Results 5,001-5,020 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: Would the issue of last minute examinations come into that?

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

Gerard Craughwell: After leaving these meetings, Dr. Muldoon must feel nothing but education exists in our heads. I can reassure Deputy Daly in that I do not think the teaching unions would have any difficulty whatsoever with an education ombudsman, provided he she did not stray into the area of teacher discipline. We have the Teaching Council to look after that. That brings me back to Dr. Muldoon's office...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Like all things, we destroy them.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I rise to request that sufficient speaking time be granted to allow all Members to make their contributions to the debate on the Marriage Bill later today. I have raised the matter of speaking time for Independent Members on a number of occasions since I was democratically elected to this House last year. I am long enough around to know that every organisation must have its standing orders...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I accept that but there are issues with respect to this matter and if I would be allowed to conclude what I stood up to say, it might clarify them. This House and its Members have long been accused of being a useless drain on public moneys. It is hard to defend this view when some who have been given the privilege to serve do not bother to turn up to debate some of the most important,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: -----notwithstanding my attendance record.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: If the Leas-Chathaoirleach allows me to finish he will understand from where I am coming on this.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully understand that Members of this House are away on business frequently and I respect that. I further respect the elected Members of this House in the way they participate and their dedication to this House. I have sometimes sat here for a number of hours waiting to make my contribution, only to depend on the generosity of the Chair or another Member to share speaking time. Sometimes...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: -----he gave to his nominees when he appointed them as I expect elected Members of the Seanad can speak for themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I have 30 seconds left.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I request that I be given a further 30 seconds.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Sometimes, things have to be put into the public domain.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Sometimes it has to be done this way.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Like the Leader and many other Senators who are here because they want to be here, I respect the privilege of serving in this House. I want nothing more than to be allowed to do the job I was elected to do. I want in future to ensure there is time for every Member to add to whatever legislation comes before the House. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There should be no groups in here at all, as the Leader knows. We should all be members of vocational panels, not groups.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Acting Chairman for extending the time of the debate. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House on this joyous occasion. I thank her and her Department for drafting this important legislation and for her proactive stewardship of this Bill and the marriage referendum Act through the Oireachtas. I entered this House as a 62 year old, conservative man who was always...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. He is busy as a result of yesterday's budget, so I thank him for attending the House to debate this important issue, which has been raised by Business Retail Union Ireland, BRUI, a group formed by the retail trade and subcontractors in the construction industry to defend their causes. The Construction Contracts Act was first introduced in this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is particularly scandalous in circumstances where thousands of subcontractors have gone out of business in the wake of the worst downturn in the construction sector that this country has ever seen. Almost one year ago, the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, director general, Mr. Tom Parlon, stated that builders were facing collapse over pay delays and that thousands of those in other...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State said the closing date in respect of the Public Appointments Service was 18 September. We are almost a month beyond that date. Have interviews taken place or are they about to and is that now the only impediment that exists to the commencement of the legislation? I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, but he said he took the matter over late last year. As...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Have the interviews taken place or will they soon and will the Minister of State commence the Act as soon as the panel is in place?