Results 5,661-5,680 of 5,770 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2022 and Related Matters: Discussion (11 Jul 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I note the number of complaints fell between 2022 and 2023. Was that possibly due to people having little more to do with their time due to having to sit at home during Covid?

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2022 and Related Matters: Discussion (11 Jul 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to deal with the thorny issue of migration, that Mr. Deering dealt with and showed great compassion about when he spoke. I think I am one of the only Members of the Oireachtas who actually went to Sicily to look at the wretched people being brought in from the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian Government invited us out at the time. I do not want to sound cold when I say this. I want...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2022 and Related Matters: Discussion (11 Jul 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am delighted a man of Mr. Deering's stature has maintained the independence of the office his forbearers had. It is so important we have Mr. Deering there. Most important, I would like the Ombudsman to tell his staff how much they are appreciated. At a time of crisis, the people need somebody they can trust and turn to. Over the 40 years of the Ombudsman's existence, we have always...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: My colleague, Senator Higgins, referred to the movement of weapons through Irish airspace. When asked about policing our airspace in a recent RTÉ radio interview, the Tánaiste replied that it would not be feasible in the Irish context. Will the Leader bring the Tánaiste to this Chamber to explain why he, as Minister for Defence, does not believe it is feasible for a sovereign...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: He needs to explain what he meant by-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: -----not feasible in the Irish context.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: We need him in here.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a pity the leaders of the country are not.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin. Andrew was a very fine soldier and his wife, Deirdre, was a very fine soldier. It was very sad being in Kildare on Sunday and seeing a number of people outside his house. It was a massive gathering. I could not make it to the funeral yesterday. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam. Iran looks like it is about to make an attack on Israel. It...

Seanad: Budget 2025 (Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform): Statements (1 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is a happy day for people in the Government because there is something for everybody in the audience and we should all be cheering. However, it would be remiss of me to stand here today and not find something wrong. From that point of view, budget 2025 has proved to me that Ireland is not a poor country by any measure. Indeed, our economy...

Seanad: Budget 2025 (Finance): Statements (1 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: This is the first time I have addressed the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, since he was elevated to the role of Minister of State. He must be delighted with this budget today. I am dreading his Instagram account. He will be standing in front of housing estates all over south County Dublin talking about the great job he has done. In fairness, the budget is a good one. It would be...

Seanad: Budget 2025 (Finance): Statements (1 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Better yet, instead of doing 1%, why did we not just take a whole tranche of people - the lower paid - out of that altogether? Lower-paid people are struggling. We need the people who work in jobs in the catering industry or in various support roles in hospitals and places like that. Why did we not just take them out of the USC altogether instead of benefiting people who can well afford to...

Seanad: Budget 2025 (Finance): Statements (1 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I cannot help it if Fianna Fáil members were briefed on that last night. That is another day’s work, however. The bottom line is that the 2013 pension reform has to find its way into the manifestos of parties going forward for election because it is detrimental to the public service and absolutely detrimental to front-line services. I ask for the Minister of State’s...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I second-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am glad the clock was stopped. I second Senator Martin's very worthy Bill and move my motion for a by-election to the Seanad.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Do I need to move an amendment to the Order of Business?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I move that No. 160(3) be taken before No. 1. Why am I doing so? As the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have said, there will be no election in the near future. This House cannot be allowed to operate without its full complement of Senators, so I am moving this amendment. I hope the Leader will accept it. The attack on Israel by Iran is bringing us one step closer to a repeat of 1914. All...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Sure it is just to give you a dirty look for Sunday.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: They should have put €5 on them.