Results 4,621-4,640 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: We come into this House on a daily basis and listen to Senator after Senator on the Order of Business speak about the constituencies in which they live and issues that are more pertinent to a county council or to the Dáil. This is the Upper House of Parliament. This House of Parliament is here to keep a check on Government, not to resolve issues that can be resolved by county councils...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: We will have to determine what this House should be doing and examine how that should be done. Senator O'Donnell referred to the fact that those in the media take no interest in this House. Why would they? For the most part, and let us be honest with one another, the Seanad is seen as either a crèche for those hoping to get into the Dáil or a nursing home for those who have given...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I will come back to the six illustrious people on the university panels. I refer specifically to the vocational panels. We need to get back to the vocational qualifications that were required, and to legitimise those qualifications when somebody goes forward for election. To return to the university panels, I have great sympathy for my colleague, Senator Norris. I would want to see the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: -----but we must walk before we can run. The first thing is to get the process changed and move on from there to reform the House properly and make it the people's Seanad. The Minister of State's contribution did not fill me with hope. He said we can get over all the problems but the more of them he outlined, the more difficult and higher the hill got.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate he has to-----

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully understand where the Minister of State is coming from but if we are to go about processing this Bill through the House, we need to look for solutions, not problems.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that, and I appreciate what the Minister of State was trying to do in that regard. Those are some of the points I want to put on the record. I support Senator McDowell. I will take the axe to some of the sections in the Bill to try to amend them to reflect where I believe we should be going but this is the first step. It is important that all of us get behind the legislation...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator John Dolan and Senator Grace O'Sullivan for bringing this important motion before the House. I congratulate the Minister on his current portfolio which he has taken on with great enthusiasm. I sincerely hope that people's expectations will not be overly complicated. I believe the Minister will do everything he can to deal with the housing crisis, but he is not God and can...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I support my colleagues in respect of the Cassells report. In seeking a debate, however, we must take a much broader approach. Senator Coffey referred to the need to examine the position with regard to apprenticeships. Until we have the two options of a vocational stream and an academic stream within the education system and until there is parity of esteem between both, we will not have a...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I call Senator Joe O'Reilly who has five minutes.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask the Senator to finish. There are others waiting.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Gallagher has five minutes. Other Senators have indicated that they wish to speak, but I have just over 12 minutes left, so if he could cut it short to allow other Senators to speak, I would appreciate it.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Lynn Ruane has five minutes. If she could cut it a little tighter, it would be appreciated.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Please, Senator. We are right up on time.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: That concludes the statements on social protection and we will move straight away to statements on public procurement. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: This week the role of the Attorney General was brought into question with respect to advice given to the Government.The role of the Attorney General was brought into question regarding the advice given to the Government. I am somewhat unclear about this. A number of people have contacted me about the statement made by my colleague in the Lower House, the Minister for transport, that the...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 10:In page 6, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:"Report by Minister7. The Minister shall, within three months of the enactment of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on measures that will be undertaken to tackle proceeds of crime within the unregulated gambling industry.". It is my great pleasure to welcome the Minister of State to...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State and the officials from the Department, with whom I have engaged on the issue in recent days. I did not put the amendment down to be in any obstructive or difficult. I am deeply concerned. I have been reassured by the officials and by the Minister of State's reassurance today. The Minister of State's particular interest in the area has given me great hope for...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I join my colleagues in thanking the Minister of State and particularly the officials in the Department who brought forward this legislation in jig time in light of a crisis that has hit this country. It is an excellent piece of work. There is work to be done all the time, but I congratulate the officials and the Minister of State. I look forward to a message going out from the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Food Safety Standards (6 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for attending and I congratulate him on his appointment. I am sure he is delighted. The Minister will be more concerned than most about the reputation of Irish beef, lamb and bacon, and he will want to protect it more than anybody. Much to the credit of the political system in Ireland, countless Ministers have worked precisely to do that. Much to the credit of the...