Results 5,201-5,220 of 5,752 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support what Senator Darragh O'Brien said about the rape crisis centres. I have no ulterior motive for it. It is a scandal. However, there is a bigger scandal. Yesterday, Senator Darragh O'Brien attempted to move an amendment to the Order of Business on No. 67, motion 17 which deals with the one-parent family payment. Last night I watched Vincent Browne's show, during which he...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister will be delighted to know that his torture is coming to an end as I am now on my feet.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I compliment the Minister of State on his forbearance and his willingness to listen.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will begin on a positive note. I have travelled around the country and I have seen some of the work that has been done by the Office of Public Works and I want to acknowledge the great work it does. However, there is an issue for the office and that is its budget. Where it has a budget and can maintain properties, particularly State-owned properties and properties of historical...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, said it was her job to breathe life into the towns and cities around the country. I hope she has a good set of lungs because I have been all over this country and the small towns are dying on their feet. In places like Donegal, parts of Sligo, parts of Mayo, parts of Galway-----

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Roscommon, God help us.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: These places are dying. I will, however, turn to Dublin which is what this debate is about. I am honoured to speak on this because Senator Norris has, for as long as I can remember, been furthering the cause of Georgian Dublin. It is a matter of deep regret to me that our capital city's main street has become the burger king hurdy-gurdy of Ireland with slot machines and burger joints. The...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It certainly could.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I had to drive my friend to the airport so I drove him from my house in Leopardstown to Dublin Airport through the city. He remarked that once we crossed the Liffey it was like entering a different city. On one occasion he asked me, "Is this Beirut?" That is how poor some of the city is. I am delighted to have the Luas, which stops outside my front door but I join with Senator Norris in...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The most important highway we need is from here to the airport. One can get into town in 20 minutes or, at most, 40 minutes on the Luas and then one has to spend an hour and a half on a bus getting out to the airport. Who thinks these things up is beyond me. A vision for the future of the city, or for any local area, should rest with the locally elected representatives, the local...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes, indeed, there is an election on the way.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: If there is to be a vision let the vision come from the ground up.

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support my colleague, Senator Wilson, on the need for an elected mayor in Dublin city who has a budget to do the work required to maintain Dublin city as a capital city of which we should all be proud. I will conclude on the need for policing, which applies not just to Dublin city as there is now a shortage of police on the ground in every city in Ireland. I am aware there has been...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We need more recruitment and a greater presence of gardaí on the ground. It is not all bad news but there are a few little things for the Minister to think about. They might help him along the way.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I also support the review of the town councils but I want it to be in the open and transparent. It must look at the funding, supports and powers available to councils. Leaving that aside, I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for No. 70, motion 17 on the Order Paper to be taken today. It is too urgent to leave aside. I have never had calls from constituents because I do not see myself...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome to the House this afternoon. I should begin by saying that when the Teaching Council first entered into my profession it was probably one of the most hated institutions ever formed in the State. It is my hope that over time, teachers will embrace the Teaching Council and see it for what it is, the professionalisation of teachers. I, for one, am happy to be a member...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We might ask you make that statement stand up before the day is out.

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Before we conclude, I bring to the Minister's attention the fact that there might be an opportunity to include a provision in the Bill to address the problem in further education where some teachers cannot be registered with the Teaching Council but are required to keep the colleges going.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (23 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I share some of Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh's concern about the level of control we are leaving in the Minister's hands under the provisions of the Bill. I understand the Garda Representative Association wrote to the justice committee stressing the need for independence for the Garda authority. I worry when I hear the Attorney General's advice was A, B, C or D. The Office of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.