Results 5,321-5,340 of 5,752 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell
- 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.
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: There is a concern about the cost of an individual circulating electioneering material to such a wide electorate. There is some disappointment that there is not a more equal distribution of the indirect and direct election of Seanad Members. I refer, for example, to the inside and outside panels where there was a desire that these would be equalled. There is some concern-----
- Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: These are my last two points. There is some concern that we would ring-fence the Trinity College seats because of our brothers in the North. Finally, there is a request that the closing date for Seanad nominations would be the same as that for the Dáil. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and appreciate the time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I join my colleagues in thanking the delegations and thank the Carers Association and the DFI for providing services. I do not run clinics or deal with people in my local area. Most of what I deal with comes from ten or 20 years ago when I worked in Citizens Information in Limerick. I want the Department to address my point. There was then and, from what I hear today, still is a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: That was my impression.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I will allow the Department to address that. It seems as if waiting times are on the increase. Has a staffing issue arisen due to the Haddington Road or Croke Park agreements which has made the Department's job more difficult in terms of dealing with claimants? I read the two forms. In 2015 I can walk into any bank or branch of the bank with which I deal and give my bank account number...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Between €18 million and €21 million is spent on medical reports each year. That seems an extraordinary amount of money, particularly in circumstances where many of the GPs involved are members of the GMS. How much is spent on each report and do consultants receive more money for reports than GPs?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: What is the amount involved?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: How much is that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Will the Department find somewhere on the form to advise people that GPs are paid a fee? I do not mind if the sum is not mentioned. However, like Deputies O'Dea and Ó Snodaigh, I am well aware of the fact that people pay the GP a visit fee of €55 or whatever it is purely to get a form completed and the GP is picking up another €44 for it. It seems a bit rich.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Social Protection Payments: Discussion (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: Very few of them would read what are the doctor's instructions. A sum of €18 million to €20 million is a lot of money to be paying out.
- Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)
Gerard Craughwell: I agree with Senator Wilson. We should not ban any man or woman who has gone through hard times and has come to some sort of arrangement with his or her lenders from anything. We should be applauding him or her. Anybody who is prepared to pick himself or herself up and restart after going through something like that deserves the full backing of the entire country. I believe that Senator...