Results 2,281-2,300 of 5,918 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Election of Vice Chairman (8 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am on the Committee of Selection in the Seanad and we have written to the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. The Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges also dealt with this issue yesterday. I am very much of the view, and I made this point yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, that the chairmanship will always go to a Member...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Election of Vice Chairman (8 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: It is rare to find a Senator. In fairness, and for parity of esteem for both Houses, and I hope Deputy Lawless understands my position today, I believe a Senator should be considered for the position of Vice Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Election of Vice Chairman (8 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully appreciate that.

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

Gerard Craughwell: Last week I spoke about the Public Service Management Act 1997 and, specifically, about the positions of advisers to Ministers. Advisers are the only people who are not accountable in any way to the public. I am asking the Leader to organise a debate in this House where we can explore how this might change and make the appointees more accountable, perhaps to Oireachtas committees. I am not...

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate her on her elevation. My colleagues have already addressed the issue of critical care bed capacity so I will focus on some of the other risks that exist within the HSE. I will add that hearing the Minister on the radio the other day talking about building bed capacity over the next two years did not really inspire confidence in...

Seanad: Statutory Right to Sick Leave Pay: Motion (7 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on retaining a ministerial post. I will talk about the occupational health services, particularly in the teaching profession. Some of the letters I have seen with respect to teachers with underlying health conditions are frightening, where the occupational health service says a person is in a high-risk capacity but not a very...

Seanad: Aviation Industry: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is a great honour to have a fellow Galwegian here. I am sure Galway is very proud of Deputy Naughton's elevation to a ministerial post. We are very lucky to have someone of her talent taking on the job. Covid-19 has devastated the international air transport industry, but it has also highlighted some of the grave errors in transport policy...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: There has been much talk in the media in recent days about the resignation of the former Senator and Minister of State, Michael D'Arcy. There is probably a problem because he spoke on finance legislation in the House last week. Leaving that aside, there seems to be no talk at all about the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sitting on the board of the FAI,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: They should have the courage to put somebody forward. There is no seat here belonging to anybody.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I did get in on a Fine Gael seat. I challenged the Members opposite and beat them at their own game. It is time that they realised that they do not own this Chamber.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Let me finish my point. I was interrupted.

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I am somewhat inclined to throw my speech out the window, so to speak, in responding to the debate.

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I join others in commending Senator Norris. I am mindful of the parents throughout the country who are dealing with conditions or illnesses in their children that might have been picked up had the service provided for in the Bill been available some years ago. Most of us have come across somebody in our lives who is struggling with a child who has a terminal illness or who is suffering with...

Seanad: National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: We often use the expression, "time is of the essence", in this House but it was never more vital than in this case. I am delighted and proud that Senator Norris asked me to be a signatory to this Bill. I am also delighted that everybody in the House seems to be supportive of it. Hopefully, the Minister will tell us in six months that we are ready to move and the interim report has answered...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I second the motion proposed by my colleague, Senator Higgins. Legislation is flying through this place at the moment, with all Stages being taken in one sitting and so on. She is 100% correct in what she has said. I join the Cathaoirleach in complimenting the Irish Defence Forces but I will qualify what I am saying. Words of respect for the Defence Forces in this House and the other...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I would like a debate on it.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: It is regrettable that again we find ourselves running through several stages of a Bill. I understand that a large number of people in the forestry industry depend on the legislation getting through. I understand urgencies of all sorts but running through Committee, Report and Final Stages of a Bill does not do the public any service whatsoever. In terms of the amendment, as my colleague,...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not want to delay the House, but I must address the allegation of crying crocodile tears or wanting to prevent legislation from passing through all Stages in the House. I am shocked that the former Leader of this House, a stickler for procedure whom I have always admired as a parliamentarian, would refer to Senators' wish for legislation to go through all Stages in a proper and...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: I support the Bill fully and, as the Minister of State can see, so do most of my group. There are no crocodile tears here. We just wish to do the public the service we are paid to do.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: Looking through the amendments on which my colleague, Senator Higgins, has just been speaking, I note that she has gone into the minutiae of the detail, as is typical of her. She understands that, while the Minister can give all the assurances she wants - and I know she gives them in the best of faith - there is still the question of those who come after her. The Senator is trying to ensure...