Results 81-100 of 355 for long speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Apr 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...world and all we hear are fine words on what needs to be done, but nothing is ever done. We see it on our television screens every day. The United Nations Security Council is a waste of time as long as the permanent members have a veto. Today, my colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, is bringing forward a Bill regarding the restriction of names with respect to the Defence Forces. This is a...

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...that are required to make this Bill work. I am a former member of Óglaigh na hÉireann and am very proud of that. I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for doing something that should have been done a long time ago to enshrine the name "Óglaigh na hÉireann" and to make it available to only one organisation in this country. My colleagues mentioned PDFORRA and RACO. We should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cybersecurity and Hybrid Threats Following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...our MicroVAX was hacked over a weekend. It was a simple attack, simply to try to break the password. Nonetheless, it brought home to me how small the world was becoming at the time. That was a long time ago.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...people who do not appear to be their relatives, we need to be very careful. I compliment the Irish people but I advise caution with regard to the rush to provide accommodation and so on. It is a long-term commitment. One's home is one's castle and the moment one opens it to somebody else, one is committing for at least six months. People need to be aware of that. They need to be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...the next few days on the neutrality issue. I do not think that it is the way forward but I think that there is a need for a discussion and we need to consider carefully where we go with this. For too long the issue has been bandied about as neutral, non-neutral and all sorts of other things. We are moving into a situation here by default where statements are being made by Ministers and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to raise two things this morning. The first one is my long-suffering search and rescue tender process that is under way. The pre-qualification questionnaire, PQQ, has been issued and the PQQ date has passed. However, I believe an entirely new PQQ has to be issued because the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, issued an instruction to CHC, the current incumbent, to change its shift cycle...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: In recent days, I have written to all Members of the House considering the issue of neutrality and the discussion on neutrality that has raged in this House for as long as I have been a Member. I have never accepted that Ireland is a neutral country and, although there is never a good time to have this discussion, we must have it now. For the moment, we decided to provide assistance to one...

Seanad: Situation in Ukraine: Statements (1 Mar 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...to five months to analyse the recommendations fully. Compare this to the swift action of the German Government. Five days ago the chief of the German Army vented his frustration over what he saw as a long-running neglect of military readiness in his country in an unusual public rant a few hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, adding that his army was in bad shape. Three days later, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...Bill. The case of Richard O'Halloran is over, thank God. I do not think anyone can accept plaudits for taking three years to get a person out of China. It is outrageous that it took that long. I certainly would not be thanking the Chinese Government or its ambassador for anything. It would be like thanking a kidnapper for kidnapping a person. What happened was outrageous, in my view....

Seanad: Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Tánaiste is very welcome to the House. Listening to the conversation so far this afternoon brings back memories of my first job in the Castle Inn in Galway, which is now long gone.At the age of 13, my wages were £2 and my chances each week. Those chances were how much I could earn in tips, and it was necessary to work myself to the bone to ensure that I got the maximum for the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...-west coast of this country in the next number of weeks carrying out an exercise is something we must monitor. My colleague, Senator McDowell, spoke about the depletion of the Defence Forces over a long period of time in this country. We must send a Naval Service vessel to the south west with members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence observing what is going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...the jurisdiction and in some cases outside the country. That causes great problems. I am mindful of the loss of the data centre in Athenry in Galway. We could argue about data centres all day long and I would do that with the Minister quite happily but that was an industry that was coming to Athenry and it was lost and that created bad blood. There was a very interesting piece on Pat...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...they come in here a voluntary contribution is approximately €500. If people are on a class A when they come in here and wish to keep the class A up and running they pay €5,000. People would be a long time on social welfare before they saw that back. From the perspective of a Member of the House, the class K PRSI is a tax on public service. This is the only way it can be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the fact that the long battle of the Miami Showband came to a conclusion yesterday.I listened to an interview this morning on "The Pat Kenny Show" with one of the members of the band. In many ways, I am sorry that the case did not go to a full hearing to allow us to get to the bottom of exactly what was involved. There is no doubt that most of us who work a uniform on either side...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...that are fixed purpose and that do not exceed five years in duration. We are bringing all these passionate, highly educated and incredibly loyal people to assist us as legislators on temporary contracts with long working hours and we are paying them well below the living wage. In any other sector, we would be accused of gross exploitation and rightly vilified for this as a result. What...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...in use turns the boat broadside and all you need is a wave slightly higher than the width of the boat, and it will flip the boat over. We have had serious accidents. We could talk about them all day long, starting in Dingle with life jackets. We know that the life jackets were withdrawn. I am putting on the record of the House today that there are three urgent issues that must be dealt...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...we saw it in operation. I honestly do not believe that active engagement between Members of the Oireachtas and Taiwan can damage the relations between Ireland and China or are in conflict with the long-standing One China policy. However, I am aware of the fact the Chinese get extremely upset when they hear people speaking about Taiwan, Tibet and various other things we do not like about...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ..., we cease to be supportive. Slightly outside direct provision, but aligned to it, we tend to place migrants in geographical areas all together rather than trying to integrate them. Given the long periods that people spend in direct provision, is there more that we should do in the centres vis-à-visintegration in order that people become more involved in local communities, rather...

Seanad: Air Accident Investigation Unit Final Report into R116 Air Accident: Statements (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...I offer my condolences to their families and call on those close to them to ensure they get legal advice for whichever jurisdiction they deem best. It is a tragedy, but one that should have been avoided long before the helicopter took to the sky. The litany of abysmal failures by Ministers and senior civil servants at the Department of Transport, the Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Aviation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Veterans: Discussion (16 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: ...and other parts of the country? Has he spoken to any of the housing agencies to support that? The issue of pension abatement was referenced a few moments ago. It has been of great concern to me for a long time. The skills with which people leave the Defence Forces were mentioned. First and foremost, we are a disciplined organisation. Generally speaking, if a soldier or member of the...