Results 4,061-4,080 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish the outgoing Taoiseach all the best as he sails off into the sunset in the west. I also wish the new leader of Fine Gael the best as he takes the reigns and moves forward in seeking to remain in government until 2020. We were promised that the Sale of Alcohol Bill would be brought before the House and completed prior to the summer break. I understand the Minister for Justice and...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Session A today is an engagement on the future of Europe with Mr. Pat Cox. At our last meeting a number of witnesses focused on the impact the UK's withdrawal may have on the future of the European Union. Today, we will continue on that theme and we are delighted that Mr. Pat Cox has joined us. Mr. Cox does not really need an introduction to this group. As a former president of the...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask Mr. Cox to respond to Senators Paul Daly and Gerry Horkan before we move on.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Are we straying from Brexit now into other issues?

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: With all due respect to the Senator, the Muslim community and its needs are outside the conversation we are having here in respect of Brexit.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will pose one or two questions to Mr. Cox, if I may. This committee should be focused on solutions rather than the problems. The problems are well rehearsed. Michel Barnier and various other senior European officials have stated, as have the British, that their intention is to have freedom of movement on this island. What is Mr. Cox's view of a federalist-type solution for the island of...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Cox for engaging with the special committee. If, at any stage, he wishes to contribute more, he may do so directly through the secretariat. I thank him for his answers and time.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Transport Policy (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: On behalf of the special committee, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Kevin Toland, chief executive officer, Dublin Airport Authority, and Mr. Aidan Flynn, general manager, Freight Transport Association of Ireland, and their colleagues. The committee has already had a session on transport policy which we found extremely useful. Significant, practical issues emerged during our previous interaction...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Transport Policy (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Toland. We will now turn to Mr. Flynn who is general manager of Freight Transport Association Ireland.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Transport Policy (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Flynn for his comprehensive overview and invite Senator Gerald Nash to open the questioning.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Transport Policy (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will pose a few questions myself before reverting to the delegates. We all welcomed the announcement of the development of Dublin Airport as a new hub for trans-global flights. Where does Brexit leave the airport in terms of its ability to compete with the likes of Heathrow Airport? In terms of freight transport, my colleague, Senator Paul Daly, has already referred to roll-on,...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Transport Policy (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Flynn and Mr. Toland for coming and giving of their precious time. They have certainly given us a lot of food for thought. The committee continues to sit over a number of weeks. If there is anything the witnesses feel they would like to add, they should feel free to contact the secretariat.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome Ms Sharon McMahon and Mr. Barry Fox from the Loughs Agency, Mr. Brian Kavanagh from Horse Racing Ireland and Mr. John Comer and Mr. John Enright from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA. This will be a very interesting session with a range of issues to consider. We are particularly interested in hearing from the all-island bodies in respect of the following...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Kavanagh, whose presentation exemplifies one of the problems with Brexit. It is an industry that most people in the country know about but very few are aware of the impact that Brexit would have on it.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mrs. McMahon for what was an extremely positive view of where we are going post-Brexit.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Paul Daly wished to come back in.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will wrap up the questions, if that is okay. I will start with the Loughs Agency. The legislation is quite dated. It dates back to 1952. There is underpinning in the Good Friday Agreement. Is the Loughs Agency satisfied that the legislation is robust enough to meet its needs now? It is funded on a 50:50 basis. In the event that there is a hard Brexit and the funding dries up or the...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will interject for a moment, if I may. One of the echoes going around in my head is what I have been told in Europe by European politicians and bureaucrats. They are all saying the same thing, "Please bring me a solution." I ask the witnesses to comment on this. Does Irish politics have a solution to offer or are Irish politicians looking to the witnesses to give us a solution we can...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Dr. Boylan and Mrs. McMahon and her team.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with All-Island Bodies (7 Jun 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Just before we finish up, I refer to the reception the Irish situation got in Malta last week. While many people in this country believe very little is going on, I was amazed at the level of support we got from our 27 partners at COSAC, all of whom said they had their own problems but recognised the unique problem in Ireland. I encourage the witnesses to bring forward solutions as they see...