Results 4,821-4,840 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 39:In page 38, to delete line 22. I know we could joust on this for the evening but we will not do that. When this Bill was first published I contacted all the local authority representatives, sent them a copy of the Bill and asked for their comments. The feedback, particularly from those in coastal areas, was that local authority members wanted to be allowed to serve...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Amendment No. 40 not moved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Welfare of Ex-Service Personnel: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: As a card-carrying member of ONE myself, I am delighted to see the witnesses from ONE and the UN vets here today. When I left the Army back in 1980, soldiers were forgotten once they had walked out the gate. Many soldiers fell on very hard times and I have met many who fell on hard times that were beyond belief. ONE and the UN vets have provided a focus for former members to remain engaged...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to associate myself with Senator Zappone's comments this morning. Cúchulainn was born in County Galway and, for Senator Jim D'Arcy's information, moved to Dundalk later. At the weekend, the newspapers carried a further report on the "Prime Time" programme. I have had a number of calls from county councillors who feel they have been totally undermined and that their honesty and...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, to the House. I too support Senator Crown. In fact, Senator Quinn's statement that Senator Crown feels he will not be able to stand for election again if he does not see meaningful reform has saddened me somewhat. Senators Quinn, Crown and Zappone have all been pushing for reform. Many would argue that the referendum was based on the belief...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support this Bill.I am pleased the Government has decided to introduce an amendment to include the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, as a nominating body. Senator Wilson in particular will be very happy with that. The need for reform of the Seanad is well known by all now, and the Leader has twice brought the group that prepared the report for the Taoiseach on reform into the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: -----because it creates a biased view of local councillors in this country, the people Senators Wilson, Cummins and various others have spoken about who are working hard to make their communities better places. That is despicable. I have also written to the Garda Commissioner and asked her to carry out what I would regard as a proper investigation without any form of inducement or what some...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State very much.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is welcome to the House.I am aware that this issue has been raised by colleagues on both sides of the House in other forums but as it remains unresolved I believe it is necessary to ask for a review of the issue again. When speaking last summer, the Minister, Deputy Howlin, was quoted as saying: "Under our Constitution pensions are preserved property rights. I can no...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I accept the Minister of State is speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality and can give no commitment. I know the Minister of State to be a fair-minded person and I think she will agree with me that to deny a small number of people a constitutional right is totally unacceptable. I feel there is some cynicism on this issue in so far as the relevant parties are aware that...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask the Leader to amend today's Order of Business, in order to bring the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to discuss the practices of companies registered as private investigation companies. Last night I was contacted by a citizen and am absolutely appalled by what I learned. It is backed up by evidence. It is absolutely outrageous that there are companies employed by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: With due respect, the issue needs to be debated.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is the overall regulation that is unacceptable.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is a brilliant idea.

Seanad: Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Wikipediaagain.

Seanad: Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State. It is my first time to address him in the House so it is a particular pleasure. I think it highly appropriate that Senator Quinn would be the person to bring this Bill before the House. Nobody anywhere could accuse him of being partisan in any way. Senator Quinn is one of the most independent, free-thinking people in this House and he has crossed all party...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: While I am very sympathetic to Senator O'Donnell's amendment, I have one concern, which the Senator might address. Her amendment includes the words "in so far as that is practicable". I recall the turmoil of my elderly mother who wanted to live independently long after she was able to so do. At one stage, we had a nurse caring for her and over a period of six months, €54,000 was...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Could I make a very brief contribution?