Results 5,141-5,160 of 5,765 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with the best wishes to Mary as she moves on to the next stage of her life. On 8 November 1960 an ambush took place in Niemba in the Congo. On this day that same year the bodies of the troopers killed in that ambush were brought home to Ireland. I want to read their names into the record: Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson, 2nd Field Engineer Company; Sergeant Hugh F. Gaynor, 2nd Motor...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minster of State is welcome to the House. I thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues for introducing this motion, although they seem slightly obsessed with AI and its use for elections and the like. Let us be honest about it: I can think of no situation where we will have an artificially intelligent Minister of State sitting in front of us answering questions in the House. As such, we as...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: To leave aside the jokes and get down to the serious issues, AI has the capacity to rapidly evolve cybersecurity risks within our country. Not only is our country suffering from these, so too are countries right across Europe. The level of cyber awareness that exists within populations is desperately and deeply worrying, as is the replication capacity of AI. We saw just today in The Irish...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line where the National Cyber Security Centre is concerned is that we cannot put enough money into it. My final plea to the Minister of State is that the Government fund industry with respect to cyber awareness. Our nation should be the most cyber-aware country in the world given the amount of FDI in it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I came up here to talk about security but Senator Ruane has sent me off on another track. She is 100% correct. We have let communities down in areas. I lived in Limerick for a number of years and there were two estates whose residents were constantly referred to as troublemakers, scumbags and so on. In Galway city, there were similar estates and there are areas in Dublin that are...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I should start by saying that I am delighted to see that the Naval Service seagoing allowance has been retained. That is one of the good things in the budget. An awful lot more work needs to be done with respect to our soldiers, sailors and airmen. The Minister of State might consider whether the duty allowance should be made tax-free. That...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Some time ago, I spoke, and the Leader herself spoke, on the appointment of the next head of intelligence for the State and it surprises me that they are continuing with the appointment. Former colleagues from the UK have contacted me and they cannot believe that we would even consider the appointment of a foreign national. By the way, those who came in here and accused me of racism, etc.,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no need to give way.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line on it is we really have to think about what we are doing. The person who will take over intelligence in this country will have access to information on all of us, on past deeds in this country and on those who were involved in various different things down through the history of this country. Micheál Martin, in the Dáil the other day, said that the person appointed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I stand foursquare behind the Minister. She is doing a fine job and should continue to do it. I also think the Garda Commissioner is doing a fine job and he should continue to do it. On the riot, I am probably the only person in this room was ever actually involved in a riot. I was sergeant in charge of a riot section and we faced 15,000 people on that particular day. I can tell the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Ukraine: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We do not have a lot of time to go into the briefing, which was quite comprehensive. I am concerned about the issue of sanctions. It seems sanctions are being ignored or abused. Is there any evidence that Irish companies have tried to find a way around the sanctions to supply Russian industry? There is lots more we could ask but we do not have time today.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I formally second the motion. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I think this is my first time to address him since he was elevated as a Minister of State. I am very happy for him. He was a good local representative himself in his time. We are talking about the erosion of power in local authorities and it is important that we put things in context at the very outset. I...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: When we look at issues like security and the personal security of county councillors, I note that the amount of money for telephone and broadband has been reduced.Why, when I get an allowance to carry out parliamentary duties, is it called an allowance when it is a sum of money that is not subject to tax? When a county councillor gets an allowance, it is referred to as pay and it is liable...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Last night, we had an excellent debate on the issue of members of local authorities. We are coming up to local and European elections, to be held next year, and a number of senior members of local authorities have decided they will pack it in at that stage. They will get a relatively small lump sum for up to 40 years of service in some cases. Why is it that outgoing members of local...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome. First and foremost, I want to congratulate him and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on what has been a very good social welfare budget. It clearly set out to look after the less well-off in our society, which is really good. I want to devote my time today to speaking about class K PRSI. I delivered a rapporteur's report on class K PRSI in 2016, which I have here...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry; I did not know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the new chairman of the NTA. I always put on record, when we speak to newly appointed chairs, the point that it is a complete waste of time for them to come into us because, at the end of the day, we have no authority whatsoever over their appointments. I thank Mr. Strachan for taking the time to come in to set out his stall. I will raise two issues that come across my table...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I will just come back on the Luas issue. There is an unfortunate situation for anybody who is wheelchair-bound or has very young children. Quite frankly, for those who are in wheelchairs, using the Luas to get to work for a 9 to 5 job is out of the question. They just will not be able to make it. Is there any way that a small section of the Luas could be restricted for people in...