Results 4,841-4,860 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: I will be very brief. Having listened to Senator O'Donnell, I support her position because I recall seeing one elderly lady in a nursing home who did not want to be there, who was perfectly capable of looking after herself and who cried every day.

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

Gerard Craughwell: As I advance in years myself, this measure would give me some degree of security that I might not be dumped at some stage, although why they would do it, I do not know.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree with practically everything my colleague, Senator David Norris, said. Any form of entrapment is a terrible thing and the result does not always justify the means. However, we are confronted with a problem, that is, what happened last night affects the entire body politic in this country. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Taoiseach to call on the...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome this Bill in so far as it provides for democratic oversight of the running of our harbours. It is important there be accountability for such assets of the State to the State. However, like Senators Cummins and O'Sullivan, I have reservations regarding the exclusion of local councillors - the people on the ground who know exactly what is going on...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They will not be able to give a direction.

Seanad: Charities and Voluntary Organisations: Statements (8 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator Ó Murchú for asking for this debate and I acknowledge the Leader for facilitating it. All the organisations that have been mentioned such as the Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust should be commended for the work they do. I cannot understand how people can motivate themselves on a wet winter's night to go out knocking on doors on behalf of the Society of...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I compliment the Government. I woke this morning and heard more jobs announced. This is becoming such a frequent event that I almost take it for granted. Credit where credit is due. Then I switch on the radio and I listen to the happy clappy economist from Friends First who told us we were going to have a soft landing some years ago and disappeared when the landing hit the wall. I tire...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We should teach them a lesson by not running the Bills through.

Seanad: Tributes to Member of Staff (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Will the Cathaoirleach, please, repeat that?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I also join with the my colleagues. I did not know Mr. Hand for very long but I wish him well in his retirement and I am sorry I did not get to know him better. Perhaps he will come in from time to time, take a tour of the House and give the ushers marks out of ten for their performance on the day. I join with my colleagues regarding Senator Norris's receipt of a honorary doctorate in...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Before the Acting Chairman moves on, under the Bill there will be substantial gains for senior members of the Government, while some of those who are worst off in the country-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: In fairness, the time when this could have been done was during the debate on the legislation in the Dáil, but similar amendments were ruled out of order.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I find this very disheartening.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I said on Second Stage that this Bill is biased to some degree in favour of people who are on very good salaries. My colleague, Senator Keane, noted on Second Stage that councillors get nothing out of it. Indeed, it is very hard to figure out what local government members actually earn. They are not employees but officers, a role for which they get a miserable €16,000 per year. For...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate what the Minister is doing in this. All pensions will be restored for 80% of pensioners. I do not wish to tie the Minister into anything in this regard but can he give a rough time-line for the final 20%?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: What if there is a continued improvement between 2016 and 2018?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I understand what the Minister is saying.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That includes holiday pay.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: With respect to the Minister it is not the ones under-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for a comprehensive set of answers. I agree that the debate went beyond where he expected to go. He is making it difficult for me to vote against this Bill as he has been so forthright in his answers but perhaps the Minister could clarify some issues. With regard to the teacher who works up to 150 hours, the Minister has satisfied my concerns there. The teacher who is...