Results 1,781-1,800 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I recognise their right to remain outside a group but, alas and alack, when we make a decision, we must live by the rules.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I have sat here on one occasion for two and a half hours of a debate and, as I got to my feet, I was told, "Sorry, Senator, we are out of time". Such is the price one pays for being an Independent without the support of colleagues. We in the Independent Group are truly independent. We do not really have a Whip and we never agree on anything.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It is purely a technical issue.

Seanad: Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to welcome him here. Prior to the Minister of State coming to this House, he was knee-deep in water trying to assist communities. His response in Donegal was second to none. He was in the area within hours of what occurred and he reassured the community. I have tremendous respect for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): Irish Congress of Trade Unions (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Mr. Bergin should please forgive me for being late as I was attending another meeting. I am just going through the written submission he made. I was in Brussels last week where we spoke about the future of Europe. I was mindful of the fact that a youth group had appeared before the committee some weeks earlier. Their focus was on social rights, a European Union that would move slightly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): Irish Congress of Trade Unions (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There are diminishing marginal returns to expansion. Given that Britain is pulling out at this stage, any rush to expand, in any direction, the European Union could be to the detriment of the Union in the long-run.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): Irish Congress of Trade Unions (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: We were asked to think imaginatively about the future of Northern Ireland. I suggested the notion of a federal state of northern Ireland, with representation in Dublin Belfast and London. That would allow those who wanted to be part of the Republic, especially companies, to remain part of the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): His Excellency, Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to Ireland (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you very much, Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): His Excellency, Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to Ireland (18 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree, Chairman. How does one follow that? As always on European affairs, my colleague, Senator Richmond, is very much on the nail. I fully agree with his point on the need for Europe to find a good public relations company and to stop allowing people to knock Europe constantly. I refer to the eurosceptics or the clowns that brought about Brexit, and I make no apology for calling them...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I am very interested to hear about Taoisigh being up ladders. The last time I recall one being up a ladder was when Charles Haughey was shaking hands with a window cleaner in Galway-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: -----who happened to be on the dole at the time. Let us leave that aside-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: In terms of the tracker mortgage issue raised by Senator Davitt, one of the questions we must ask ourselves is why someone is not taken out of a bank in handcuffs. Why is nobody in jail? What the banks did is outright fraud and they knew what they were doing. They set out to take money from citizens of this State, knowing what they were doing was wrong. Having being caught out, they have...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Go raibh maith agat. I want to congratulate the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces on the publication of the 2016 annual report. Over the period the ombudsman received 82 complaints which is a reduction of 35% since the peak of 2012. Some 67 complaints came from enlisted ranks, with an additional 15 coming from the commissioned officers ranks. During 2016, 137 cases were under review and 24...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you, I am just about finished, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The figures are 183 company sergeants, 133 company quartermaster sergeants, 603 sergeants, 547 corporals and 1,815 privates. The Defence Forces are in crisis and need rebuilding from the ground up.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: They could not care less.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Giving out medals.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Destruction.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Some 30% are walking out before-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: This is grossly unfair because the Leader I knows I cannot respond.