Results 4,001-4,020 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Veterans: Discussion (16 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry to interrupt. On that point, I know some retired public servants who have through the organisations been employed to go back. They are not working for the State. They are working for the organisation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Veterans: Discussion (16 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Would ONE look at that option?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, I spoke about the frustration I was experiencing with respect to vaccine boosters. I was contacted shortly afterwards by a member of the public who heard what I said and he was, in effect, a facsimile of my case as his underlying conditions mirrored mine. His consultant told him to contact his GP and get vaccinated. He contacted the GP but was not on any list he could find so he...

Seanad: Air Accident Investigation Unit Final Report into R116 Air Accident: Statements (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. In his speech to the Dáil last evening, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, should have clearly and unambiguously informed the House that there is no Act of the Oireachtas on the Statue Book giving legal responsibility for Irish SAR to the Irish Aviation Authority. I will say that again: today, as I speak, the IAA is not legally responsible for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, I attended the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, biannual conference. It was probably one of the most depressing conferences I have ever attended. Clearly, nobody in government takes the Defence Forces seriously. Nobody cares about the way the organisation is being run into the ground. Yesterday, we had a Minister for Defence tell the assembled group...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I might be so bold as to suggest that at some stage we would refuse to process legislation, while our secretarial assistants are being treated the way they are being treated. This came before the commission three years ago, when I was sitting on it and nothing has been done. It is really outrageous. In any other organisation the secretarial assistants would be supported. We should consider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Veterans: Discussion (16 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome all my former colleagues. I am sorry I missed a small part of their presentations as I had to attend the Order of Business. The first matter regarding membership and retaining membership is an issue we encountered during my time in the Teachers Union of Ireland. Teachers retired after their service, melted away and were lost to the organisation. The Retired Members Association...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I thank him for the sensitive approach he has taken to deal with this specific issue. The society I grew up in took young women who became pregnant - and they did not become pregnant on their own - and sent them off to institutions. The society I live in today likes to blame those institutions for the way those women were treated. The first time...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this matter. He clearly regards it as important. When I first took my seat in 2014, I was immediately aware of the job of Seanad secretarial assistant, SA, and that it bore little resemblance to the work that SAs actually do. That was confirmed in a survey in 2017, which showed that Seanad SAs do the same work as parliamentary assistants...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his input. SAs will be aware of the fact that I am here and that this matter is before the House morning. If I am not misinterpreting what the Minister said, once the commission makes up its mind and comes to him with a proposal he will be willing to look at it and is anxious to have this matter resolved as quickly as possible. Going back to my time as a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, as is my colleague, Senator Buttimer. We have been speaking to the Coast Guard in recent meetings and a number of serious issues have arisen, some of which I have forwarded on to the Garda, and I will speak with them about more issues today. Caitríona Lucas, may she rest in peace, was lost in Kilkee. There had been warnings...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Is there a vacancy?

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As this is the first time I have addressed him since his elevation, I congratulate him on that. At the outset, I thank Senator McDowell for giving leadership to our group in this area. Sitting here, listening to the debate this afternoon, the level of passion from all sides of the House and the excellent speeches that were made by all of my...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I read this morning of a partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and the Royal Air Force. The Leader will recall that the Royal Air Force protects our skies because we cannot do that ourselves. It is depressing that the Royal Air Force is investing in cybersecurity innovation systems in Northern Ireland and our Minister for Defence lives looking over at Haulbowline where seven...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate the witnesses' attendance. I am sorry that I was a little late and missed their presentation. There was an interesting article in The Irish Timesyesterday relating to immigrants coming into this country, but not specifically relating to direct provision. The article's gist was that Ireland is a very welcome country for those arriving as either refugees or migrants - I have a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Ms Buckley. That is a comprehensive answer. I would like to raise a couple of points. Many who arrive on these shores come from authoritarian-type countries, where women, in particular, have an extremely difficult upbringing and survival within the communities in which they live. I wonder about their willingness to look at the structures, supports and rights-based facilities...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I am delighted that Ms Buckley said that because the Department does a phenomenal job in immigration and it cannot be easy. I have been critical of some of it and the way in which it is done. My colleague, Senator Murphy, referred to the purchase of centres or hotels to house migrants. I remember the situation in Oughterard in Galway well. Although I am from Galway I do not live there now...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a fair comment though.

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I spent 25 years of my life teaching in Dún Laoghaire and a fair number of sub-Saharan Africans in particular would have come through our college in my time. Would Ms Buckley see any benefit in educating the indigenous Irish, for the want of a better description, on the ethos and standards that some of our migrant communities have? I am particularly mindful of the Nigerians and the...