Results 201-220 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: Just one in three of those surveyed agreed that the changes to the appointments process that were introduced by the current Government had improved the functioning of State boards. In addition, 72% of them said they believed there should be more defined independence from the political system regarding these appointments. That causes a problem. I have much more to say but I will not be...

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

Gerard Craughwell: They would notice the water damage.

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: This is my first time to address the Minister in the Chamber and I am proud to so do. I am getting really worried because he is the second Minister today who I have been obliged to congratulate on something. I spoke against the banking inquiry in this House and with one other Senator voted against it. However, as is typical of the Minister, I believe he has done everything he can to leave...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I get a sense of euphoria, that in some way the Greek election result will change debt all over Europe. I was somewhat disappointed last night because I thought some of the finance ministers were less than equivocal in their statements on the news. While I support the call for a debt conference, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate in the House on debt and quantitative easing - more of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am a proud former sergeant of the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway. Therefore, I am distressed to find PDFORRA, the organisation which represents rank and file members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, has had to lodge a case in Europe for official recognition. The case has been lodged under the European Social Charter because PDFORRA has been excluded from national wage...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. Once again, it is my pride and honour to be able to address him on this subject. None of us can know what those who are transgender go through. It is an issue I regard as very close to my heart. While it is expertly informed by the report of the gender recognition advisory group and the report of the Joint Committee on Education and...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: With all due respect to the Chair, there are very few people who have opted to speak on the Bill, which is probably the most important one to come before the Oireachtas in the current session. I ask the indulgence of those who wish to speak on the matter.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We can take it that I lost 30 seconds the last day and lost 30 seconds today.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask for a little bit of liberty.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will conclude as quickly as I can. The point I am trying to make to the Minister is that the drafters of the Bill have confused the notion of gender identity with the medical transition. There is no need for both. I hate when I am thrown off my line of thought. I only have another four pages to go. I will meet with the Minister of State and I will outline these things. On the medical...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Before we reach Committee Stage, would it be possible to get a register of those medical practitioners who would be favourably disposed to working with this issue, given that the Minister of State is going to continue with that line? We do not want a situation like the man waiting four years-----

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It would be nice to have it before Committee Stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the gentlemen for attending. I am delighted to say that a number of my former students have passed through their organisation on work experience. I commend Camara on its work. As the head of a large computer department, one of my problems every year was how to dispose of machines that were beyond their sell-by dates, so to speak, but still perfectly serviceable. Many times, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry to interrupt, but some of us might have to leave the meeting. I hope the witnesses will forgive us if that happens. It is not that we wish to do it, but there are several things happening here at the same time.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business. I was very disturbed last night to find that the Irish Water debacle is about to come back and haunt us again. Last week, there was an announcement from the European Commission that it had some doubts as to whether EUROSTAT would accept the figures put forward by Government regarding Irish Water. I learned late last night...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Institutes of Technology (3 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Before I discuss the technological university, I compliment the Minister and thank her for her ongoing engagement with the junior certificate issue. I am sure these are difficult times for everyone involved. I have serious concerns about the way in which the Waterford-Carlow technological university project is being handled, for example, the lack of...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Leader for the swift action he took before Christmas in respect of a debate on homelessness in this House. I promised at that time that I would keep an eye on the homelessness situation, particularly here in Dublin. Today, I received an e-mail from a representative of the Peter McVerry Trust to tell me that the 271 beds supplied by the Minister were not all used initially, but...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Not as over time as other people.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On Senator O'Sullivan's issue regarding the Army, there is no point in us increasing the numbers in the Army when we cannot dress the ones who are there, have no uniforms for them, nor career structures.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for meeting us yesterday to discuss amendments to the Bill. He is dealing with this in the best possible way that it can be dealt with. I commend those who have put their names and their personal lives on the line and who are sitting in the Visitors Gallery, in order to see Ireland come into the 21st century dragged kicking and screaming, as it were. I commend...