Results 2,161-2,180 of 5,749 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre and the Future of Direct Provision: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House. If she performs as she did in her role as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, the Department of Justice and Equality will have a great Minister.I am delighted to see her here. We have been bashing this about for some time. I became a Member of the Seanad in 2014 and, at some point in 2014 or 2015, Senator Norris introduced a Bill...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, we had a debate on education. I received an email this morning from a very frustrated principal. I have been contacted by several principals. The principal asked if schools will be responsible for taking children's temperatures at the point of entry to the school. Children from more affluent areas will be returning from continental holidays even though their families were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Buttimer has had his chance. Finally, I support the amendment to the Order of Business regarding the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 proposed by Senator Higgins. I do not know how we can get that Bill through the House today.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sure nobody in Cabinet set out to set up some sort of a Stasi-type operation in Dublin Airport, Cork Airport or wherever but it is a little disconcerting-----

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Regarding the case alluded to by Senator Higgins of an individual who booked a ferry trip but did not take it, somebody somewhere had to share that information. I am sure the Minister is as concerned about that as Members are. From that point of view, I fully support what Senator Higgins is trying to do. We need to know how this information was passed back and forth. Stopping people...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sure she was not out there.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I support Senator Warfield. I think the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, will have to revisit the issue of the order of speaking in the House. There is something wrong about the Government having two speakers-----

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I think it has to go back to the CPP.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: In any event, we are here to talk about education.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I accept that. I congratulate the Minister on her appointment and on hitting the ground running in what is the greatest logistical challenge her Department has ever faced. I welcome the fact that she will open schools and the measures she outlined today. I am encouraged that there has been significant stakeholder engagement during the planning process, but we must be honest with the...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

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

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for letting me in. There was a lot of talk towards the end of the previous Government about the massive number of 600 people who wanted to return to the Defence Forces. We now find that of the 600, 400 were deemed ineligible and, to date, only 11 have been called.Those 11 have not responded as of yesterday, as far as I am aware, as to whether they will take up the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: First Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the motion.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his elevation. It is proven that countries that invest in research power ahead. If one takes New Zealand and South Korea, there is a reason why they have managed so well with the coronavirus. Apart from excellent political leadership, they have highly-developed innovation and research sector. In Ireland, we pride...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am fully supportive of the Bill for further and higher education, innovation and so on. As I said in my Second Stage contribution, I have spent most of my working life fighting for equal treatment for people doing the same job. The education sector was notorious for people carrying out duties and not being paid for them. I have always held the belief that if one does the job, one should...

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

Gerard Craughwell: The State Claims Agency has not exactly crowned itself in glory in recent years, when citizens of this State have found themselves having to take legal action against a Department. I understand the role of the State Claims Agency in protecting the resources of the State and ensuring that every claim is scrutinised to its absolute maximum. I cannot understand, however, how the State Claims...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister to the House and I congratulate him on his elevation. We will miss him in the corridors of LH2000. I agree with the speakers who have said the Title of this legislation is somewhat confusing to the ordinary individual and I support Senator Ward in his suggestion regarding the need for consolidated legislation in the not-too-distant future. There is a lot of talk...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the former Attorney General, Séamus Woulfe, who was appointed to the Supreme Court yesterday. He has served the country and this House well. I raise the issue of closing pubs and responding on a national basis to what is in some cases a regional problem. We are taking a big stick to the entire country. While there are, without doubt, certain areas which are, for want...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: There has been much talk about front-line workers but the one group we constantly seem to pass over without mention is my former colleagues in the Defence Forces, who are paid below the minimum wage and do not have the means to push for an increase in pay. I know that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has taken the defence brief back on and I wish him well. I hope he starts to resolve some of...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus comhghairdeachas leat. It is a great day for the Cathaoirleach and for his family. Without doubt, he is the best known Senator in Ireland and I am delighted he was never on my panel.