Results 5,281-5,300 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There is a question mark over the legality of that proposal.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for business and employment, Deputy Gerald Nash, to the House. I am happy to see the Bill come before the House. Income poverty is a term I had never heard until after the financial collapse. We live in a country where people who are working still cannot cover their costs. Will the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015 be...

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is always a pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English. I thank Senators Jim D'Arcy and Terry Brennan for bringing this motion to the House and the Leader for accommodating the debate. Senator D'Arcy has demonstrated once again his great commitment to further education. On the day I was elected to this House, I thought how strange it was to have joined the Army as...

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Springboard is a tremendous initiative. I am somewhat concerned at having to be so complimentary to the Government, but it is indeed an excellent programme. The Leader is right that those who scoff at these schemes should tell us what alternatives they would offer. I do not accept the notion that the purpose of the scheme is to massage the unemployment figures or anything else. Senator...

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: It is my understanding that SOLAS put out a request for proposals regarding apprenticeships. Of all the submissions that came in, the further education sectors accounted for just 14%. The third level sector made up the majority and the private sector also submitted a significant number. I spoke to principals at the meeting to which I referred who told me they were never consulted on the...

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I was not saying they were not asked.

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There is something wrong, definitely.

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Research has shown-----

Seanad: Springboard Programme: Motion (27 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I think the Minister of State will find that the number of PLC places is falling and, as Senator Mooney pointed out, the absence of career guidance has caused-----

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: A total farce.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Absolute rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Government is hardly saving the post office network.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I second Senator Quinn's request that No. 15 be taken before No. 1 on the Order of Business today.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes. That is correct. There has been much congratulation over the weekend about the referendum. The result is due to the people, not necessarily to the political system. It was the people who went out and got the votes. I was particularly struck at the count on Saturday in the RDS at the inverse relationship between the "Yes" to the referendum on marriage equality and the referendum on...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: How many Members spoke on it? It was a disgusting effort at reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Of course they should have been discussed, but who discussed them, a Chathaoirligh? Nobody.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line is that the Government promised reform when it took office but has not delivered any reform.