Results 1,681-1,700 of 5,754 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I cannot wait for Senator McGahon's newsletter.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I begin by placing on the record my appreciation to the Minister for coming personally to the House to deal with the Commencement matter relating to the pay of our secretarial assistants.I would like to speak about the job that the Minister’s Department has done since the financial crisis. None of us likes the job that the Department does because it impacts everything we try to do,...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I just want to say that I agree with Senator Buttimer. I do not believe we should divide the House on this. I do not believe that anyone on the Government benches in any way disagrees with the arguments that are being put forward. It would be wrong to force a vote on it. The message is being driven home loud and clear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I read this morning of a partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and the Royal Air Force. The Leader will recall that the Royal Air Force protects our skies because we cannot do that ourselves. It is depressing that the Royal Air Force is investing in cybersecurity innovation systems in Northern Ireland and our Minister for Defence lives looking over at Haulbowline where seven...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this matter. He clearly regards it as important. When I first took my seat in 2014, I was immediately aware of the job of Seanad secretarial assistant, SA, and that it bore little resemblance to the work that SAs actually do. That was confirmed in a survey in 2017, which showed that Seanad SAs do the same work as parliamentary assistants...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Sector Pay (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his input. SAs will be aware of the fact that I am here and that this matter is before the House morning. If I am not misinterpreting what the Minister said, once the commission makes up its mind and comes to him with a proposal he will be willing to look at it and is anxious to have this matter resolved as quickly as possible. Going back to my time as a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, as is my colleague, Senator Buttimer. We have been speaking to the Coast Guard in recent meetings and a number of serious issues have arisen, some of which I have forwarded on to the Garda, and I will speak with them about more issues today. Caitríona Lucas, may she rest in peace, was lost in Kilkee. There had been warnings...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Is there a vacancy?

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As this is the first time I have addressed him since his elevation, I congratulate him on that. At the outset, I thank Senator McDowell for giving leadership to our group in this area. Sitting here, listening to the debate this afternoon, the level of passion from all sides of the House and the excellent speeches that were made by all of my...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I thank him for the sensitive approach he has taken to deal with this specific issue. The society I grew up in took young women who became pregnant - and they did not become pregnant on their own - and sent them off to institutions. The society I live in today likes to blame those institutions for the way those women were treated. The first time...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I might be so bold as to suggest that at some stage we would refuse to process legislation, while our secretarial assistants are being treated the way they are being treated. This came before the commission three years ago, when I was sitting on it and nothing has been done. It is really outrageous. In any other organisation the secretarial assistants would be supported. We should consider...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I appreciate the witnesses' attendance. I am sorry that I was a little late and missed their presentation. There was an interesting article in The Irish Timesyesterday relating to immigrants coming into this country, but not specifically relating to direct provision. The article's gist was that Ireland is a very welcome country for those arriving as either refugees or migrants - I have a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Ms Buckley. That is a comprehensive answer. I would like to raise a couple of points. Many who arrive on these shores come from authoritarian-type countries, where women, in particular, have an extremely difficult upbringing and survival within the communities in which they live. I wonder about their willingness to look at the structures, supports and rights-based facilities...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I am delighted that Ms Buckley said that because the Department does a phenomenal job in immigration and it cannot be easy. I have been critical of some of it and the way in which it is done. My colleague, Senator Murphy, referred to the purchase of centres or hotels to house migrants. I remember the situation in Oughterard in Galway well. Although I am from Galway I do not live there now...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a fair comment though.

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I spent 25 years of my life teaching in Dún Laoghaire and a fair number of sub-Saharan Africans in particular would have come through our college in my time. Would Ms Buckley see any benefit in educating the indigenous Irish, for the want of a better description, on the ethos and standards that some of our migrant communities have? I am particularly mindful of the Nigerians and the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Direct Provision Policy and Related Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: No and I thank the Chairman. I really appreciate the time and answers given, and the work of the Department. I wish the witnesses the best going forward.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, I attended the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, biannual conference. It was probably one of the most depressing conferences I have ever attended. Clearly, nobody in government takes the Defence Forces seriously. Nobody cares about the way the organisation is being run into the ground. Yesterday, we had a Minister for Defence tell the assembled group...