Results 3,661-3,680 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and I understand he is under pressure. There have been 13 review reports and three Bills - four, if we include this one - and another Bill is coming in the next few days, and nothing has happened.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine. I compliment the two Senators on bringing forward the Bill and admire their honesty. I particularly admire the honesty of Senators Cassells and Kyne who opened up the real issues that annoy the people of this country. One such issue is the 11 senators nominated by the Taoiseach, where we could bring in people from diverse backgrounds but do not. Rather, we bring in our own...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: -----and legislation was ruthlessly scrutinised and it did not bring down a Government when it failed. That is the sort of Seanad that I want to be a party to. I want to be here to look at legislation from the labour perspective, which is the panel I am on, and comment on it based on how I think it will impact on labour.My colleague, Senator Martin, spoke about two buses passing and that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: It is just after the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month and I pay tribute to the former taoisigh, Enda Kenny and Deputy Leo Varadkar, as well as the current Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, who all attended remembrance services at Enniskillen. It is great that Ireland has grown up and comes to remember the approximately 30,000 Irish men and women who lost their lives in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I hope the clock has been stopped.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: All of us in the House are elected and we are all public representatives. We are all peers in the House. None of us has the right to information ahead of anybody else. I will write today to the Secretaries General of every Department to ask them to take on their responsibility as the administrative heads of their Departments to ensure all Members of this House and the Dáil are treated...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Military Service at Jadotville in 1961: Statements (11 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the first time I have met him as Minister for Defence in this House so I congratulate him on his appointment. I also congratulate him on the fact that he has not appointed a Minister of State to work under him in the Department of Defence and has taken a hands-on position. He has met the representative bodies and visited a number of centres and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I join the Minister and colleagues in expressing my condolences on the death of Saeb Erekat. The loss of any man of peace to this world is a serious loss. In conjunction with Senator Ardagh, I would like to believe that we would have some sort of rolling audit on the achievements of Ireland in terms of its membership of the UN Security Council. The people would like to know what we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We are talking about a shared island. Looking around the room, I see one major group missing. What engagement was there with official unionism or political unionism in the North of Ireland before the Taoiseach's announcement was made, or is this a solo run on the part of the Irish Government? I wonder if any unionists are employed on the shared island project. I see Dr. Farry looking at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully appreciate that but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Finally, some people would say that the Department has announced nothing new today or that anything it has announced or spoken about would have happened in the fullness of time anyway, so what is new? Perhaps I am missing something. I am quite happy to listen. I really want to see the other community that is not represented here, and if this means us meeting on a number of occasions in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We might also include Mr. Rob Williamson of the REACH Project, which is based on the Newtownards Road in Belfast. I asked for him at the last committee meeting. He is a unionist and a very middle-of-the-road sort of guy. It would be very good to hear his views.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: First and foremost, I second Senator Gavan's amendment to the Order of Business. I echo what Senator Black said. She is 100% correct about the Debenhams workers. It always amazes me that when these companies go bust, they walk away and leave behind a trail of utterly decimated workers, some of whom end up on the breadline. I fully support what the Senator said. It is time we had a debate...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator McDowell's amendment to the Order of Business. I want to remark on the performance of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, in the Dáil yesterday. It was really heartening to hear a Minister for Defence speak about the rejuvenation of the Defence Forces, putting them front and centre and making sure they have the resources they need to drive forward. The terms of reference of...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the opportunity to debate Seanad reform for the second time in as many weeks. In 2013, when I was not a Member of this House and never dreamt that I would be, I did everything that I could during the referendum campaign to ensure that this House would survive. When I was elected to this House, I was deeply honoured, and I am as...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We worked hard.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry, I was here for all the debate.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: If the Senator had his way we would have a year for the debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I have been fulsome in my praise for the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, and the work he is doing with the Defence Forces, and I maintain that position. However, I was deeply disappointed last weekend to learn that national pay talks have started - at least, that is what we believe - and, contrary to the position of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, that the Defence Forces would be at the...

Seanad: Combating Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (24 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. I support Coco's law. Some weeks ago, the parents and grandparents of two beautiful girls were outside the gates of Leinster House with the girls' photographs. Looking at the images of these girls, one found oneself wondering what happened, why and how. My mind immediately goes to the mother and father standing in a mortuary looking at...