Results 1,601-1,620 of 5,750 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petitions on Unauthorised Developments: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: As the person who raised this issue, I want to apologise to the witnesses who have given of their time today to come here to try to resolve this matter, but I believe it is in all our interests that we take the steps now proposed by the Chairman. I again apologise to the witnesses for throwing a spanner in the works on this one, but I believe it is in everybody's interest.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I was really comfortable in my mind as to what I wanted to say until Deputy Higgins came in. She has now totally thrown my mind somewhere else. There is much in what Deputy Pat Buckley is saying in this particular case. I would see no difficulty whatsoever in this committee taking the lead on it and by all means inviting in the Committee on Health as well. It is one of those rare...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I support what Deputy Buckley is saying. I am in the beautiful position that I am an Independent here and answerable to nobody but God. At the end of the day, key to the Committee on Petitions is that the citizen has access to the Oireachtas and the citizen has the opportunity to bring his or her case here, when everything else has failed him or her. From that perspective, leaving party...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I will allow the member from the Lower House to speak first.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Thank you very much, Chairman. I ask Deputy Higgins to drop me a text before I speak in future so that I do not walk myself into trouble. The problem we have here is that Deputy Buckley on one side, and Deputies Higgins and Devlin on the other side, are all making perfect sense. What I would say about the Committee on Public Petitions is that it should be the last chance saloon for...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I reluctantly propose that we do not invite them in until we establish that all other avenues have been exhausted. That would be simple enough if Deputy Buckley were to bring a letter to the next private meeting indicating he has confirmation that the petitioners have exhausted all avenues open to them. In that case, then we would be in the last chance saloon and we could get them in...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am completely shocked. I thank the Deputy very much. I apologise to Deputy Buckley but I think we need to do this quickly. These people are suffering and we should not do anything that would prolong that suffering. We should get to it quickly. I ask Deputy Buckley to explain that to them because I know he will be working with them. I know that colleagues in other places and members of...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am saying we should tell them the matter has been deferred for the moment while we investigate what other committees are doing with respect to this issue. If we find no other committee is doing anything, then we must step in. That can surely be accomplished in a few days. It is not rocket science. I appreciate that the health committee is busy at the moment, with all that is going on,...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I will go with that suggestion.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday morning the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, was on RTÉ with regard to the famous champagne-gate. The Minister made the point that the report, which many of us do not accept, now concluded the matter. There was some reference to the fine, or the request, to the then Secretary General of the Department to make a contribution of €2,000. This was supposed to...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I would like to contribute. I have a rather unusual request-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that. I was here, but I was called away. I am back now, though, and that is all that matters. I wish to make an unusual request. I have not discussed it with any of my colleagues. In light of a letter that I received today from the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, IALPA, a request that I have submitted to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, and the fact...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise to the Acting Chairperson and the Leader for dropping this on people right now, but a significant amount of information is coming our way. We are talking about qualified pilots who have concerns that they have raised with Members of all parties and none. Most of us are fully in agreement with the pilots. We are debating a very serious situation. We are dealing with people's...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise, but I am asking the Acting Chairperson whether I can amend the order at this stage and suspend the Bill for further discussion. I am sure that some of my colleagues might second that.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry for doing this at such short notice, but we need time and I do not believe we should proceed today.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am asking the Leader to suspend any further discussion on this Bill until the committee has met IALPA, which I believe will happen in the next few days. That will give us a chance to listen to IALPA's side of the argument. I apologise to the Minister of State. Her time is very-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise to the Minister of State for giving such short notice but I only had conversations with IALPA this morning. I had only-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I understand what the Minister of State is saying. However, by bringing this back to the joint committee, we will be bringing it to both Houses.There are Deputies who did not have the opportunity when this Bill was going through their House to take on board the recommendations from the report on the Rescue 116 incident in particular. We can be sure the Department did not come out well from...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That should be a matter for the committee.