Results 661-680 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Well done.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to ask the Leader if he could check a matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality. I read a most disturbing account of what took place in Trim court last Friday. I know I cannot name names here and will not do so. Apparently, a member of the public was taken from that court on the instructions of the judge with respect to some query about contempt of court. The man was...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I cannot believe we are still going down this route. What if we were to legislate to allow a person to serve only once in their life as a Minister? How would that sit with us? It would not sit too well. We are talking about people here. Look at the officials who support the Oireachtas. They work here all the hours God gives. They are here for as long as we are here, they are available...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am concerned about what will happen in the case of someone who has been serving as a Clerk Assistant of the Seanad or the Dáil, but whose contract is not renewed at the end of the time period that is being imposed in this legislation for some reason or other. Will that person's career be over? Where will he or she be going in the public service? Where is his or her future? Such a...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Leas-Chathaoirleach made a very useful point when he indicated that the Minister of State had run out of road on this issue. The question Senators have asked has still not been answered. To introduce legislation that has a cloud hanging over it and could have repercussions throughout the public service would be a very serious mistake to make for the Houses. This legislation could...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I, too, thank the Seanad staff, particularly for the help, assistance and mentoring, to some degree, I received when I came here. In recent days I have received a number of telephone calls from councillors around the country, all referring to three basic issues, namely, entitlement to sick pay, the negative impact on household incomes of full-time councillors with no other income and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I realise that, but the motion has not been taken. I am receiving calls from people who are sick and have no income because they are councillors. Last night I received a call from a councillor who, as a lone parent, had lost all of her welfare payments because she was a councillor. It is not good enough and all we are offering is soft talk. Everybody in the House has been in contact with...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: You promised open and honest Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: All the time.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support the amendment. I am one of the few people in the room who has worked in Aughinish Alumina, as did my former colleague. We were regularly paid to have our cars washed and polished due to chemical spills that took place within the confines of the island. Let us be under no illusions. On the positive side, Aughinish Alumina is a good employer and provides many jobs for the people...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Well said.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 9: In page 55, to delete lines 13 to 26 and substitute the following: “(2) The database shall be the property of the Department of Social Protection for the purposes of payment of the grant and be subject to the provisions of data protection legislation.”. I regret that the Minister of State is taking the flak in the Chamber and the senior...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am looking forward to receiving the €100. The wife and I will have a party with it, but I will not be paying my water fees.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Incidentally, if there is any suggestion that I will find myself on a database that is not controlled under data protection, I will have serious difficulty with it. I seek an assurance that the database, if it is created, will be the property of the Department of Social Protection. That should be provided for in the Bill, as amendment No. 9 proposes.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They are paying €100 for it.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is what the Government is doing.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I would love to know what education is being provided.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I would love it.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Jul 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I might have to request an immediate adjournment.