Results 3,421-3,440 of 5,749 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I understood that the Minister said that it would not require the full committee.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I assume that the phrase "the intense deliberation of the full committee" means that the full committee do not have to be there. I ask the Minister to clarify the matter. As the Attorney General is one of the 17 members, if the Attorney General is a candidate then he or she must clearly withdraw. In that case who replaces the Attorney General to retain a members of 17 people?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: 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) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I support this amendment. There is nothing more important than making sure that boards are aware of procedures and have the necessary training in human resources and in the skills their members will require. We spoke about diversity a lot the other day. One of the things of which we would want to be very sure is that the commission established under this legislation would be a diverse...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for that import into the debate. I am very supportive of what he is now talking about. As Senator Clifford-Lee said, with a group as diverse as 17, clearly a number of whom will be non-legal people, the individualised training is good. I am sure the standing orders of the committee when it is set up can facilitate the different needs. All that would be required in the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: 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) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: Would green get one over the line?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: There should be a quorum present for this debate.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: The first thing I will say about this provision is that it is almost classic of what is going on now, that is, bringing in a consultant so when one gets the decision wrong, one can blame the consultant. Let us look as section 11(7)(a), in particular. One can enter into a contract with any person. It does not tell us what the contract would be about and it is rather confusing. It states,...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: It is the new industry.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator McFadden who lives in the heartland of the Defence Forces and who works with them on a constant basis. The Minister constantly tells us that the White Paper is the pathway forward for the Defence Forces. If one reads it, however, there is not one word in the White Paper about retention. We have no plan for keeping the expertise that we have spent millions training. They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I am terribly sorry that I was not here for the ambassador's presentation. Unfortunately, the madness of Parliament as we come towards the holidays, with votes being and so on, played a part. I am sure the ambassador is well aware of what goes on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate him coming here and I wish Austria well with the Presidency as it takes on the onerous task of managing European affairs for the next six months. I note in the ambassador's presentation that he raised migration, which is an issue that interests me and to which I try to refer every time I get an opportunity. I regard migration as more important and pressing than Brexit because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Discussion (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: It is vitally important that parliamentarians attend the conference on subsidiarity. As I indicated to Mr. Timmermans at a conference some months ago, we must also extend the hand of the European Union to the regions or local authorities because there is a tendency to deal with national parliaments only. The problem is that the Union has difficulty in connecting with citizens. The closest...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: The Leader will know I have some interest in the position of the President. I understand the Government is going to hold referenda later this year to tidy up the Constitution. One of the places that it might consider tidying up is the nominations for President. It is held among the political parties. This makes it very difficult for any citizen of the State to successfully seek a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: Be quiet over there in Fianna Fáil. You are a gutless shower who pulled out of it last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: Do not give me any of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: May I continue? The Senator will not be on the Council of State if he is not quiet.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: I will confine my-----

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: What I am talking about is extending the nomination process in order that there is an alternative route outside of the political system. It is something that we might have a debate on with the relevant Minister after the summer break. I am sure whoever is sitting in my seat will not mind taking up the issue on my behalf. Last night we had what can only be regarded as a disgusting shambles....