Results 841-860 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate Mr. McGarry on his appointment. What a waste of time it is to bring a man of his experience to a hearing before a committee that has absolutely no oversight over his appointment. If we did not like the cut of his jib, it would matter not a jot. Mr. McGarry would be free to walk out the door there with a smile on his face. As the chairman of Shannon Foynes Port Company, Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Does Mr. McGarry ever see the port expanding to take over other ports on the western seaboard? I would love to see Galway, for example, develop out as far as Mutton Island.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The port is limited in real estate, if I remember correctly. I worked in Alcan down there 100 years ago and as far as I recall, the port is elongated and is limited in what it can do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Horkan and I visited Hamburg harbour late last year. It was amazing to see a harbour where there were only six human beings working on site, with the rest of operations automated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: It was just amazing to watch but I am not sure that Shannon Foynes would have the real estate to get into the container business at scale. The port has the depth but not the land.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Foynes Port Company: Chairperson Designate (Resumed) (19 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish Mr. McGarry well. It is a beautiful part of the country. Shannon Foynes is a wonderful little harbour. Back in the 1980s when I was working down there, it was dynamic and I am sure it is still as dynamic now. Mr. McGarry has a big job ahead of him and I wish him the very best of luck. We could not have fired him anyway so his appearance before us is merely a courtesy call.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We should, on remembering the visit of Joe Biden here to Leinster House, remark on the wonderful job that was done by the staff of Leinster House, and how everything ran so smoothly within the House. The Cathaoirleach's speech was exceptional, and I congratulate you. It was a very well delivered and poignant speech in its own way, and I would like to compliment you. With respect to the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I express my deep appreciation to Noel Murphy for his work on the committee and as Superintendent. He will be sorely missed. His good humour and pleasant way are remarkable. He is a lovely man, one of life's great gentlemen. We will miss him. We will miss him at the count as well because he always got it right on the labour panel, at least when he was counting my votes. We will miss...

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

Gerard Craughwell: A Chathaoirligh, you and I and other Members of this House and the Dáil attended the Interparliamentary Union last week where historic outcomes in peaceful coexistence and cybercrime were agreed. We frequently have a crack at one another in this House because of different political ideology, etc. Along with the Cathaoirleach, Senator Clifford-Lee of Fianna Fáil, a member of the...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Garvey's chairmanship of the committee on climate was so impressive that people have demanded that she be brought back to the next assembly to chair a committee. Senator Clifford-Lee's chairmanship of a committee got a similar warm welcome. It is wonderful to travel with colleagues and to see Ireland, a tiny little country, held in such high esteem. I want to compliment the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I second that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State is welcome. I will concentrate on the Coast Guard, which will be no surprise to him. Figures recently released to me show the cost of the helicopter service for 2022, which amounts to €56 million for the first ten months of the year. It is likely it will reach between €67 million and €70 million. That is an overrun of between €10 million...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am being very careful. I have not accused anybody of anything. I am asking questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The evidence is there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line is this. Does the Minister of State have confidence in the current procurement process? The previous Minister of State with responsibility for the procurement process did not have confidence in it. In a joint letter, she and the Minister stated they trusted the Department to do the job and they could not have a hands-on overview of the next procurement process for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I will allow the Minister of State to answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I would love to have him here for three hours too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I might respond for a second. Everybody else did.