Results 601-620 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I will just come back on the Luas issue. There is an unfortunate situation for anybody who is wheelchair-bound or has very young children. Quite frankly, for those who are in wheelchairs, using the Luas to get to work for a 9 to 5 job is out of the question. They just will not be able to make it. Is there any way that a small section of the Luas could be restricted for people in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Ukraine: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We do not have a lot of time to go into the briefing, which was quite comprehensive. I am concerned about the issue of sanctions. It seems sanctions are being ignored or abused. Is there any evidence that Irish companies have tried to find a way around the sanctions to supply Russian industry? There is lots more we could ask but we do not have time today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Some time ago, I spoke, and the Leader herself spoke, on the appointment of the next head of intelligence for the State and it surprises me that they are continuing with the appointment. Former colleagues from the UK have contacted me and they cannot believe that we would even consider the appointment of a foreign national. By the way, those who came in here and accused me of racism, etc.,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no need to give way.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line on it is we really have to think about what we are doing. The person who will take over intelligence in this country will have access to information on all of us, on past deeds in this country and on those who were involved in various different things down through the history of this country. Micheál Martin, in the Dáil the other day, said that the person appointed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I stand foursquare behind the Minister. She is doing a fine job and should continue to do it. I also think the Garda Commissioner is doing a fine job and he should continue to do it. On the riot, I am probably the only person in this room was ever actually involved in a riot. I was sergeant in charge of a riot section and we faced 15,000 people on that particular day. I can tell the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I came up here to talk about security but Senator Ruane has sent me off on another track. She is 100% correct. We have let communities down in areas. I lived in Limerick for a number of years and there were two estates whose residents were constantly referred to as troublemakers, scumbags and so on. In Galway city, there were similar estates and there are areas in Dublin that are...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I should start by saying that I am delighted to see that the Naval Service seagoing allowance has been retained. That is one of the good things in the budget. An awful lot more work needs to be done with respect to our soldiers, sailors and airmen. The Minister of State might consider whether the duty allowance should be made tax-free. That...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with the best wishes to Mary as she moves on to the next stage of her life. On 8 November 1960 an ambush took place in Niemba in the Congo. On this day that same year the bodies of the troopers killed in that ambush were brought home to Ireland. I want to read their names into the record: Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson, 2nd Field Engineer Company; Sergeant Hugh F. Gaynor, 2nd Motor...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minster of State is welcome to the House. I thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues for introducing this motion, although they seem slightly obsessed with AI and its use for elections and the like. Let us be honest about it: I can think of no situation where we will have an artificially intelligent Minister of State sitting in front of us answering questions in the House. As such, we as...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: To leave aside the jokes and get down to the serious issues, AI has the capacity to rapidly evolve cybersecurity risks within our country. Not only is our country suffering from these, so too are countries right across Europe. The level of cyber awareness that exists within populations is desperately and deeply worrying, as is the replication capacity of AI. We saw just today in The Irish...

Seanad: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line where the National Cyber Security Centre is concerned is that we cannot put enough money into it. My final plea to the Minister of State is that the Government fund industry with respect to cyber awareness. Our nation should be the most cyber-aware country in the world given the amount of FDI in it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: For most of us growing up, watching the Artane boy's band march in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day was something of great joy. However, for a number of people the Artane Boy's Band, its title, uniform, and everything about it conjures up nothing but memories of the abuse and butchery that took place in the Artane Industrial School. Councillor Mannix Flynn has managed to get a motion...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I was not here yesterday, unfortunately, as I had other business. Today I want to remember the people of the Niemba massacre who lost their lives in Niemba in the Congo in 1960. Forever etched in my mind are the dates of 8 November and, in particular, 22 November when the bodies were returned to Ireland and brought down O'Connell Street in Dublin. Lieutenant Gleeson and his men, all but...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: This weekend, it was once again confirmed to me that, in this country, we do not understand security or intelligence. Under the Irish intelligence system, the Garda is double-hatted – this is unlike the situation in any other state – and is responsible for both intelligence and policing. We find that the head of intelligence is now likely to be hired from abroad. Just think...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Employing a foreigner to head up our intelligence system is beyond belief. It would happen in no other country in the world. Even some of the banana republics manage to have their own intelligence and security. At the end of the day-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I would delightfully give way to Senator Seery Kearney.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I might just reply.