Results 5,481-5,500 of 5,752 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I just feel very passionate about this. When the Minister of State goes back to his office today, he needs to pick up the phone and ring the head of Revenue and the Minister of State in the Department of Justice and Equality and get them to ring An Garda Síochána. Let us bring them together in a room, sit down and see what we can do without the warnings I am looking for to limit...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I call on the Leader to arrange as quickly as possible a debate on the current state of law and order. I live in the peaceful suburbs of south County Dublin. Recently, I attended a meeting called by Deputy Ross. A senior member of An Garda Síochána was also present. Deputy Ross invited members of the public to speak. A young lady stood up and asked the most dangerous and risky...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I would appreciate a debate as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I must first place on record my support for the Minister of State regarding the way in which he has accepted those amendments he has been in a position to accept. I must also indicate my support for Government amendment No. 7. When we begin to refer to international best practice, etc., we become involved in debates regarding what is best and what is not, who thinks what is best and so...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am quite prepared to set them aside if that suits the Chair.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support amendment No. 7 as opposed to that put forward by Senator Zappone. I do so because I am of the view that the amendment will be accepted in both Houses. On that basis, I wish to support the Minister of State. We fought hard to get a two-year review period put in place, achieve adherence to international best practice and the various other goals to which amendment No. 1 refers....

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree with everything that has been said, but I am a realist and have spoken to Members of the Oireachtas around Leinster House. This Bill has yet to go to the Dáil, but if we accept this amendment I believe the Bill will come back here. A considerable number of Deputies will want to have the cover of medical expertise. It is regrettable but I ask that this amendment should not be...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I should be standing here full of joy as this has been a long time coming. People here have sat through every moment and hour of the debate full of expectations and hope. What we have delivered is far from their expectations.In fairness to the Minister of State, it is paradoxical to tell him he has done a great job bringing it this far. However, there are heavy hearts in this room tonight....

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1: To insert after the last paragraph: “ - introduce Rent Control measures as a supply side ‘equilibrium intervention’ until the housing supply market is stablised.” Tá fáilte romhat a Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for being here. Once again, I commend him on his patience as we work our way...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes. There was a drafting error in my amendment. It should read: To insert after the last paragraph: "-introduce Rent Regulation measures as a supply side equilibrium and intervention until the housing supply market is stabilised."

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Much has been made of the constitutional nature or otherwise of rent regulation. However, some limited rent regulation already exists in the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act. Recently legal advice offered, thanks to Senator Hayden, by a practising barrister, on rent regulation stated there is no constitutional impediment to rent regulation. The barrister stated...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes, Senator van Turnhout already seconded it, in advance.

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Senator seconded it when she spoke earlier.

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Then the Senator moved it and I second it.

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: We are looking for a seconder.

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I find it very regrettable that our concern is about raising revenue from gambling rather than the families suffering from gambling. I take on board the bona fides of the Minister of State but there is an old and wise saying that we should never put off until tomorrow what we can do today.

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: This would not be the first item of legislation ever written that had something tagged onto the end of it to protect the people of the State. I do not for one moment suggest that a warning in betting shops and on online gambling sites will deter people or reduce the level of addiction. However, as a State and as a people, we have an obligation to warn people of the dangers and to make...