Results 2,061-2,080 of 5,749 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: My colleague, Senator Boyhan, has made the case for all of us. I recall the first day the Luas track opened in Leopardstown. I waited for the Luas to arrive to go into town. An elderly lady came up to me and said, "Isn't it marvellous that the Harcourt Street line is open again for business?" In thinking about the Bill and public consultation, I found myself thinking about planners. The...

Seanad: Technological Universities Agenda: Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not a spokesman. As I am an independent Senator, I do not take a spokesmanship but I will speak on this matter.

Seanad: Technological Universities Agenda: Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is world-renowned. Nobody ever had to call it a university. I was president of the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, when we started the technological university drive. I was not convinced. I am still not convinced we need to refer to these institutions as universities. The previous speaker, Senator Byrne,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator Boyhan's proposal that No. 24, motion 8, on the Order Paper be taken before No. 1. I join colleagues in expressing my deep disappointment with respect to the Finucane murder. It is important to remember that Pat Finucane was the highest profile person killed in Northern Ireland through collusion but there were hundreds of others, and a truth commission in Northern Ireland...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House. I believe this is the first time I have met him in this House as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ordinarily, I would be screaming to the high heavens as we try to rush Bills through the House but I fully understand where the Minister is coming from on this one. At the outset, I wish to pay him a compliment personally. Every time we have hit a bump in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I would like to complement Senator Kyne on what he has just said. He is a typical rural politician, he understands what is going on in his local area and as a fellow Galwegian, I congratulate him for bringing that forward. We need to support local industry. Speaking of supports, there is an issue I often discuss in this House, which some Members think is purely political but it is not. It...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: And George Best.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Establishment of an Independent Public Inquiry into the Murder of Pat Finucane: Motion (26 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I have very little to say on this other than to express my deep regret at the loss of Mr. Finucane's father, a man who was doing his best for the society he worked in. It is simply not good enough that it has dragged on all of these years. I know that colleagues in Sinn Féin have always felt that there should be a truth commission to go back over some of the things that happened during...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday evening on the six o'clock news we heard a report from a secondary school in Carlow. The people behind the story need to be given an opportunity to explain themselves. I was absolutely horrified as a former teacher to think anybody would go into a room of young women and talk to them about their dress and sexualise them on the basis of their dress. The principal of the school...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I have been fulsome in my praise for the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, and the work he is doing with the Defence Forces, and I maintain that position. However, I was deeply disappointed last weekend to learn that national pay talks have started - at least, that is what we believe - and, contrary to the position of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, that the Defence Forces would be at the...

Seanad: Combating Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (24 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. I support Coco's law. Some weeks ago, the parents and grandparents of two beautiful girls were outside the gates of Leinster House with the girls' photographs. Looking at the images of these girls, one found oneself wondering what happened, why and how. My mind immediately goes to the mother and father standing in a mortuary looking at...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator McDowell's amendment to the Order of Business. I want to remark on the performance of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, in the Dáil yesterday. It was really heartening to hear a Minister for Defence speak about the rejuvenation of the Defence Forces, putting them front and centre and making sure they have the resources they need to drive forward. The terms of reference of...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the opportunity to debate Seanad reform for the second time in as many weeks. In 2013, when I was not a Member of this House and never dreamt that I would be, I did everything that I could during the referendum campaign to ensure that this House would survive. When I was elected to this House, I was deeply honoured, and I am as...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We worked hard.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Sorry, I was here for all the debate.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: If the Senator had his way we would have a year for the debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: First and foremost, I second Senator Gavan's amendment to the Order of Business. I echo what Senator Black said. She is 100% correct about the Debenhams workers. It always amazes me that when these companies go bust, they walk away and leave behind a trail of utterly decimated workers, some of whom end up on the breadline. I fully support what the Senator said. It is time we had a debate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I join the Minister and colleagues in expressing my condolences on the death of Saeb Erekat. The loss of any man of peace to this world is a serious loss. In conjunction with Senator Ardagh, I would like to believe that we would have some sort of rolling audit on the achievements of Ireland in terms of its membership of the UN Security Council. The people would like to know what we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We are talking about a shared island. Looking around the room, I see one major group missing. What engagement was there with official unionism or political unionism in the North of Ireland before the Taoiseach's announcement was made, or is this a solo run on the part of the Irish Government? I wonder if any unionists are employed on the shared island project. I see Dr. Farry looking at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (12 Nov 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully appreciate that but-----