Results 4,201-4,220 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to second the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for giving the Bill a Second Stage reading. I thank Senator Billy Lawless and my fellow Independent colleagues for bringing the Bill forward in 2017. The need to repeal the Good Friday alcohol ban is raised on a yearly basis to no avail, but I am very hopeful today. We know that...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: -----and that should not be an impediment for moving this Bill on and delivering a more secular society. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Billy Lawless, for bringing this Bill forward.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I had the pleasure of visiting Kinsale two weeks ago, where I was a guest at the presentation of awards at Kinsale Community School, which is probably one of the most finely-run schools in the country. It strikes me that as we approach Easter and the education conference week, this House should acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by education to the economy, the work of teachers...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: -----and the effort and the time they put in, far outside the classroom, for things like extra-curricular activities.We should acknowledge that. We should also acknowledge the fact that, despite the difficulties in dual union second level schools, they have continued to deliver the curriculum at the highest possible level throughout the school year. I ask that we have a debate in the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I attended the debate last night in Dáil Éireann on the current state of the Defence Forces. I compliment Deputy Lisa Chambers on the wonderful presentation she made. Deputy Marc MacSharry addressed the issue I had addressed in this House yesterday, namely, RAF jets flying in Irish airspace. Subsequent to my presentation yesterday, the National Security Committee was brought to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: That is an unfair comment.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of information for the House-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of order, then-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no single authority with responsibility for the security of the State. The National Security Committee comprises four Department Secretaries General, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Garda Commissioner. Therefore, I agree with Senator Wilson that matters of military-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: As indeed we all do.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State has the floor.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Patronage (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I must ask the Senator to conclude.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Patronage (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you, Senator. I think you have made your point.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Patronage (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Senator is out of time. I call the Minister.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Homeless Accommodation Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The next matter, in the name of Senator Martin Conway, is the need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline when he intends to provide funding for Kerry County Council to upgrade Armagh House in Killarney, which provides emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless in south Kerry.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Homeless Accommodation Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Does the Minister of State wish to reply to that and thank the Senator for his good wishes?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Constitution is the most sacred document in the country. It drives everything we do and should control everything that takes place in this House. I refer to Article 15.6 on the right to raise and maintain military forces, which right rests exclusively with the Oireachtas. Imagine my shock at the weekend when I discovered that an agreement had been signed between this country and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It creates a merger or a partnership in respect of our sovereignty. We talk about our sovereignty all the time, yet we are allowing jets of the Royal Air Force, RAF, to fly over the country. The director of Irish military aviation and the general officer commanding, GOC, of the Air Corps has no knowledge whatsoever of the agreement. It is my understanding that when he learned of it, he was...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: They might be, but if they do come, I shall be safe.