Results 381-400 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am glad it has led to Senator Coghlan's awakening with regard to salary issues and the terms and conditions of employment of councillors throughout the country. I will be tabling a Commencement matter for the Minister, Deputy Kelly-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will be tabling a Commencement Debate matter with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the issue of salaries for county councillors. Did I agree with Senator Paul Coghlan? At the very least they should be looking at 50% of a Senator's salary. The Leader will recall that before the Easter break I raised the issue of bullying in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I also welcome the Minister of State and thank the Cathaoirleach for scheduling this important and sensitive topic for discussion. What we are talking about is the low rate of representational payment to city and county councillors. I began the discussion last week when I raised with the Minister for Social Protection the important issue of councillors' PRSI contributions. Councillors...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will finish on this. Will the Minister of State commit today to assembling a group to review the pay, terms and conditions of councillors and to review in particular the PRSI tax? It is time for change and for fair play for local representatives. I know other Members of this House already made the position clear some time ago.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. She mentioned that the representational allowance is not a salary but why are we charging PRSI, a pension levy and a universal social charge on it? If it is not a salary and there is no master-servant relationship, why is it not a straightforward allowance without any attachments? I appreciate where the Minister of State is coming from with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Leader for that intervention. The representatives in the Local Authority Members Association want to meet the Minister.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That can be done through Senator Cummins.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I respectfully ask my colleagues to defer their request to amend the Order of Business for two reasons. First, I have submitted a substantial amendment in this regard and, second, the Leader has committed, in only the past few minutes, to bringing the representative groups to meet the Minister. We should give him time to arrange that engagement and perhaps have the debate just before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Six houses in Millfield Manor, Newbridge were burned down recently in an arson attack. The owners of the remaining properties in the estate have serious concerns about the safety of their houses and apartments. In particular, the complete collapse of the six houses has led to concern about the soundness of their construction. Residents are concerned, too, about the impact of the fire on...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Leader has agreed to take No. 68, motion 15 on the Order Paper without debate. I have a substantial amendment to motion 15.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I would be quite happy-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I would be quite happy to have it taken without debate if that is possible.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support what has been said by my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, on the sale of Siteserv by IBRC. This matter has clearly been rumbling around the halls of Leinster House, and around many other halls, for a long time. There is something just not right about the matter. It is time for a full, open and independent inquiry into the matter. I would be obliged if the Leader would...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: As of today, only 20 teachers have undergone training. Training sessions were set up in education centres throughout the country but no one has attended. Why have we not tried to resolve the industrial relations issue rather than waste money sending officials to deliver inservice training to people who will not attend?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We need the Minister to come to the House to explain the matter as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The unions are.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the Minister of State on bringing forward this Bill which I welcome. I welcome the merger of two entities in so far as it allows for a single point of contact for those who want information and access to grant aid, etc. As a trade unionist, however, I am always concerned that there might be rationalisation associated with it, resulting in some job losses. I would like to see...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Then there are Derval O’Rourke, Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly. How did this tiny country, with the resources we had put into sport, breed such fantastic sportspeople? The sportspeople of today have a lot going for them, but in the time of Senator Eamonn Coghlan, Ronnie Delaney or Christy O’Connor there was not much going for them. We have achieved a great deal as a country, of...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: No, I was not really in short pants when Senator Eamonn Coghlan was running. I thank the Minister of State for introducing the Bill