Results 4,321-4,340 of 5,762 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: What is probably not known is that Susan suffered a double loss in that her mother died the day before Peter. We cannot comprehend the grief she must be feeling today and my deepest sympathy goes to her and her family. Peter was, indeed, a decent and generous man. I debated a Commencement matter yesterday with the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris. It concerned the National...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to answer questions about hospital waiting lists in the south east. The Minister of State knows that I rarely ever get involved in local issues. I do not wish to in any way insult the Minister for Health who is doing an excellent job, as is the Minister of State in his own role. The issues I bring to him today are issues which have...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Hospital Waiting Lists (28 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It was indeed. I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. There is just one thing he might relate back to the Minister. That is with respect to access to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. We had an advertising campaign some time ago that explained to the public how people who were on a waiting list for an extraordinarily long period of time could ask their consultant...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the Taoiseach. He went into a parliamentary party meeting of what appeared to be a divided party and he came out with a united party behind him. That was some achievement and he deserves to be congratulated on it. I am glad he will be given time to leave office at his own bidding.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I will move back next week.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I also congratulate my colleague Senator Neale Richmond on his selection as chairman of the Seanad's Brexit committee. He has shown himself to be a deeply committed European. During our tour involving 14 meetings in two days, he showed himself to be thoroughly knowledgeable on Brexit. I am delighted to work with him. I ask the Deputy Leader to consider in the near future a rapporteur for...

Seanad: Minimum Custodial Periods upon Conviction for Murder Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate my colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, on the introduction of the Minimum Custodial Periods upon Conviction for Murder Bill 2017. This is the work of the Seanad. The Seanad is about righting legislation that is wrong or in some way flawed. I am happy and proud to support my colleague Senator O'Donnell. I welcome the clarity this Bill offers the Judiciary in making...

Seanad: Minimum Custodial Periods upon Conviction for Murder Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Ó Ríordáin has eight minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I have long been a supporter of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the work he is doing to get house building back on the rails and people into housing. During the discussions on the programme for Government I asked if the Government would contact the Central Bank with a view to having rent paid recognised for the purposes of mortgage applications.As the...

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister and compliment him on hitting the ground running when he was appointed Minister for Education and Skills. Thus far the signs have been good and I am not saying it to boost his chances as regards anything that may happen tomorrow. He has done a good job. Equality of access has been discussed. Frankly, the nonsense of teaching religion in national schools must stop....

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: For the record, I did mention that.

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: If we are out of time, I can deal with the Minister directly.

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Underutilised, for want of a better word. I am looking for the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Joint Sitting with Joint Committee on European Union Affairs
First Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. Frans Timmermans: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Mr. Timmermans is very welcome. I have a couple of questions for him. First and foremost, everybody we speak to in Europe talks about the special status for Northern Ireland. Will the witness accept that it is a three-way process that will involve the goodwill of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland in negotiating some sort of special relationship? I feel that it will...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: When I turned on my radio this morning I heard that politics was being played with the Maurice McCabe issue, and I hope we will not have that in this House this evening. It is a very serious issue which has gone on for far too long. We have in front of us the terms of reference of the tribunal of inquiry, which I hope can be agreed in this House without politicising the issue. The issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: What I am talking about is in the public domain.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: It is in the public domain.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: Superintendent Taylor was forced out of his job for 22 months.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: The Garda Commissioner must take a neutral position and in doing so that requires that she steps down and steps aside while the tribunal is going on. Whether she returns or not will be a matter for the outcome of the tribunal, but she must step down, and she must do that immediately.