Results 181-200 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Unfortunately, I am at odds with my colleagues in Fianna Fáil on the 20% deposit issue, but there should be a debate in the House on the percentage requirement for the purchase of a private dwelling. I believe there are ways around the 20%, but I hope the 20% will be kept in place. I visited Showcase Ireland at the weekend and was extremely proud to see some of the work produced by...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Are Members aware that only nine days are left to make submissions to the reform committee on Seanad Eireann?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: In light of the fact no serving Senators are on the reform working group, it is vital that all of us make submissions. I am deeply saddened by the fact the experience in this Chamber has not been brought onto the committee. Following a recent circular, the geographical area for membership of education and training boards and school boards of management has been restricted to 20 km. While...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Bill, which provides for legal recognition of preferred gender for transgender people. However, while applauding the Government for finally publishing this legislation and bringing it before the House, we should also acknowledge our collective shame that successive governments have failed to act on what is an essential and basic...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Tralee.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That will not cover the half of it.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: One cannot save money on a fixed charge.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Quite apart from the waste of money of installing meters which are not required and will not be required for at least five years, by which time they will probably be obsolete, I dispute the fact they will tell us whether there are leaks. It is a load of rubbish. I am informed that the people installing these meters are not qualified plumbers. It is a serious issue if we have people...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is great.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will indeed present them to him afterwards, because in them we can see that absolutely no provision is made for pedestrian access at these work sites. Front doors of houses are blocked. I have photographs of fences erected across the front door of a house because a water meter is being installed. This is ridiculous. I have witnessed works taking place in estates throughout the country...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, but take a look at the photographs. I have sent the Senator the photographs and he has seen them. Coming from his background, Senator Landy is aware of work practices. I am sorry he finds it disgraceful but at the end of the day the practices do not comply with the Health and Safety Authority's rules. If one cannot comply with the rules, one should tidy up the operation....

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Come on, Senator. Spare me.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of order, I fully agree with Senator Comiskey that a breach of health and safety on either side is wrong.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State has not addressed who is responsible when there is lead in the water.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There will be a fixed charge.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They will be able to make tea for the Senator when he is canvassing.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Fair play.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: This is my first time to have the pleasure of addressing the Minister. It is rather ironic that I do so on this issue. The very fact that I am standing here tells us that there is something rotten in the State board system.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Absolutely. Hats off to the Minister. He saw what was happening and acted immediately in September. I admire him for that greatly. It is regrettable that we do not have a single Act that governs appointments to State boards. I agree with Senator Landy that being politically active should not debar someone from serving on a State board. Unfortunately, it always will be the case that the...