Results 2,181-2,200 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am delighted the work I started in October 2014 has come to fruition. When I ran for the by-election in 2014 to fill a seat in this House, I brought Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together to elect me. I am delighted that it has grown to what we have today and that we have managed to get a Government out of it. Sadly, we did not have Green Party members in the House at that time. If we...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to allocate some of my time to Senator Marshall. I thank the Minister for coming to the House. As this Bill passes through the House, I am mindful of the words of Dr. Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization that: "Speed trumps perfection." As such, I am sure none of us here will want to impede the passage of this Bill at this time. First, I extend my sympathy to the families...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I refer to the issue of abatement and military service allowance. Why not treat the military the same as student nurses?

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: The section deals with health and mental health. One of the issues the Government has been clear on is what companies should and should not be doing. I am getting word from people who work in areas, from example, safety deposit companies, where there are closed rooms, only one door in and safety deposit boxes, that staff are being told this is a critical business that has to stay open....

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 42: In page 26, line 15, after "Minister" to insert ", on the advice of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff". I will not delay the House on this. What I am trying to say is very clear, that is, that the Minister should act in operational matters only on the advice of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The legislation, as it stands, would leave the Minister...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose to withdraw the amendment because I do not wish to delay the House.

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 43: In page 26, line 16, after "where" to insert ", on the advice of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff,".

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 44: In page 26, line 19, to delete "in his or her opinion" and substitute "in the opinion of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff".

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 45: In page 26, line 22, after "may" to insert ", on the advice of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff,".

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 46: In page 26, line 24, to delete "in his or her opinion" and substitute "in the opinion of the Defence Forces Chief of Staff".

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am glad the Minister is in the House. Amendment No. 47 has been ruled out of order because it would impose a cost on the Exchequer but there are very simple things that need to be done to put the Defence Forces on par with the HSE. The HSE has been able to suspend abatement in pensions. It has been able to pay student nurses a full wage. Cadets, recruits and apprentices, who comprise a...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Who knows what the situation will be with unemployment post the Covid-19 crisis? Those people who have come forward to volunteer in the HSE, the Defence Forces, etc., need to know that their service will be terminated on their request, should they wish to terminate their service, the moment the Government declares the crisis over. I am not looking for that to go into legislation today, but...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: To follow on from what my colleague said about commercial premise leases, I know a number of businesses have come under severe pressure to pay rent when they are closed. The Minister might agree with me and I echo his sentiment that we may be in a different environment for commercial leasing post-Covid-19. A lot of these landlords are from big organisations so maybe they should step back...

Seanad: Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Motion for Earlier Signature (27 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I will not delay you long, a Chathaoirligh. This may be the last time I will ever speak in this House. I will let the Minister know on Thursday morning. First and foremost, I thank my colleagues for the support that I have always had since I entered this House. I thank the Government for the way in which I have always been treated. Any time I ever sought information or assistance I...

Seanad: An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála eile ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (20 Mar 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not think any of us ever expected to be here today speaking on this particular subject. I want to preface my remarks by congratulating the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, the head of the HSE, the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the many responsible citizens we have in our country. Sadly, not all of our citizens are responsible. On...