Results 5,181-5,200 of 5,752 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry but it is because I am calling on the Cathaoirleach to refer my position as the leader and only member of the independent group to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to ensure I get priority just like everyone else.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The House will have to review its decisions-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: My speaking rights and my right to bring Private Member's motions before the House are dictated by the size of the membership of any group to which I belong. The Technical Group in the Dáil has already tackled this problem and the Lower House has managed to accommodate all Members who are independent.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The CPP should be well aware of what I have said today.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry but the members of the group that calls itself independent-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: -----were not elected. They were appointed.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They are Endapendent, not independent.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am extremely grateful to Senator Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Excuse me.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not think that is the way it works.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: In your good grace you might accept the-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a great pity on the day that lone parents are going to lose in significant numbers.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is wonderful. One always knows that it is time to go when I get on my feet. I usually sit here for hours waiting for people to finish their contribution so that I get a miserable few seconds to say something. The Minister is welcome. I think this is the first time I have addressed him in this House and I shall try to make it as painless as possible. The Bill he has brought forward is...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I believe I am not the only one who said it here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a pleasure to meet Mr. Burke. I will continue on from where Senator O'Donnell left off and speak about how students are dealt with when they suffer a bereavement during the leaving certificate. I am particularly aware of how much pressure such loss puts on students because as my niece sat her leaving certificate examination, her father was dying of cancer. She took her exams at 2...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That shows there is something wrong here and that there is a challenge there. I fear there is also a challenge coming down the track for the State Examinations Commission, SEC, as entry into third level education will change as we start to move back, hopefully, towards apprenticeships with the expansion of further education through SOLAS. The SEC will have a role there. I am interested...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On bonus points, if they were applied as suggested by Senator O'Donnell, they would be applied on the basis of subject choice or course selection, so the points could go for music if that is what the student opts for. There is no doubt there was an economic imperative behind the maths initiative and it has worked well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Mr. Burke might remember that some years ago when a suicide occurred in Longford, the State Examinations Commission immediately said it would ring-fence that group of students and - I do not remember exactly what was said - treat their papers with some sort of discretion or understanding. It is unfortunate that the commission cannot apply this discretion at individual level where there is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: What about technology portfolios?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: State Examinations Commission: Engagement with Chair-Designate. (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Would it be possible to reserve two places, perhaps, on these high-flyer courses? Mr. Burke mentioned medicine. Often one hears of a kid missing out on medicine because of five points and on the recheck he or she finishes up ten points ahead. Perhaps the onus lies with the CAO rather than the SEC.