Results 3,061-3,080 of 5,757 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I have seen public appointments go very wrong. I have seen this system working and I have seen how it can frustrate entire organisations where there is a trickle-down effect when an appointment is made. It can cause mayhem. If it causes mayhem in organisations not responsible for the administration of justice in the State, what would it do to the administration of justice? We already have...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: We have heard there is a need for this Bill to pass in order that other Bills could be acted upon.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Do not ask me right now. If I am wrong about that, I apologise. I understand the Minister's bona fides but they are no good when it comes to the workings of this Bill. The Bill must be robust and be able to meet the challenges that will arise as a result of the establishment of this commission. One of these challenges may arise, and in the opinion of my colleague, Senator McDowell, who is...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: It might expedite the passage of the Bill if the Minister were to look at the amendments coming forward and give some indication as to where he stood on them.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I think we will have a walk-through vote. Under Standing Order 62(3)(b), I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: There are no Senators from Fianna Fáil present but they may turn up.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: This is about the qualifications the State requires for appointment as, say, the President of the Supreme Court and an ordinary member of the Supreme Court. In the case of the Chief Justice such qualifications would include experience, length of time on the Bench, ability to administer and so on. These qualifications would be different from those required for appointment as an ordinary...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: That is most regrettable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: As a member of the Committee on European Union Affairs, I have been most impressed by the feedback we get from Europe and Members of the European Parliament who have visited the Border area and who have been briefed, in some cases, by local authority members. No matter how far east I have gone, I have found nobody in Europe who is not aware of the Irish Border and the issues surrounding it....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. When Mr. O'Hanlon began his presentation he reminded me of how local authorities can overcome all sorts of issues by working together. Sometimes things are driven locally that nationally we could not dream of doing. I am mindful of the fact that the day after the referendum Ms Keogan was on the phone to me demanding resources for local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: From what I have heard today it strikes me that the witnesses are the meat in the sandwich and that sandwich is made up of three parts over which they have no control, namely, Brussels, London and Dublin. Belfast clearly has very little say on what is going on. I have heard and understand the witnesses' frustration. It strikes me that nobody is going to blink until everybody blinks and we...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Is the Senator saying I am part of the elite?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday my colleague, Senator McFadden, raised the campaign for homeless veterans of the Defence Forces. She never misses an opportunity to bring forward Defence Forces matters, which is very much appreciated by all veterans associations. There are some buildings belonging to the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces around Dublin. The Irish Defence Forces Veterans Association, of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to address the issue of the national children's hospital and other associated matters. I have also been addressed and spoken to by members of the public about the waste of parliamentary time in calling for Ministers' heads every time something goes wrong.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: What changed in the Department of Justice and Equality when Deputy Frances Fitzgerald's head was taken? What changed when Deputy Dennis Naughten's head was taken? What changes in any Department when a head is taken? The same people are left behind doing the same job they always did. I have spoken previously about how the Carltona doctrine protects those who are behind Ministers. If the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Half of the Government has no faith whatsoever in the Bill. The bottom line on it is another little deal was done.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry but I am trying to get something across.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: Members of the public are entitled to fair representation in the House and we have had the nonsense for 86 hours. Now, I am told the Leader is to step up debate on the Bill to two days a week but for what? Why are we doing this? Half of the Leader's party does not believe the Bill is worthy.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: If the Leader wants to play that old game, we can play it. The bottom line is if the Government was honest-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: -----it would pull the Bill and let us get back to proper parliamentary work. We have had 86 hours of debate for what? The chances are when the Bill is eventually dragged through the House, the President will send it to the Supreme Court and it will be struck down because it is unconstitutional anyway.