Results 981-1,000 of 5,746 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: In fairness, I am not aware of it myself but the idea sounded highly innovative. It struck me that one would be able to implement scenarios that would not normally be seen in a driving test. Perhaps, as a 21st century country, somebody might come forward with a solution that the RSA might be prepared to look at.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am told Buncrana was probably one of the worst places in the country 12 months ago. It improved and was doing well but it is now beginning to slide down the scale again. Have our guests any idea what is going on there or what is causing that problem? Councillor Nicholas Crossan asked me to ask that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: My question relates to waiting times.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Has the RSA a family-friendly policy whereby it tries to keep testers as close as possible to their home places?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: If I were a tester, I would not want to be based in Galway because I would probably be testing my own, which would not suit. Is there a list on which a tester can put his or her name to request a transfer to a particular part of the country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I have another question that was brought to me by Councillor Richie Molloy in Tipperary. He tells me there is a long waiting period and that the pass rate is very low in that area. Are our guests aware of a problem with Tipperary?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I have a relation who had great difficulty with the test. She was a reasonably good driver but struggled every time she went for a test. The approach taken with people who are in a nervous state is fantastic. I compliment the RSA for the effort it takes to put people's minds at rest. I will turn to consider the national car test, NCT. I do not deal with members of the public too often,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Chairman for the slap across the knuckles.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We live in a technological world. It should be possible for me to insert onto the system the date my NCT certificate runs out and rather than having to make a phone call, the system would recognise that I need to be prioritised and would tell me I will be contacted if a vacancy arises. That would be a better approach than having to go through the two-tier process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We are very much dependent on the goodwill of the Garda.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Strictly speaking, such a driver is breaking the law, in my view.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Last week, I spoke about accountability. At the weekend, we had another exposé relating to the HSE. Once again, Ministers' heads are on the chopping block, for want of a better description. The thought crosses my mind that when decisions like this are taken, Ministers operate on the advice given to them by their departmental officials. Because of the system of government we have in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We are all about accountability in this House and in Dáil Éireann. Last week and the week before, we had the spectacle of a Minister being held to account over election expenses going back to 2016. People stood on the high moral ground and pointed the finger of accusation but many of those same people have had to climb down off that high moral ground now and explain their own...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am meeting people all of the time who are asking me if we have nothing better to do. We have hospital overruns. I am blue in the face talking about the search and rescue service. We have problems in An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. We have problems in education. What we should be talking about in here, and I would ask the Acting Leader to consider putting this...

Seanad: Protection of Private Residences (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I compliment my colleague on bringing forward the Bill. We are living in a society where it seems that anybody who puts their face into the public arena is fair game to have a go at, at any time or in any place. Recently I had a situation on Twitter. I am quite active on Twitter, as most people will know. I had put out a tweet on something or other and one of these bots came back and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Leader on their appointments. The changing of the guard seems to have been seamless, which is great. I will see what I can do to disrupt that as time goes on.My colleague was speaking about An Garda Síochána. It is finding it extremely difficult to recruit people, as are the Defence Forces. The problem is the 2013 pension. There is no...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not want to put Mr. Torpey on the spot. He is a qualified engineer.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: It could be refurbished quite easily, I would think.