Results 1,881-1,900 of 5,962 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I believe it was settled before Mr. Justice Mahon's appointment or perhaps just afterwards, I cannot remember. It is always detrimental to the process if, having gone through all of the hoops and having had a favourable recommendation from the ombudsman's office, a person then must actually go through the legal system to get some sort of resolution. That is always bad and I am delighted to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports from 2017 to 2020 and Related Matters: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (20 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is excellent. Prior to the appointment of Mr. Justice Mahon, one of the first cases I encountered as a Senator was a complaint that had been brought to the ombudsman by an officer of the Defence Forces. The who or the where is irrelevant at this point. An extremely thorough investigation was carried out. Having gone through the entire Defence Forces appeals system and failed, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: My heart goes out to Ashling Murphy's family. I was particularly mindful yesterday of the first class kids lining the street. I have two granddaughters, Ellie and Isabel. I cannot imagine what it would take to explain to either of them the brutality by which the woman died. It is now a matter for the courts and Garda, so I will say no more about it. I was delighted to hear Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with colleagues in wishing everybody in the Houses and all of the people who kept this country working over what has been the most difficult two years a very happy Christmas. I am particularly mindful of those who will be on duty over Christmas, such as members of the Defence Forces, the fire service and the ambulance service and hospital staff. I know that friends working in...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I pay compliment to her and the Department on how quickly they reacted over recent years with the Covid-19 crisis. It cannot have been easy but by God they turned it around very quickly when they were asked to do so. On a personal note, when a member of the Cabinet needed maternity leave the Minister stepped up to the plate and took on two very...

Seanad: TRIPS Waiver: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate this important subject. I am very sorry that the Government has chosen to put forward an amendment to this great motion. That amendment underpins the Government's approach, which is not to rock the boat when it comes to dealing with anything trade-related or commercial. I preface what I say by referring to Jonas Salk, who...

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

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the fact that the long battle of the Miami Showband came to a conclusion yesterday.I listened to an interview this morning on "The Pat Kenny Show" with one of the members of the band. In many ways, I am sorry that the case did not go to a full hearing to allow us to get to the bottom of exactly what was involved. There is no doubt that most of us who work a uniform on either side...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Senator McGahon gets things done.

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.