Results 2,981-3,000 of 5,760 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Chair will forgive me if I address the issue of the attempt made to take all Stages of the Bill today. I was the person who proposed we not proceed beyond Committee Stage. I understand the Minister's frustration and his need to get the Bill through the House. However, we have spent over 100 hours in this House debating a Bill that nobody wants. We have wasted time and changed that...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: As I do not interrupt the Leader, I hope he will not interrupt me.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: No, I do not. Either I have the floor or I do not.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to support the Minister. I have been a supporter of his, despite the stick he has been taking on social media and in the media in general. I have great sympathy for him in the job he is trying to do. However, I would not and could not stand over pushing all Stages of this Bill through the House today when people are emailing me and every Member of the House on both the tenant side...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The point I am making is that the amendment brought forward by Senator Humphreys would at least offer a degree of security to those who rent property. I do not accept the spurious argument that they do not complain. They do not because at this stage they are so beaten they cannot do so.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: On the last point, clearly, if the committee has been working on this issue for months, it is strange that committee members do not understand paying more than one month's deposit is repugnant to any young couple or person who is trying to rent an apartment. I am surprised committee did not pick up on this.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I am anxious not to go around the houses on this matter. The Minister is speaking in a very conciliatory mode today. If the problem is that we have not clearly defined the deposit issue in order that it can be ring-fenced with some of the issues that have been raised by the Minister, perhaps he will give an undertaking today that he will work with us between now and Report Stage, which I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I echo the words of Senator Horkan. We have a proud tradition of welcoming leaders of other countries and if we have something to say to them, regarding human rights or anything else, we say it to them when they are here. I fully support what Senator Horkan has said. I was one of the people who insisted yesterday that we stopped on Committee Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment)...

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Chair. I welcome the Minister to the House. He was given the poisoned chalice seven months ago, and I wish him well with it. Happy days, things were never better. As the Minister knows, I was president of a trade union during the worst time the country went through, one could not employ a teacher unless one had permission from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform....

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Secretary General of the Department has been clear-----

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I will finish on this point. I have been very clear on one thing. The Secretary General has prepared himself for his next appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts. Nobody can accuse him of not setting out the risk we are facing. I wish the Minister well with the project but I am not sold on it.

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: It is still contingent on fibre.

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister should not get me wrong. I admire decision-making. I am not criticising it but just saying it is rather unusual to go against advice.

Seanad: National Broadband Plan: Statements (16 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Did those involved examine the possibility of running data through electric cables?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: It will be Independents' day on Saturday.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: How does one follow that? A number of my colleagues have mentioned drug addiction, while one has mentioned the problems faced in emergency departments. A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune of having to spend the best part of 24 hours in an emergency department with a relative who was a frequent visitor to the place owing to chronic health issues. I cannot begin to recount the girl's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Anyone sitting with the girl I was with, or the others sitting around us who were really sick would have been heartbroken. At one point the queue had to be restarted because one of the substance abusers had run out of the place and a number of staff had to follow to bring her back in order that she could be fitted back into the queue. I cannot begin to describe the hurt felt by the people...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator Humphreys'-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I feel the love.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Roll on independence day.