Results 4,381-4,400 of 5,765 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to make a couple of points. Senator Higgins made the point that sometimes people are not listened to. My understanding is that the planning officer who visited Derrybrien was highly supportive of the project. I did not speak to the lady myself so I cannot be 1000% certain of that but my understanding is that she was supportive, that she brought that view back to her bosses but that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is amazing how one’s mind works while sitting here listening to debate. I am not sure if the Minister of State is aware of EnergyCloud, which is operating in the north east at the moment, with the assistance of SSE Airtricity and a number of other electricity suppliers. EnergyCloud operates on the basis that wind turbines produce energy even when it is not required. In the north...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Of course we can.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: We can ungroup them. The House can do so.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry, no. With respect, that is not the way things work. The House decides its own rules, not the Chair.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: We can do it now.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is the first time I have heard that we have to do it incrementally. We have often-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is not my recollection.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Before we proceed to discuss amendments Nos. 1 and 2, I want to pose a few questions. There has been some interaction outside the House on the Bill's progress. There are a few things that I need to establish before we move any further. I ask the Minister of State to state what level of aviation expertise there is in her Department. Who is the aviation expert advising the Minister?

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Of course it is.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, but it is relevant.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am terribly sorry. It is clear from the air accident investigation unit, AAIU, report on Rescue 116 that "The Minister for Transport should ensure that the Department has sufficient specialist aviation expertise to enable it to discharge effective oversight of the full range of IAA activities". This Bill is about regulating the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA. I need to know who is the...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: This is pertinent to the Bill.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator Buttimer for his input. The visit to Shannon had nothing to do with the-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Precisely.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry but a number of things have happened since we were last in the House discussing the Bill and they need to be cleared up before we go any further. With respect to Senator Buttimer, of course the air traffic control people were excellent. We are separating them out. This is part of what is happening in the Bill. I do not have a problem with what takes place in Shannon. It was...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to address the point Senator Buttimer has made. IBEC may have spoken to him this morning and lobbied him but it is not advising the relevant Minister on what it wants to do. It may have input to the Minister but it is not advising the Minister.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: No.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am going back to the AAIU report, which states that "The Minister for Transport should ensure that the Department has sufficient specialist aviation expertise to enable it to discharge effective oversight of the full range of IAA activities". This Bill is about oversight of the IAA. Who is the expert in the Department? Who is the aviation expert in the Department advising the Minister?...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: We can accept there is not an aviation expert within the Department right now, and I would be grateful if the Minister of State would confirm that. It is important as the legislation progresses that we are dealing with a Department that does not have the expertise to oversee the organisation for which we are legislating. I would like confirmation of that, in the Minister of State's reply....