage. I understand the Minister's frustration and his need to get the Bill through the House. However, we have spent over 100 hours in this House debating a Bill that nobody wants. We have wasted time and changed that...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: As I do not interrupt the Leader, I hope he will not interrupt me.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: No, I do not. Either I have the floor or I do not.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to support the Minister. I have been a supporter of his, despite the stick he has been taking on social media and in the media in general. I have great sympathy for him in the job he is trying to do. However, I would not and could not stand over pushing all Stages of this Bill through the House today when people are emailing me and every Member of the House on both the tenant side...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The point I am making is that the amendment brought forward by Senator Humphreys would at least offer a degree of security to those who rent property. I do not accept the spurious argument that they do not complain. They do not because at this stage they are so beaten they cannot do so.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: On the last point, clearly, if the committee has been working on this issue for months, it is strange that committee members do not understand paying more than one month's deposit is repugnant to any young couple or person who is trying to rent an apartment. I am surprised committee did not pick up on this.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I am anxious not to go around the houses on this matter. The Minister is speaking in a very conciliatory mode today. If the problem is that we have not clearly defined the deposit issue in order that it can be ring-fenced with some of the issues that have been raised by the Minister, perhaps he will give an undertaking today that he will work with us between now and Report Stage, which I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electronic Scooter Pilot Scheme (14 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Senator. Does the Minister of State wish to respond?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: On the final issue adverted to by my colleague concerning WhatsApp, we should always be aware of the fact that all software is constantly under threat from criminal elements. They are working ahead of us all the time and the problem for us is that we have to catch them. Our cybersecurity network structure is excellent at the job its does, and we should acknowledge that at this time. I wish...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to focus on the word "attributes". Selection processes inevitably require some sort of marking scheme or some sort of credible system that can be assessed or judged. "Attributes" is a loose description. The Minister mentioned "work ethic". How do we compare the judge who is meticulous and takes a lot of time to make sure he or she gets things right first time with the judge who...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Thanks to the attributes of my colleagues.