Results 121-140 of 1,504 for at speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: When budget 2024 was released, there was a lot in it. Education funding is part of what was outlined. It probably did not make much of a splash by way of headlines because the announcement of free school books up to junior certificate level was the headline but buried within the budget are a number of concerning issues. For example, funding for the capitation fee was €90 million...

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to recognise my colleagues. Senator Blaney has had a deep commitment to Northern Ireland and Senator McGahon, has equally pointed out the things that he sees that need to be done. Senator Martin made a point about representation for Northern Ireland in Europe, which would be a massive step forward by the Republic if it looked for it, albeit that representative would have to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: On the pre-legislative scrutiny issue, I have some sympathy with where Deputy Kenny is coming from. If we are to change speed limits in urban areas in the way the Minister of State quite rightly wants to, it will not happen inside six months. It certainly will not make a difference between now and Christmas. It is disingenuous to suggest that. The Minister of State is 100% correct in his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: On the issue of public transport, there is a request from Cork and Galway to introduce light electric rail. We should do that for both cities. It is not something we should be talking about; it is something we should be doing. I know there is a preoccupation in Galway with the ring road and the problems that has caused. I support an integrated ring road and light rail system for Galway....

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

Gerard Craughwell: The Acting Leader will have some interest in what I have to say because it concerns the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste and then Taoiseach was flown to Europe in a PC-12 aircraft because the Learjet aircraft, which is 20 years old, is on the ground in need of repair. While he was out there, the PC-12 developed problems and he could not fly back. He was left stranded in Brussels because...

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

Gerard Craughwell: At the end of the day, we have a Constitution. We either live by it or we do not. You cannot select from it piecemeal. It is not an à la cartemenu.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming the marine pilots to the House. Few people in Ireland are aware of the work done by this special group of highly-skilled people who are responsible for the safe navigation of some 97% of our imports and exports through ports, including the Cathaoirleach's Port of Cork, and major harbours. The Cathaoirleach and I spoke about that this morning and I was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Tánaiste for his presentation so far. I want to bring up that we keep talking about international law and the rules of war. This throws me. We spent 40 years with a civil war in the North of our country, where international rules mean nothing. Terrorists were willing to kill their own people, which is exactly what Hamas is willing to do. Hamas uses human shields all of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: My question is about the evacuation of our own citizens from Palestine and that region. We are one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Does the Tánaiste not think it is time we had our own heavy lift capacity where we could go to any country in the world and evacuate our own citizens when they are in danger? I will move on to the One China policy. I have constantly heard about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: In the 1970s, when I was serving, we were not especially well paid. I recall the time Tiede Herrema was kidnapped. We were out searching the highways and byways, and while our colleague gardaí sat in restaurants and had their lunch, we had soggy sandwiches and cold tea. Morale was not a problem then; we loved what we did. We served the State with pride. What has gone wrong? It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Okay, I am paraphrasing, but the Tánaiste is comparing a young soldier earning €38,000 a year with somebody in the public service or some private sector job. When there is a massive snowstorm, however, and everybody is stuck at home, military personnel are not stuck at home. When there is a national disaster, military personnel are not stuck at home. When Covid hit, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine, Chairman, but I need to do so now because the IRG report was based on untested evidence. It was based on submissions made to people for God knows what reason. Certainly, there are serious allegations that need to be examined and anybody in uniform will agree there were issues, especially relating to sexual harassment, rape and bullying, but we do not yet know the level. We...

Seanad: Disability Allowance: Motion (11 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: During the pandemic, the Minister’s Department showed how quickly it can respond with compassion and move the country forward at a time of crisis. Senator Clonan came here with lived experience in disability. On the other side of the House, Senator McGreehan has a major interest in disability issues and has often discussed her concerns with me. There is a Green Paper on long-term...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Three and a half minutes. I will mention a few things that jumped out at me today. The mortgage interest tax relief is to be welcomed but I am concerned that the upper limit is €500,000. Where we live - the Minister of State knows it, it is not far from her constituency - two-bedroom houses are currently being sold for €555,000. I know the relief is aimed at those on tracker...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: ...or of help for the navy. There is nothing in the budget. There is talk of increasing the military by 400 people. To do so, we must first find the 1,000 who are already lost which make it 1,400 that we need and not 400. I will take that up with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as it was covered by his speech but I also want the...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I congratulate the Government. It has at last sent out a signal to foreign direct investment in this country that we do not get defence and security and have no interest whatsoever in it. The miserable additional €55 million increase in defence spending will just about allow the Defence Forces to tread water. There is nothing in it for them. The Government simply does not get it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I have spent the best part of two and a half years trying to get people to listen to the shambles that was the previous search and rescue contract and the future search and rescue contract. As we know, it has gone sour, with legal action between the incumbents and the incoming contractor. Imagine my anger this morning when I read an article in the newspaper concerning the directors of...

Committee on Public Petitions: Closure of Vital Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The issue is that the hospital was open until Covid. There was no question about safety, at least that we have heard about, prior to the arrival of Covid. It was then closed and, judging by what Mr. Ryan said, the staff from St. Brigid's were redeployed into the community, if I picked him up correctly. That, to me, just suggests bad HR policies in that the HSE was not able to find staff to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Closure of Vital Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I fully appreciate that during Covid, the HSE did a powerful job. It did a tremendous job and I could not give the agency enough credit. I fully appreciate also that it had to divert and relocate staff into functions such as vaccination and community work, but Covid is over and those staff should have been returned to that hospital, St. Brigid's. Mr. Ryan is taking the flak here today but,...

Committee on Public Petitions: Closure of Vital Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: ...and Mr. Fitzmaurice gave me hope. Clearly, Deputy Canney has been leading on this with Councillor Geraldine Donohue for quite some time. He has offered tremendous leadership. It really gives great hope that the HSE is now looking at this through a fresh lens and that there may be opportunities to change configurations in order to get the place open. St. Brigid's has been a part of...