Results 3,721-3,740 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Like everybody else, I congratulate the Minister. She should set aside some time to bring herself up to speed on "Thomas the Tank Engine", "Paw Patrol" and various other things like that. There is a lot of learning there because the language has changed. The fat controller is no longer working for Thomas the tank engine's company. It is very serious stuff. The other thing about having a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank both speakers for being here to address the issues before us. I will turn first to TII. I have had some communication from TII. It is one of the great pities that such people cannot be here themselves to make their cases personally, but Councillor Duffy in Mayo has made a very strong case for the N26, which is a major route between Swineford and Ballina. The witnesses will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: It does but I do not suppose it gives much solace to those who are using the road. I understand that TII has limited resources that it must work with, but Mr. Walsh might drop me a note on the matter and engage with Councillor Duffy and see how we might best spend whatever funding he has to make any improvements that can be made to that road.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: My understanding is that Mayo County Council has made this a top priority. Mr. Walsh and I might engage further on this, but I will take him off the hook at this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Turning to Ms Graham, there has been a great deal of discussion in my home county of Galway, in particular along its commuter route from Craughwell - how surprising is it I mention that? - to Barna, about a light rail network. New commuter technology that is coming on line probably meets carbon emission targets and so on. The route from Craughwell, Athenry, Oranmore and on into Galway city...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: There is a cultural change to take place in the area in terms of commuting. I have always believed that, if you build it, they will come. I thank both of the witnesses for answering my questions.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Members of the Oireachtas would be dismayed if they realised that a decision of Government on the recommendation of a Department almost ten years ago now has negatively affected mothers staying in State employment of their choice. That negative effect on State-employed mothers was not the intent of the Government decision but has become the unintended and regrettable outcome of it. It has...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and I express my sincere thanks to her for being available to all Members of this House, and not just party members, and for her response when we come to her looking for assistance. The first thing I want to do today is to thank the principals of the schools who have managed to keep...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the witnesses for attending. It strikes me that the appalling mix of the animal instincts of capitalism is meeting up with competitive races. The competitive race is not just that towards vaccination as it concerns individuals themselves. As an individual sitting here, I watch every day to see how close my age group is to the next stage of vaccine roll-out in Ireland. That is...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also stand in support of my colleague, Senator McDowell, and compliment him on the speed with which he reacted to the case that arose. It is one of the great aspects of this House that we are lucky to have so many brilliant legal eagles in both the Dáil and Seanad who are able to immediately respond to something like this. I also...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: It is no secret that I was a member of Óglaigh na hÉireann. For a number of years I was stationed in the Western Command in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway. I am very proud of my time in Óglaigh na hÉireann. On Monday of this week, I was contacted about the commemoration of an IRA bomber in London. Looking at Senator Fitzpatrick and the brave men that she...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator Hoey and her party for once again being the voice of the working class in this country. Fair play to the Labour Party. It always puts the workers first. I also pay tribute to Phil Ní Sheaghdha and the executive committee of the INMO. Having been the president of a union myself, I can only imagine the pressure that has been on the executive of the INMO to take some...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I support Senator Bacik and her party leader, who spoke at the weekend on Covid, because they were 100% correct in what they said. There was an extremely disturbing report in The Irish Timeson Saturday about the relationship that exists between the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. There is a new Secretary General in the Department of Defence. She has been active on the ground...

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I move: That Seanad Eireann: acknowledges: - the increased workload of city and county councillors since the passing of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, and the subsequent restructuring of local government in Ireland; - the willingness of councillors to take on additional duties, travel further across their constituencies and to fully engage with the reform process; - the...

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I cannot say that I am not a little disappointed that the report in The Mirrornewspaper was clearly inaccurate. Somebody leaked a report to the newspaper that Cabinet had already signed off on pay for councillors. I thank all of my colleagues for the respectful way in which this debate was conducted, which is a testament to all of them....

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. It is good to see a fellow county woman here. She will be aware that there are 143,000 people involved in the airline industry here. As my colleague, Senator Buttimer, said and as the Minister of State pointed out, the industry is now on its knees. Not unlike Senator Buttimer and, I am sure, others in the House, I have been contacted by...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome. Like my colleague, Senator McDowell, I have serious reservations about legislation coming to this House and going through all Stages in two hours. This demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the democratic process and the function and role of this House. It is an emergency and, bearing that in mind, I am prepared to go for it. I cannot understand why we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 (2 Mar 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not interested in how many eligible people there are in any particular county; the Chairman can send me the national figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 (2 Mar 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: That is what I said. As a national politician, I am interested in the national figure.