Results 4,661-4,680 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I had to lead it previously.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come to the House to deal with this important matter for a second time. He will recall that on 27 January we both participated in a Commencement debate concerning a case of a former Permanent Defence Forces officer, a lieutenant colonel with a distinguished service record, and the recommendations of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: The reply is very much in line with the reply I received last January. At the end of the day, it is outrageous to think the Secretary General of the Department, from what I can gather, has not seen the ombudsman's report. It is even more outrageous that a junior official would take it upon himself to countermand a decision by a Minister, albeit that it was verbal, to decide to send the case...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I can give the Minister of State the name.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: No, the person has been seconded to the Department.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Ombudsman Complaints (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not believe that.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I am a little concerned about some of the utterances from the political class in Ireland as a result of the Brexit referendum. I hear people talking about how they got it wrong. We are democrats in this House and I ask the Leader, as a democrat, to acknowledge the fact that 72% of the electorate of the UK turned out, and 52% of those voted to leave the European Union. Whether we like that...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: They have made their decision.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: We must now work towards finding a way for us jointly to go together and ensure our Border remains open and that we remain part of the island of Ireland along with our brothers and sisters in Northern Ireland. It is not the time for people to start second guessing electorates or what might happen if we decide to go for an all-Ireland solution. It is a bit too early for that. I ask the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I call on the Leader to organise a debate on competition, particularly in aviation. I had reason to book a flight to Paris with Ryanair which cost €285.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I could not leave on the day requested and, subsequently, booked a flight for one month later for exactly the same period. I sought credit for the flight that I could not take and Ryanair did so. Were I to book the flight for 30 July it would have cost me €287. As I had already paid €287 for a flight in June, Ryanair credited me for the money I had spent on the flight and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: Aire, tá fáilte romhat. If ever we needed a steady hand at the tiller, we need one now, and the Minister is the right man for that. I am delighted to see him back in his current position. There have been many calls for a second referendum following the decision of 52% of the 72% of the UK electorate that cast their votes. This is a matter for the Government of the UK and I do...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: An all-island control with checkpoints established on entry to the UK would prevent this disruption but also carry the risk that Northern Ireland would become an Ellis Island for people going to the UK or trying to get into the EU. We need resources to deal with this issue. Calm heads are required to see how this situation can be managed.

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: It will require very careful planning, and the Government will need to move quickly if it is to position Ireland well. We need to get an agreed approach on the table quickly and lead discussions rather than letting them lead us. If we go to the European Union with a definite agenda of points to be addressed-----

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Acting Chairman.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I second the request made by my colleague, Senator David Norris, that No. 6, Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016, be taken before No. 1. In recent days I have suffered from a condition of almost sudden deafness in one ear. The other one was never good. Yesterday afternoon I came into the House to participate in a debate on waste disposal and was appalled by...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: -----but we should do so in a respectful way. I ask the Leader to call the leaders of groups and the Whips together to discuss the issue of discipline and how we behave in the House. We are Members of the Upper House of the Oireachtas, Seanad Éireann. We are supposed to be grand old advisers to the young guns in the Lower House to calm their ire and slow them down a little, but last...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.