Results 5,441-5,460 of 5,752 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to speak on the section. The dismissal of a claim by an adjudication officer is part of the section. Section 43 provides that "An adjudication officer may, at any time, dismiss a complaint or dispute referred to him or her under section 42 if he or she is of the opinion that it is frivolous or vexatious." The exclusion has never applied to complaints referred under the Industrial...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will go back and consult with congress on this and may bring back an amendment on Report Stage. The Minister will understand that. I thank him for his answer.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Norris is adverting to something we have seen happen in cases before a Rights Commissioner where he or she finds in favour of the worker but the remedy offered does not comply fully with ability of the law to provide for compensation. In such a case, the worker and his or her representative must appeal the matter to the Labour Court which can take a long time. We are seeking to...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Our Rights Commissioner Service does an excellent job. I refer to rare cases but where a rare case occurs, we may save somebody having to wait a considerable time for a full sitting of the Labour Court. I would not like the Minister to think that the Rights Commissioner Service fails in its duties. My experience is that it does a wonderful job.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On rare occasions, somebody who is not qualified will represent a complainant and the case could drag on and suddenly the complainant could be confronted with the case about to fall. A 30-day notice period is a perfectly reasonable request and I ask the Minister to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I represented workers for a number of years and it was not uncommon for them to think I slept with their cases 24-7 just because they did. However, there have been cases where a solicitor passed away and left a plethora of work behind. Nobody was sure where anything was. If complainants are advised that they have 30 days to pursue their cases, at least they can go back to their...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I concur with everything Senator Norris said. If it is an administrative practice, turning it into a statutory practice is merely the stroke of a pen and will not change anything or add additional work. It makes perfect sense. Accidents happen and people get lost as a result.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I rise to support Senator Cullinane's amendment. Having worked as a trade union representative at local and national levels for more than 15 years, two factors never cease to amaze me. First, middle line management who are not employers but represent them can take it as a personal attack when an employee takes a case. There are serious examples of victimisation in the public and private...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I call for the complete removal of section 72 because it provides a legal basis for the introduction of fees for lodging complaints. This is unacceptable. The experience of trade union colleagues in the United Kingdom is that fees have priced justice out of the hands of workers. The introduction of fees has played a role in removing workers' rights and research has shown this measure alone...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: While I accept the Minister's word, he and I will come and go and the Bill will remain. I am not so sure I would trust every future Minister not to expand the powers. While I understand the reason the Minister is keeping the power in reserve, the trade union movement is totally opposed to it and I stand four-square with it against any form of fee for any reason. In the Minister’s...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We are not going around in circles. This provision places the Bill at direct odds with the trade union movement in general.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister said that while the general provision is there, he would use it only in a specific case. He then went on to qualify this and say that for some other subjective reason which may arise, and which is not known today, he, or some future Minister, may decide to extend the provision. We should not keep the section, however if we must, I concur with Senator Norris that we should...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I have. I plead with the Minister at least to give Members the hope that he may revert on Report Stage and to not allow this matter to be pushed to a vote at this point, because I really seek to have this section removed.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with colleagues in welcoming the news from Apple that it is to set up a new facility in Athenry not too far from the village of Craughwell in Galway - a well-named village. I am sure that the new impetus in the quest to drive industry to the west is in no way attributable to my colleagues, the Independent Deputies from that area. I am sure the Government side will forgive me for...

Seanad: Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Second Stage (24 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am one of the few Members of this House who worked in a Magdalen laundry. As the son of a gas fitter, I frequently visited the Magdalen laundries in Galway to repair water heating systems. I have two abiding memories from that time. One is of the oppressive heat in the laundries. The second is of the silence among, in some cases, beautiful young women. Nobody spoke to us. We just went...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will not take up a lot of the Minister's time other than to agree with everything said by Senator Norris. This is a tremendous Bill. There are many good features to the Bill. The amendments being brought forward by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, a firm of solicitors, Senator Norris, Senator Cullinane, various other people and me are being brought forward in good faith to seek as...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On amendment No. 15, I appreciate the Minister stated that it is catered for in other legislation. The legislation before us is attempting to bring together all the strands which have made industrial relations confusing and difficult for people to pursue claims. They have not been sure whether something belongs rightly with a rights commissioner, the Labour Court or the EAT. This...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We reserve the right to bring those amendments back on Report Stage.