Results 1,661-1,680 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for being in the House. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has expressed some concern about the move or the direction in which we are moving. We are clearly going to move inspectors from their supervisory role into a management role as we move into this. That is not their function. We need supervision on the ground using both our sergeants and...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: She only went for a run, Ashling Murphy. We have all been talking about it ever since her poor body was found. All of this hype will pass but Ashling's mother, father, sister, brother and other relations will have to live with their grief forever. It is really sad that we have been brought to this. I am the brother of eight sisters, the son of a wonderful mother, the husband of a...

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

Gerard Craughwell: There has been much discussion over the last few days about Ireland's neutrality and the Russian exercise off the south-west coast. I ask somebody to show me an Act of Parliament from this or any government that states that Ireland is a neutral country. Show me in the Constitution where it states that Ireland is a neutral country. Where can we find a reference to Ireland's neutrality...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome. Planning is something with which we have had constant problems but one of the great examples of planning is the Luas line. As somebody asked me on the first day the Luas opened, is it not great that they have kept the old Harcourt Street line? Officials have been great down the years in that they recognised the line might have been needed again at some stage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: On the charging points at hotels and the like, tourism is a major industry in this country. The Minister might look at grant-aiding to ensure that hotels in places like Clifden, Dingle, Dungarvan or west Cork have the wherewithal to put in charging points because it would be a huge advantage with regard to electric car rental for tourists and so on. I ask the Minister to look at that.

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

Gerard Craughwell: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Keogan. I was delighted to hear that Rescue 117 in Waterford has been saved. We now have four SAR bases in the country that are guaranteed by the Government. That is welcome and I thank all the Members of this House and the Lower House who got behind that campaign to ensure that we kept four helicopters. I have asked on a...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish everybody a happy new year. I tabled a Private Members’ motion in May 2021 regarding the search and rescue contract. At that time, I warned that the procurement process was certainly questionable. Since then, I have sought for the business case to be released in order that we would understand how we have moved from four helicopters to three, and why a fixed-wing aircraft is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is on the Order Paper and I will be talking about it next week.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: As a former teacher I might say I admire the Leader’s leadership on this particular issue. She is to be complimented for it.

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Mr. Justice Mahon is very welcome to this afternoon's meeting. I also welcome the person in the ombudsman's office, Mr. Brian O'Neill, who prior to Mr. Justice Mahon's appointment was very responsive, together with the previous ombudsman, to any request my office put in. I am delighted to see Mr. O'Neill taking notes and keeping abreast of what goes on with the Oireachtas committee. I...

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Absolutely, and I am delighted to hear that. Mr. O'Neill is aware of the case I refer to, and he may discuss it with the ombudsman at a later stage.

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I believe it was settled before Mr. Justice Mahon's appointment or perhaps just afterwards, I cannot remember. It is always detrimental to the process if, having gone through all of the hoops and having had a favourable recommendation from the ombudsman's office, a person then must actually go through the legal system to get some sort of resolution. That is always bad and I am delighted to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is excellent. Prior to the appointment of Mr. Justice Mahon, one of the first cases I encountered as a Senator was a complaint that had been brought to the ombudsman by an officer of the Defence Forces. The who or the where is irrelevant at this point. An extremely thorough investigation was carried out. Having gone through the entire Defence Forces appeals system and failed, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: My heart goes out to Ashling Murphy's family. I was particularly mindful yesterday of the first class kids lining the street. I have two granddaughters, Ellie and Isabel. I cannot imagine what it would take to explain to either of them the brutality by which the woman died. It is now a matter for the courts and Garda, so I will say no more about it. I was delighted to hear Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with colleagues in wishing everybody in the Houses and all of the people who kept this country working over what has been the most difficult two years a very happy Christmas. I am particularly mindful of those who will be on duty over Christmas, such as members of the Defence Forces, the fire service and the ambulance service and hospital staff. I know that friends working in...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I pay compliment to her and the Department on how quickly they reacted over recent years with the Covid-19 crisis. It cannot have been easy but by God they turned it around very quickly when they were asked to do so. On a personal note, when a member of the Cabinet needed maternity leave the Minister stepped up to the plate and took on two very...

Seanad: TRIPS Waiver: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate this important subject. I am very sorry that the Government has chosen to put forward an amendment to this great motion. That amendment underpins the Government's approach, which is not to rock the boat when it comes to dealing with anything trade-related or commercial. I preface what I say by referring to Jonas Salk, who...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the fact that the long battle of the Miami Showband came to a conclusion yesterday.I listened to an interview this morning on "The Pat Kenny Show" with one of the members of the band. In many ways, I am sorry that the case did not go to a full hearing to allow us to get to the bottom of exactly what was involved. There is no doubt that most of us who work a uniform on either side...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator McGahon gets things done.