Results 4,521-4,540 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: -----moneys that the Oireachtas has made available to the GAA-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: -----I believe we should have some input into its decision to sell the viewing rights of championship matches and perhaps the Leader might find some time to debate that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: The Leader is aware that we met the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, yesterday about the Social Welfare Bill. One of the issues which arose was the application of class S and a change of entitlements, especially for members of local authorities. We communicated this to those members yesterday and we have been inundated with queries this morning. For example, those who have...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: If Senator Coghlan does not mind-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: They are also concerned about those members who are over the age of 66 and if those members will have a refund of contributions. There is also the question of those who are over 66 and if they will now qualify for full-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: -----contributory old age pension. Will they be entitled to that with effect from 2017 or a pro rataold age pension depending on the contributions they have made? Members of local authorities have never been advised formally of their entitlement to make contributions over their lifetime with their local authorities for class A. In some county councils members have not been made aware of...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: That is a very powerful position.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Such commitment to the local area.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Another Independent first.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (10 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for coming to the House this morning. The issue I wish to discuss covers two parts of the Minister's portfolio, sport and transport. The Minister is not the type of man who would wish to have any form of nanny state to over-regulate the sporting side of our lives. Both of us would agree that all sports should be allowed to take place,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (10 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for the comprehensive answer. Perhaps his Department will consider notifying the retailers of these bikes that they are required to advise a customer who is purchasing one of them for someone under the age of 16 that he or she is breaking the law. I will conclude by asking the Minister a question. I do not expect him to answer it today. Will he ask his officials to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the request by my colleague, Senator Freeman, for the Minister for Health to be brought here at his earliest convenience to discuss the cuts to the budgeted figure for mental health. Mental health problems are a plague in this country, and we must do something about them. I had other things to say but I am afraid I cannot let the statements made by Senator Ó Ríordáin...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not like anything about Donald Trump, I do not like anything about what he has said and I do not like anything he stands for, but he is the elected leader, soon to take office, of the United States, where there are tens of thousands of Irish people. By standing up and criticising him now, our Government puts those people who are at risk over there in much greater jeopardy than they are...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: We find ourselves this morning in the middle of what I would call a perfect storm. We have Brexit, industrial relations problems that are bringing this country to its knees and, this morning, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Some weeks ago, I warned that we need to be careful in what we said about Mr. Trump because I predicted he might become President. I also...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask that we do something straight away on that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Position of Member States on Withdrawal of the UK from the EU: Discussion (8 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the ambassadors and thank them for attending. I wish to start with a point that was made by the ambassador from the Netherlands. During his presentation he said “ if the UK leaves the European Union”, which is something that is quite common among all of us who are watching what is happening in terms of Brexit. There is a vague hope that in some way this is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I rise this morning with good news about teachers. I was in Portlaoise last weekend with the TechnoTeachers Association, a voluntary group of woodwork and mechanical drawing teachers. It was wonderful to see the project work produced by 15 year old children under their tutelage and to see those teachers meeting on their own time in order to progress their subjects. We must take our hats...