Results 5,561-5,580 of 5,763 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: This is my first time to address the Minister in the Chamber and I am proud to so do. I am getting really worried because he is the second Minister today who I have been obliged to congratulate on something. I spoke against the banking inquiry in this House and with one other Senator voted against it. However, as is typical of the Minister, I believe he has done everything he can to leave...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They would notice the water damage.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Just one in three of those surveyed agreed that the changes to the appointments process that were introduced by the current Government had improved the functioning of State boards. In addition, 72% of them said they believed there should be more defined independence from the political system regarding these appointments. That causes a problem. I have much more to say but I will not be...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: This is my first time to have the pleasure of addressing the Minister. It is rather ironic that I do so on this issue. The very fact that I am standing here tells us that there is something rotten in the State board system.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Absolutely. Hats off to the Minister. He saw what was happening and acted immediately in September. I admire him for that greatly. It is regrettable that we do not have a single Act that governs appointments to State boards. I agree with Senator Landy that being politically active should not debar someone from serving on a State board. Unfortunately, it always will be the case that the...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: There will be a fixed charge.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: They will be able to make tea for the Senator when he is canvassing.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Fair play.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of order, I fully agree with Senator Comiskey that a breach of health and safety on either side is wrong.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State has not addressed who is responsible when there is lead in the water.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Come on, Senator. Spare me.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Quite apart from the waste of money of installing meters which are not required and will not be required for at least five years, by which time they will probably be obsolete, I dispute the fact they will tell us whether there are leaks. It is a load of rubbish. I am informed that the people installing these meters are not qualified plumbers. It is a serious issue if we have people...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That is great.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I will indeed present them to him afterwards, because in them we can see that absolutely no provision is made for pedestrian access at these work sites. Front doors of houses are blocked. I have photographs of fences erected across the front door of a house because a water meter is being installed. This is ridiculous. I have witnessed works taking place in estates throughout the country...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, but take a look at the photographs. I have sent the Senator the photographs and he has seen them. Coming from his background, Senator Landy is aware of work practices. I am sorry he finds it disgraceful but at the end of the day the practices do not comply with the Health and Safety Authority's rules. If one cannot comply with the rules, one should tidy up the operation....

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Tralee.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: That will not cover the half of it.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: One cannot save money on a fixed charge.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Bill, which provides for legal recognition of preferred gender for transgender people. However, while applauding the Government for finally publishing this legislation and bringing it before the House, we should also acknowledge our collective shame that successive governments have failed to act on what is an essential and basic...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.