Results 4,981-5,000 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear. I am pleased that the Senator has adopted a decent approach.

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend my colleagues Senator Barrett and Senator Quinn on this sensible and well-thought-through Bill, which offers a practical and easily implementable solution to many aspects of the housing crisis. It is not a panacea for all ills and all that ails us in housing, where the issues are complex and multifaceted, but it offers a reasonable...

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Bill is extremely innovative. Many of its key themes are based on similar legislation models in the US and Canada, where they have been highly successful. Why not learn from other countries and replicate what has worked there? I agree with my colleague Senator O'Brien that the Bill should at least go to Committee Stage. What is wrong with bringing it to Committee Stage? It can be...

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Indeed.

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the provisions of the Bill that would allow external bodies to package mortgages and sell them to corporations. The Bill would also allow other mortgage organisations to avail of low-cost financing through indirect market access, provided they operate within the regulations of the corporation. Surely this would be a great thing for us all. The Bill is mindful of the mistakes of...

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: He should take a chance, allow the Bill to progress to Committee Stage and tell the Minister for Finance that he took an executive decision on the Minister's behalf because, had he been here, he would have allowed it to progress as well. The Minister of State would be hailed all over Mayo. He would probably get a seat in Galway as well.

Seanad: National Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I draw attention to the Web Summit which has started in the RDS. I have often been criticised for being unduly critical of the Government but I compliment the Minister, Deputy Bruton, who went to the summit today. If Senators have not attended, I recommend that they do so. Without doubt it is one of the greatest technological and innovative centres one will find in Europe. There are...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is very magnanimous.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support Senator Susan O'Keeffe's request for a debate on technological universities. I am somewhat concerned that we are moving forward and trying to develop new universities while not at all being sure that the plans will lead to an improvement in society. I also support Senator John Crown's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. Sadly, the great Irish boxing coach Billy Walsh...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I had intended to speak against Senator van Turnhout's amendment but I am delighted that she added the last few lines. Few in this House have defended the rights of children as much as she has. In standing up to speak against what she has just said I had that at the back of my mind. Senator van Turnhout has worked on getting the Bill moved through the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate where the Senator is coming from but some communities in this country do not hold the same views as us. We are now a multi-ethnic country with various religious beliefs and ethnic and cultural beliefs that will cause problems. I am delighted she will not press the amendment and will not impede the passage of the Bill.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On public service pensions, it is a fact, one that comes before conferences year after year, that public servants whether single or married are forced to pay for widows and orphans in their pensions. The only people who got a moratorium in this regard are members of the clergy. This provision has been challenged many times by teachers. Like Senator Norris, I cannot see how there is an...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I compliment the Minister on the wonderful job she did and her sensitive handling of an issue that was very difficult. I said some days ago that she is one of the people I hold in the highest esteem, and I must reiterate that today. Let me turn to the people of the "Yes" campaign on the ground. They awakened a political movement that rocked this State to its very foundations. They knocked...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome Mr. Cussen. As outlined by him this project is without doubt one of the most exciting this country will see for many years to come. I hope Mr. Cussen will forgive my impertinence but we are in public session and I believe the public has a right to know a little more about Mr. Cussen the man. I am aware of Mr. Cussen's former position in the Department of Education and Skills....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I know the three Educate Together schools that opened this year are under the patronage of different bodies. One is under an education and training board, another is under the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, ACCS and the third is under the Joint Managerial Body, JMB. I do not think Educate Together can be patrons per se of a given school.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I think Mr. Cussen dealt with it very well. He mentioned the legal issue that he cannot discuss. As we bring these various groupings together, there is always a tendency to rush towards the High Court to resolve problems. I assume that as chairperson, one of Mr. Cussen's critical roles will be to try to get the various interest groups and agencies to work together. I was looking for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Grangegorman Development Agency: Chairperson Designate (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On the trade union issue, I do not believe it falls within Mr. Cussen's remit, but I understand the position of my colleagues. The only fear of the technological university staff is that Grangegorman will become the centre for levels 7, 8 and 9 and they will be relegated to dealing with lower levels. However, I doubt Mr. Cussen's office can do much about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I also congratulate Dr. Muldoon on his appointment. There can be no doubt as to Deputy Daly's commitment. As an educator and someone who managed a school himself, it is particularly poignant that he raised this matter today, and I am impressed by the way he spoke. I could not support him more if I tried. Deputy O'Brien is right, though. We need to go further, because some of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Remit of Ombudsman for Children in School Complaints: Discussion (21 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Everybody in this room is in agreement on the matter in any case. Reference was made to a case where a student became pregnant and subsequently sought to return to school as a mother. What this case illustrates is that we really are a nation with two sets of standards. We apply particular standards to one issue but all those nice principles go out the window in another area. We must deal...