Results 1,381-1,400 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Georgia's Application for Membership of the European Union: Motion (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: supports: - EU enlargement policy for those countries that are guided by European norms and values, fulfil their commitments with the EU and deploy considerable efforts to advance their European integration; welcomes: - Georgia’s official applications for the European Union membership that has been submitted in the first quarter of 2022;...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Our friends are welcome. The ambassador is welcome. The Hague Convention defines neutrality. I trust that the Cathaoirleach will forgive me for challenging neutrality at this point in time. Ireland only ever once defined neutrality, which was in Ireland's White Paper on foreign policy in 1995, Challenges and Opportunities Abroad, in chapter 4 on international security.Paragraph 4.5...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: There is a substantial amount of grain in storage which cannot be brought out of Ukraine to the rest of the world. As has been rightly pointed, famine is another tool being used by one of the belligerents in this war, namely, Russia. Introducing famine into places like north Africa destabilises the entire geopolitical system. Ireland is a member of the United Nations Security Council. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I do not intend to go back over what my colleague has so eloquently put together regarding Derrybrien. I visited the site, was driven around it and walked part of it. Even with the best will in the world, there is absolutely no way of returning Derrybrien to what it was pre-development. There is just no possibility of that. There are 25 km...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to make a couple of points. Senator Higgins made the point that sometimes people are not listened to. My understanding is that the planning officer who visited Derrybrien was highly supportive of the project. I did not speak to the lady myself so I cannot be 1000% certain of that but my understanding is that she was supportive, that she brought that view back to her bosses but that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is amazing how one’s mind works while sitting here listening to debate. I am not sure if the Minister of State is aware of EnergyCloud, which is operating in the north east at the moment, with the assistance of SSE Airtricity and a number of other electricity suppliers. EnergyCloud operates on the basis that wind turbines produce energy even when it is not required. In the north...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the ambassador on behalf of the Independent non-aligned group and wish him a wonderful day. Greater love hath no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. On this day 23 years ago at 5.30 a.m., the 85th Infantry Battalion came under fire at post 642. Private Billy Kedian was awoken by the sound of mortars going off. In order that the people who were on duty could...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: No. My apologies. The citations have been written up but a medals board has not sat.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House. I disagree with the amendment. I look at the situation in Galway right now with Derrybrien. I believe we should be in the situation where we can review-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I will sit down for a few moments to get my thoughts together.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I recently congratulated PDFORRA on its accession to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. I have been informed that in order to be allowed to accede to associate membership of ICTU, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, must go to the courts. This is a human resources issue, an IR issue, not a legal issue. I fail to understand why we are compelling RACO to go...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: First, I join with my colleague, Senator Wall, and I am sure with the Acting Leader, in welcoming the accession of PDFORRA to ICTU. However, it is outrageous that RACO has not been granted the same permission. I call today on the Minister for Defence to immediately address that. There are pay talks ongoing right now and they need to be there. There has been much talk recently about mental...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I thank him. It would have been good to hear his presentation in full. This is a very comprehensive piece of work. Clearly, the Minister of State has engaged right across all sectors to try to bring forward the best possible legislation in this area. Protected disclosure is something that has bothered me quite considerably since I came into...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of order, in future when we are setting out times on the Order of Business for a legislative measure as large as this the Minister needs more time.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Payment of Interns) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank my colleagues from the Labour Party. In the best traditions of the Labour Party, they introduced legislation for workers. I know Senator Sherlock did a lot of work on this. I have a difficulty with the proposed new provision in section 1, namely, section 2A(b), which refers to situations where "the worker does not expect and has no reason to expect payment". I see a loophole there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Dr. Bedford very much for being here. I was watching the meeting online from the Seanad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The only thing I ever have to say to chair designates who come in here is that I am sorry we have wasted their time by bringing them here. We do not have any yea or nay over the appointment of chairs. This is purely a formality. However, today's engagement with Dr. Bedford has been far wider than just being a formality. I thank him for his engagement and for his willingness to engage with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Group: Chairperson Designate (25 May 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I hope they are putting out plenty of fake news.