Results 4,061-4,080 of 5,872 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday I sat and listened to the Taoiseach responding to Deputy Micheál Martin and stating that there was no crisis in the Defence Forces. The truth of the matter is that being 1,000 technicians short amounts to a crisis. Stepping away from the defence role of the Defence Forces, let us consider for a moment their frequently overlooked role in the security of the State. We have an...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Personally I do not mind. It is a matter for the Leader's own party.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Are we going to have an argy-bargy here?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I am asking that a Minister be appointed who is capable of rebuilding the Defence Forces. I have one final point. I spoke here yesterday on the issue of mortgages. Based on Article 30 of the Constitution, the Attorney General has a duel role in this country. One is as advisor to the Government on matters of law and the second is as defender of the public interest. What is currently going...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no gender pay cut there.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There was a great deal of discussion yesterday regarding the information emerging about the activities of banks in this country. Few in this House can know what it is like to wake up in the morning and realise one is about to lose one's home. I have actually been there, but it happened back in the days when I could walk in and negotiate with my bank manager. I was fortunate that the bank I...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Situation in Catalonia: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Go raibh maith agat. Tá nóiméad anois ag an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh.

Seanad: Situation in Catalonia: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: As time is tight, I ask the next speaker, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, to conclude on time to allow Senator Bacik to contribute.

Seanad: Report on Lone Parents in Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a great pleasure to welcome you, Minister. This is the first time I have had that opportunity. Group spokespersons have eight minutes and all other Senators have five minutes. Minister, you have the floor.

Seanad: Report on Lone Parents in Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister will be delighted to hear that I will not take eight minutes. She has been bamboozled this afternoon with statistics. While they are all extremely relevant I do not intend to take that route. Any increase the Minister could achieve for lone parents was welcome. However, one aspect of our lone parent policy that bothers me is the talk about work incentive schemes. Being a...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Go raibh maith agat. I want to congratulate the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces on the publication of the 2016 annual report. Over the period the ombudsman received 82 complaints which is a reduction of 35% since the peak of 2012. Some 67 complaints came from enlisted ranks, with an additional 15 coming from the commissioned officers ranks. During 2016, 137 cases were under review and 24...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you, I am just about finished, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The figures are 183 company sergeants, 133 company quartermaster sergeants, 603 sergeants, 547 corporals and 1,815 privates. The Defence Forces are in crisis and need rebuilding from the ground up.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: They could not care less.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Giving out medals.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Destruction.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Some 30% are walking out before-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: This is grossly unfair because the Leader I knows I cannot respond.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I am shocked.