Results 1,861-1,880 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I deeply appreciate that, a Chathaoirligh. I wish to say to the Leader that I do not believe anyone on that side of the House is doing anything to obstruct this. I believe the Leader himself and Senator McFadden are bending over backwards to try to get this solved. I want to acknowledge that on the floor of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Leader for his understanding on the matter.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, for being a man of his word. He said he would deliver within a period, and I think he was probably a week or two late. I also welcome his remarks on putting a review in place. It is about time that somebody had the guts to stand up and say we need to look at the work of our...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: She is expected back in the Chamber straight away. We need to implement a system whereby elected representatives can have maternity leave. That will require using technology to allow remote voting, child care facilities in the councils and to allow facilities for mothers who are feeding in the council offices. We need to do that. The travel allowance is very beneficial for those who are...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Leas-Chathaoirleach is telling me to sit down.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. I sincerely hope that we can get from him clear indications of where we are going regarding the reviews and the modification of the expenses. One would need Senators' expenses for councillors.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: That is very close to Senators. We need to break that as well.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Retrospectively.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator Paddy Burke.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There has been much discussion over the years about the use of Shannon Airport by American troops. There has been a great deal of talk about our neutrality. As permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, approaches, I am sure such talk is going to increase in volume and quantity over the coming months. It is important that I support Senator Higgins's request for a debate with the Minister on...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It is not because the troops in question are on a mission sanctioned by the United Nations. There was a time when one might question-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There was a time, in the very early days of the Iraq war, when use of the Shannon stopover might have called into question the issue of our military non-alignment status. However, I am of the view anything sanctioned by the United Nations does not breach that status. We heard this morning that PESCO will enable the Irish Defence Forces to purchase equipment on a global scale by , in effect,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I knew the Senator did that for me.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Senator said it anyway.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: My colleague, Senator Swanick, has covered most of the points I wished to make. Many of the proposals the Minister of State brings to this House are welcome, and lots of people will be grateful for what she is bringing forward in this legislation. In particular, taking on board the concerns of members of the Defence Forces shows the Government has been listening to at least one group whose...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I think this is my first time addressing the Minister of State in this House.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (21 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and compliment him on his work for the disabled in Ireland. He has done a tremendous job and is a great champion. I am delighted to welcome this long-awaited Bill to the House. Not only will it address the gaps in the 2005 Act regarding appointments to the State bodies established under the Act but it will also insert new provisions for...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree with much of what my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, said. We in this country have a tendency to try to bury the truth. If that fails, we go on a witch-hunt and pursue the wrongdoers. When it gets too close for comfort, the wrongdoers resign, take their pensions or go off and get an important job somewhere else. Everybody then sits back and it just rolls over and over. My office is...

Seanad: Tracker Mortgages: Statements (22 Nov 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will be as brief as possible. My colleague has covered most of the things I wished to say. One concern I have is that we seem to be talking more about Ned Kelly than the respectable banks the Minister of State and I once knew. I am quite concerned that somewhere along the line these gangsters must have come together and agreed that they would all apply the same principle on tracker...