Results 741-760 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: -----he gave to his nominees when he appointed them as I expect elected Members of the Seanad can speak for themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I have 30 seconds left.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I request that I be given a further 30 seconds.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Sometimes, things have to be put into the public domain.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Sometimes it has to be done this way.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Like the Leader and many other Senators who are here because they want to be here, I respect the privilege of serving in this House. I want nothing more than to be allowed to do the job I was elected to do. I want in future to ensure there is time for every Member to add to whatever legislation comes before the House. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There should be no groups in here at all, as the Leader knows. We should all be members of vocational panels, not groups.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Acting Chairman for extending the time of the debate. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House on this joyous occasion. I thank her and her Department for drafting this important legislation and for her proactive stewardship of this Bill and the marriage referendum Act through the Oireachtas. I entered this House as a 62 year old, conservative man who was always...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome Mr. Cussen. As outlined by him this project is without doubt one of the most exciting this country will see for many years to come. I hope Mr. Cussen will forgive my impertinence but we are in public session and I believe the public has a right to know a little more about Mr. Cussen the man. I am aware of Mr. Cussen's former position in the Department of Education and Skills....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I know the three Educate Together schools that opened this year are under the patronage of different bodies. One is under an education and training board, another is under the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, ACCS and the third is under the Joint Managerial Body, JMB. I do not think Educate Together can be patrons per se of a given school.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I think Mr. Cussen dealt with it very well. He mentioned the legal issue that he cannot discuss. As we bring these various groupings together, there is always a tendency to rush towards the High Court to resolve problems. I assume that as chairperson, one of Mr. Cussen's critical roles will be to try to get the various interest groups and agencies to work together. I was looking for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On the trade union issue, I do not believe it falls within Mr. Cussen's remit, but I understand the position of my colleagues. The only fear of the technological university staff is that Grangegorman will become the centre for levels 7, 8 and 9 and they will be relegated to dealing with lower levels. However, I doubt Mr. Cussen's office can do much about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I also congratulate Dr. Muldoon on his appointment. There can be no doubt as to Deputy Daly's commitment. As an educator and someone who managed a school himself, it is particularly poignant that he raised this matter today, and I am impressed by the way he spoke. I could not support him more if I tried. Deputy O'Brien is right, though. We need to go further, because some of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Everybody in this room is in agreement on the matter in any case. Reference was made to a case where a student became pregnant and subsequently sought to return to school as a mother. What this case illustrates is that we really are a nation with two sets of standards. We apply particular standards to one issue but all those nice principles go out the window in another area. We must deal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Would the issue of last minute examinations come into that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: After leaving these meetings, Dr. Muldoon must feel nothing but education exists in our heads. I can reassure Deputy Daly in that I do not think the teaching unions would have any difficulty whatsoever with an education ombudsman, provided he she did not stray into the area of teacher discipline. We have the Teaching Council to look after that. That brings me back to Dr. Muldoon's office...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support Senator Susan O'Keeffe's request for a debate on technological universities. I am somewhat concerned that we are moving forward and trying to develop new universities while not at all being sure that the plans will lead to an improvement in society. I also support Senator John Crown's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. Sadly, the great Irish boxing coach Billy Walsh...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I had intended to speak against Senator van Turnhout's amendment but I am delighted that she added the last few lines. Few in this House have defended the rights of children as much as she has. In standing up to speak against what she has just said I had that at the back of my mind. Senator van Turnhout has worked on getting the Bill moved through the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate where the Senator is coming from but some communities in this country do not hold the same views as us. We are now a multi-ethnic country with various religious beliefs and ethnic and cultural beliefs that will cause problems. I am delighted she will not press the amendment and will not impede the passage of the Bill.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On public service pensions, it is a fact, one that comes before conferences year after year, that public servants whether single or married are forced to pay for widows and orphans in their pensions. The only people who got a moratorium in this regard are members of the clergy. This provision has been challenged many times by teachers. Like Senator Norris, I cannot see how there is an...