Results 1,281-1,300 of 5,918 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: May we heckle?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: On 31 August, I wrote to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, following a request from a member of the public about tender documents that had been released by the Department of Transport for the procurement of consultancy services for search and rescue services. My letter questioned why there were two very similar tenders in the marketplace....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It was intimidating for me.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It was intimidating for me. When a Member of this House is told that an email that was sent to Ministers is being referred to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Office of the Attorney General, that is intimidating. I would like the Minister for Transport to come to the House to reassure all Members that he does not support or subscribe to any form of intimidation. I ask the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is strange that every time I come into the Seanad for the Order of Business, something derails my line of thought. Senator Doherty has certainly derailed mine today. I have a sister who lost two children at full term. I cannot begin to tell the House the pain that she has felt in her life at the loss of those children. I fully support what Senator Doherty is trying to do. I offer my...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am aware that my colleagues want to talk about my trip to Qatar. I am quite prepared to give a detailed report next week on that. It is a cheap shot but leaving that aside-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line is this. What an embarrassment that this State, in which we constantly talk about our sovereignty and neutrality and hear all the other nonsense about the defence of the State, is unable to protect the very lifeblood of data that come through this country or the economic zone for which we are responsible? People speak about the "cloud" as if it was up there. It is not. It...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am well aware that he was here last week. There are times when other Ministers are here and Senator Buttimer is not. I was away on business and the Senator can like it or lump it. The Minister needs to come to the House to explain. The story only broke in the last few days.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: No chance.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Votáil.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Bringing this legislation through the House has been a painful experience.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I will try not to. The IALPA representatives have engaged with us, as have the IAA representatives. To me, IALPA's concerns comprise the premier issue. I want to see its concerns met. The reason I want to see them met is that we have a documented history in this country of pilots making complaints and raising issues of concern, including in respect of health and safety, and of those...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State has come quite a distance during the discussions on this Bill. I mention the licenceholders forum and the discrete group of pilots, licensed mechanics and air traffic controllers are the people who are on the front line when there is an accident and whose expertise is questioned at those times. For example, the aircraft technicians record the details of where every nut...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Take your time.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: We are entitled to speak so let us not rush things here. The bottom line on it is that pilots will speak to pilots. They will also speak to their engineers and air traffic controllers because those are the three groups that work together and they need their own forum. I welcome the notion that there would be a minimum of two meetings per year because I accept what the Minister of State is...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Following on from what Senator Doherty said, I am long enough around and have worked in enough organisations in my life to know that when there is a very broad church such as the Minister of State is proposing, it is possible to manipulate the way in which a forum works. Interested parties may be brought together in order that the voices of the minority group are drowned out. We are talking...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sure they are witnessing near misses.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not deny or reject anything the Minister of State is saying. However, for the life of me, I cannot understand what a certificate holder, for instance, will bring to the forum that would in any way change the outcome compared with having only pilots, air traffic controllers and mechanics involved. There is such a wide list. I would love to have that list, go through it line by line and...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State read out the qualifications of people that are available within the IAA. This legislation is about regulating the IAA. I would hope its people have the qualifications she is talking about but that is not the issue.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State talked about the expertise that was available. She spoke specifically about the expertise brought in on the matter of search and rescue. I assume we are talking about the same company we have always spoken about, which is the company from Scotland, Aerossurance. I have repeatedly asked what expertise this company has. The Minister of State and the Minister have...