Results 5,321-5,340 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. When I was elected, I said I would give credit where it was due and would not oppose for the sake of opposition. Some 95,000 jobs is quite an achievement, as is economic growth at 4% plus and declining unemployment. I do not want to rain on the Minister of State's parade but, as Senator Barrett said some time ago, let us have cash in the till...
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I will take an extra minute for every time the Senator speaks.
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Let us start putting the money into services and restore them to a 21st century level. When the Minister of State comes to deal with employment issues, he has to do away with zero-hour contracts at the lower end of the employment scale. He must see to it that employers will engage in collective bargaining. We cannot continue to have situations like what is going on between Mandate and...
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I am concerned about us embarking on what will be the next bubble that will bring Ireland to its knees. I am delighted that milk quotas have been abolished. I am a city boy and, for me, milk comes in a bottle or a carton. I know very little about the production process. However, I know that when an industry starts to expand as a result of the lifting of regulations, such expansion needs...
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: As Senator Barrett said, as we move forward in medicine we need to concern ourselves with giving medical cards to the needy, not the greedy. There are people who can well afford to send their children who are under six to the doctor. Let us not proceed with this measure. There are other people who simply cannot afford it. On the issue of upskilling, I have already adverted to the...
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Three minutes have elapsed now.
- Seanad: Spring Economic Statement: Statements (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: My God, there is such a backslapping exercise being engaged in.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: ICT in Primary Schools: Discussion (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I pay tribute to the Irish Primary Principals Network and the INTO. I attended Tech Week last week and was blown away by the level of expertise and work. I saw everything from robots to CoderDojo projects. This brings me to the point I want to make, which is that ICT in national schools was built on the back of teachers who innovated in their own classrooms with their principals, who...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: ICT in Primary Schools: Discussion (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: ICT in Primary Schools: Discussion (6 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: On Monday nights a very good sharing network on Twitter takes place where teachers share resources and ideas. Does the Department monitor the exchange?
- Seanad: Order of Business (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I note the situation regarding English language colleges. I had the pleasure of visiting China in 2000 as the guest of a general in the Chinese army. We were held in high esteem as educators, but what is going on in these private colleges will destroy our international reputation. I, therefore, support calls for an urgent debate on the matter. The second issue I wish to raise is the...
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: We will organise a course for the Senators.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: A wonderful body.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I will be as brief as I can. I have been waiting since the start of the debate.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: As this happens to me all the time, I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to allow me to contribute, if he does not mind. I welcome the three former Senators. I am in awe of three such distinguished persons and delighted with the report they have produced. However, my heart sank while listening to much of the debate. Given that I believe I was the first independent Senator ever to be elected to a...
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: The Leas-Chathaoirleach might let me finish, if he would not mind. How wonderful it would be to have real engagement-----
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I will finish, if the Leas-Chathaoirleach would not mind. I am the new kid on the block. I think I bring in a new-----
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: The Leas-Chathaoirleach allowed others to go over time.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Let me then finish with a few points which were brought to me by councillors.