Results 1,441-1,460 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It was indeed. I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. There is just one thing he might relate back to the Minister. That is with respect to access to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. We had an advertising campaign some time ago that explained to the public how people who were on a waiting list for an extraordinarily long period of time could ask their consultant...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I, too, join my colleagues in expressing sympathy on the death of former Deputy Peter Matthews. I would not be here but for a signature he gave me when I ran in the by-election.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: What is probably not known is that Susan suffered a double loss in that her mother died the day before Peter. We cannot comprehend the grief she must be feeling today and my deepest sympathy goes to her and her family. Peter was, indeed, a decent and generous man. I debated a Commencement matter yesterday with the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris. It concerned the National...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: This morning as I was driving towards Dublin I was listening to the CEO of Allied Irish Banks, AIB, trumpeting the tremendous profits made by the bank and declaring that it was about to pay a dividend of €250 million to the State, the largest shareholder. While that in itself is good, let us examine it more closely. It is the most cynical move I have ever seen in my life. In fact,...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Vótáil.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes. I am glad that we have at last found out that Fianna Fáil is for the birds today.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Acting Chairman has suggested that he should leave the room and for the Minister to sit in the ante-room. That is what should happen. This Bill should be stopped in its tracks right now.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: We do not need this Bill in order to trim the hedgerows along roadways. That work can be done under by-laws. I have never been contacted by so many people and received so many polarised views on every aspect of this Bill. Sections of this Bill should be dealt with by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Bill is a...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The section does.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The amendment was to the section, yes.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: If the Acting Chairman and I depart then we can all go home. We know what will happen. Fianna Fáil will support this measure and the Bill will more than likely pass.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: With respect, I accept what the Acting Chairman has said. It appears that that is the case.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree with the previous speakers. It is all very well setting up organisations such as Waterways Ireland but they must be accountable locally. There is this notion that somebody in an office somewhere in the midlands can make decisions for the entire country without any local accountability. We are moving further and further away from local accountability as we progress legislation...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Following on from what Senator Paul Daly said, this section presents a serious problem. As Senator Daly said, we do not know where Waterways Ireland will stand post-Brexit? This entire section may be deemed totally and utterly useless. We could have two countries, the North of Ireland and the South of Ireland, each having a different set of regulations and different criteria. This has...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for agreeing to that. As a result of the 90 days I will be withdrawing four amendments straight away that were offering the Minister a compromise, but the Minister has not looked for one.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: That is reasonable.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Can we move amendment No. a1j?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Can I check with the Cathaoirleach that I can speak on amendments Nos. a1j and a1k in this section?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Senator Ruane has outlined the life of canals and how they are used to accommodate people whose lives go on there on a daily basis in the tourism area and for those who uses the boats as homes. One of the concerns is around certainty for barges. Amendment No. a1j looks for the Minister to insert “recognising the dimensions of heritage vessels currently...