Results 1,021-1,040 of 5,746 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister’s Department provides for voluntary contributions. If somebody comes in here on class S, the voluntary contribution is €500 per year. If they come in on class A, it is €5,000 per year. A person cannot opt to become a class S contributor when they come in here on a voluntary contribution. That is the first thing. Second, I am aware of a Deputy who lost...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for her genuine response. There is a rapporteur's report on the issue in respect of county councillors which I will ask the committee to take on board. The report offers some insight into the historical background of the social protection system and benefits. The Minister has made an offer. We are right up against the wire for social protection and people are waiting...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: To Terry's family, my deepest sympathies are with them. I did not know Terry like many of my colleagues in the House. I only met him in 2014 after a rather controversial by-election where I stole a Fine Gael seat. When I was moving into my office, Terry was one of the first people to come in and congratulate me. It was rather strange because I expected a bit of hostility and I found there...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: He met me and told me, "If I knew what was going to happen, there is no way that you and I would have ever had that conversation. The divil blast you anyway. I lost my seat to you." He was a generous man and a decent man. I will always remember his big, warm smile. He was a lovely man. I am sure the family's hearts are broken. May he rest in peace.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: When speaking about social welfare, it would be wrong to start without paying due respect to the staff in the Department. We have gone through two years of Covid and suddenly we are confronted with a Ukrainian crisis. The staff have performed exceptionally well. As for the Minister herself, she took on two Ministries and kept the ship floating in both the Departments of Justice and Social...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Is the Minister’s Department answerable to the Oireachtas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Perhaps then the Minster will explain why its officials will not come to this committee. The Minister is here, but his officials will not come.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: In the context of search and rescue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is part of policy for the aviation industry in this country because-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that. Does the Minister believe this committee has the right of oversight of what is going on with respect to the tendering process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Let me ask the Minister something. Both of them wrote to me and signed the letter on 4 August 2022. It stated: As ministers, we are somewhat removed from the day-to-day execution of the process. Accordingly, we have engaged with our officials to understand and reply to the issues that you have raised. If they cannot have hands-on, then surely this committee should have hands-on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Another issue is of concern to me. We had Michael O’Leary before the committee the other day and Dublin Airport is about to upgrade its security scanning system to match what is in Shannon Airport and Cork Airport. We have seen the Shannon one and it is truly wonderful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes. It is very good. Mr. O’Leary made the point that if we do that on a piecemeal basis in Dublin, it will completely disrupt the security processing system there. What is the plan, especially for Christmas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to go back to the issue of Shannon Airport. I am not in the region. I live in Dublin, so I have no axe to grind regarding Shannon, other than the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The visit we made showed the gross underutilisation of a tremendous airport. I refer to people from the Minister of State’s constituency in Galway. There is a rail line now running to Limerick. Should we be trying to find a better way to accommodate passengers travelling into Shannon in the context of its proximity of Limerick city, Tipperary and Kerry? As I was driving away the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Chair is indicating to me so I will jump in with a final comment. I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister of State Deputy Naughton. The Air Navigation and Transport Bill has been mentioned. It had a difficult passage through the Seanad. I thank the Minister of State for her willingness to listen and co-operate with us. We now have a Bill in place and I hope we will see it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: There was a little turbulence. I am afraid I must now go to another meeting.

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

Gerard Craughwell: On 25 November, groups from across Ireland came together to honour the forgotten fallen of the National Army Civil War dead. Representatives of the deceased families, veterans, members of the public, public representatives and expert historical groups came together to honour the memory of those who gave their lives for the foundation of the modern Irish State. As of yet, these 1,000-plus...

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

Gerard Craughwell: The Leas-Chathaoirleach welcomed the children of Gurteen Central National School from east Galway. These are fifth and sixth class pupils in the school. This epitomises what goes on in Irish education. This is a small, rural school where kids are being looked after, educated and brought through the system. We sometimes do not give our national schools enough credit for the amount of work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Ryanair (30 Nov 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome both gentlemen to the House today. As my colleague said previously, Mr. O'Leary made aviation travel like jumping onto a bus. It is great to see. Back in the day we used to have to go on a boat. I went to England and many of the people I travelled with did not even speak English, but only spoke Irish. They were tough times. Mr. O'Leary has changed the world of aviation.