Results 921-940 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Private Seán Rooney gave his life in the service of peace. Immediately after that, the following appeared in a newspaper: Sure, what do you do at work? What does a soldier do? Why do we even need an Army? What it means to be an Irish soldier has been shown today by a 23-year-old lad from Dundalk, when he stood up and, in typical military style, joined the stand taken by his father...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that but this is important. Private Seán Rooney gave his life in the service of peace and we are watching our Defence Forces collapse around us.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The numbers are under 8,000 now.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Well said.

Seanad: Rail Network: Statements (23 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry that I missed the opening part of the Minister’s presentation. I was down with the Ukrainian, but as I came through the door I thought “what a breath of fresh air”. He is speaking the language that I want to hear. I know that we differ on other things but not on this. I have longed for the day that I can get on a train in Dublin and change to a train that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: That was excellent timing; I thank the Cathaoirleach. This week, we learned again of an assault on gardaí. We are in a situation where the uniformed services are falling apart. Seven or eight years ago, I started talking about the problems in the Defence Forces. It took six years to get a commission in place and we are still waiting to see its output. The strength of the Defence...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome to the committee. To follow on from my colleague, the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, the issue of oversight is something that causes me great concern, particularly when we are talking about accidents in the maritime space. I recently engaged with the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, on the accident that cost Catriona Lucas her life. A file was prepared for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Would it not suggest there was something seriously wrong if the HSA felt it within its gift to pass something to the DPP?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not questioning that. The DPP made her decision on the basis that she has to bring a case to trial she thinks she can win. I know anecdotally from the area that, for example, the aircrew involved in the rescue of Ms Lucas were not interviewed by the accident investigation board. If there are others who were not interviewed, and I understand there are, then perhaps the DPP did not have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no ongoing legal process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: It is worrying. It is a situation where an investigation has taken place and where key witnesses were not interviewed. The Minister should be concerned about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: That is a bit of a cop-out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: No. I am not asking the Minister to confirm whether or not something was wrong. I am just asking him, as an ordinary citizen, if he would be concerned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: It is hard to get the best system in place when dealing with a certain section of the Department. I fully appreciate what was in the letter the Minister sent to me, that he cannot have hands and eyes on everything. However, there is a complete reluctance on the part of the Department to engage with and be answerable to this committee. What are we here for if we are not to hold oversight on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I cannot have due process if people will not answer letters I send them or if they do not explain questions I ask them. I asked a simple question which comes under the Minister’s remit. How many trips are done by the search and rescue helicopters for patient transfers to hospitals? Are we paying for those outside of the contract? Nobody is prepared to answer that question....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I know the Minister for a while and I know him to be a decent, honest and forthright man. That does not equate with the Eamon Ryan who has just spoken now. We have a situation where this is a contract that is already in place. Helicopters are flying patients from the Aran Islands into Galway. I am being told by whistleblowers that the cost to the State is astronomical. If that is true,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry; will the Minister repeat that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The contract was for €500 million over ten years, which is €4.2 million per month, and we are paying close to €6 million per month. I need to know where the extra money is going. The public have a right to know.