Results 5,441-5,460 of 5,767 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (21 Mar 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have a question. I spoke to the Chair some time ago about a prison officer. Has he made a submission?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I, too, welcome Senator O'Hara to the Seanad. Today is not the day for a discussion on by-elections. I came to this House through a by-election but we will have that discussion and I encourage everyone to join in. I thank the Fine Gael Party and the now Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, for choosing my home town for his first Ard-Fheis. I was delighted to see them there. If the Taoiseach brings...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: We had a junior Minister appointed to the Department of Defence in the recent reshuffle but given absolutely no responsibility in that Department. It is the second time this has happened. As a democracy, we are one of the outliers in the world with respect to the fact that we do not have a published national security strategy. There was a statement published some time ago but that is not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I second my colleague Senator McDowell's amendment. The time has come to establish whether we live in a democracy and whether this House has the right to debate issues that are important to the citizens of this State. Bringing in legislation and just ramming it through is becoming rather tiresome. I would have expected the referendums had taught a lesson to the Government to engage in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (24 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is decent and hardworking, and I regret he is here. This is nothing personal and I hope he accepts what I say as a professional observation. We have a Minister for Defence and a Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs and Defence. While I accept that the Minister for Defence is out of the country, it is outrageous that the Minister of State is not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (24 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming here this morning. It is not easy to come in and face somebody on questions in an area not designated as being within his area of responsibility. The concerns I have are not in any way alleviated by the document provided for the Minister of State by the Department. It is a matter that the defence committee will take up in the coming weeks. It is to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I will start by welcoming the ambassador from Estonia and the Estonian-Irish friendship group. Estonia has been a great friend to Ireland, particularly in advising in areas of cybersecurity. The willingness of the Estonians to host delegations from Ireland is something for which I am personally extremely grateful, as are those I brought to Estonia. It is great to be able to visit a country...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for coming to the committee. She is not a member and it shows a great interest in her community. I have a question for Mr. Carney. He mentioned the cost of freedom of information requests. He mentioned the figure of €351, if I am not mistaken. How much in total has he spent on FOIs at this point in time?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: In recent days the Taoiseach made a speech about people in this country who find themselves up against "city hall". It was specifically in relation to the Stardust. I cannot understand how any organisation would force a community to go down the FOI route to get answers to simple questions that should be answered by default. The local authority is there to serve the community and not to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Would it be fair to say that dithering has caused the installation cost to increase? The amount of €1,350 seems to have been acceptable to the community but because no action has taken place the people have been caught by escalating costs of labour and material. Is this a fair assumption?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to put in a formal proposal to the committee. I assume the FOIs went to Mayo County Council.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose that we write to Mayo County Council and ask for a refund of the costs of the FOI. I do not know whether it can be done legally but it should be done. It is outrageous that a citizen of this country would be forced to put his hand in his pocket to get answers to simple questions that the local authority is obliged to provide. To force somebody into an FOI is absolutely...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: That is excellent. I have some questions for Mr. Ivers. I thank Mr. Ivers for his statement. He talks about water being unavailable and having to go and draw water and put it into his well, so he is topping up the well two or three times a day.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: During dry periods. I do not know if Mr. Ivers is qualified to answer this or not. Are there health and safety issues in transferring water from one source to another place? For example, regarding the methodology used for transportation, and I do not mean to put Mr. Ivers on the spot. I am concerned about the consumers of the water he draws, whether it is drawn in suitable containers, how...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Ivers for being honest. He could have tried to fluff the question but he did not. He gave it straight as it is. Fair play to him for looking after those who are in the house and for doing the best he can. There is a question with respect to people's health being put at risk. I am sure, from listening to Mr. Ivers, that he has warned the family involved that they cannot drink...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: It is important that they have water. I live in urban Ireland. I have only ever had my water cut off twice and it was like somebody took away both my arms. I cannot imagine what it is like there. I do not think there is a lot more that we need to ask the witnesses. Their honesty and straightforwardness are impressive. We will follow that up with the local authority whenever the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have one quick supplementary question. Can Mr. Carney tell me when the scheme was first sought?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Was it in 2012?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry to interrupt. I read the statement. What relevance does it have to the discussion today? It sets out the Department's position with respect to water and the only thing it offers at the end is that the final or second last paragraph tells us that no application has been made by Mayo County Council for this water scheme. I do not mean to cut off Mr. Kelly. He put a lot of work...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise to Mr. Kelly.