Results 1,941-1,960 of 5,963 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: If I may, Chairman, why did I refer the purchase of vehicles to the Comptroller and Auditor General? I did so because people within the service were aware of what had happened and came to me with their complaint. This is all part of a system that is just broken. As I could not get answers, I went to the Comptroller and Auditor General and asked him to have a look at this. I was absolutely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: They are unsuitable though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Not according to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Did the Coast Guard buy them fully-equipped or did it buy empty vehicles?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Can I get an answer from of the Department on the statutory responsibility of the IAA with respect to search and rescue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise to Mr. O'Flaherty but I want him to deal specifically with the position prior to the R116 accident. Was the IAA statutorily obliged to oversee the search and rescue operation? It is a "Yes" or a "No" question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: No, I am not trying to apportion blame here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: That is simply not true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I know I came through there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Coast Guard: Discussion (18 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: We can clear this up by saying that current Bill, namely, the air navigation Bill, will fix this problem.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, I spoke about the frustration I was experiencing with respect to vaccine boosters. I was contacted shortly afterwards by a member of the public who heard what I said and he was, in effect, a facsimile of my case as his underlying conditions mirrored mine. His consultant told him to contact his GP and get vaccinated. He contacted the GP but was not on any list he could find so he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome to the committee. I want to start with the Luas green line, with which I am very familiar. Between 7 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. at Glencairn, which is a short distance from Bride's Glen, the Luas trams are already packed. As the Minister knows, there is massive development right beside the British ambassador's residence, and there is about to be additional development at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister might deal with the question I have just asked first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I agree with the Minister. If we could have a cycleway along the line, perhaps all the way to Ranelagh, it would be fantastic because it would serve many secondary schools on the way and get kids off the road. I know the Minister is favourably disposed at least to exploring the idea of very light rail for Galway. Galway city is frequently at a standstill from Oranmore almost to Barna at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: A footbridge is being built, not at the Salmon Weir but where the old Clifden line used to be. If we are building a footbridge across there to the university, it strikes me that there is an opportunity to invest there now and provide an additional bridge specifically for public transport coming from Woodquay right across the Corrib on the old Clifden line into Newcastle, feeding the hospital...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: That is good. I appreciate the Minister's commitment to it. I spoke to some people last week on the Galway proposals for Connecting Ireland. I am concerned that some of the planning has taken place at desk level and that people on the ground are not aware. For example, I made the point last week that the Annaghdown commuter stop is 10.4 km from Annaghdown and the Corrandulla one is 1.5...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I know some of my colleagues mentioned e-scooters already. I am seeing an increasing number of parents with very young children on e-scooters as pillion passengers. From what I can see, no helmets are being used. I believe it is only a matter of time before we will, unfortunately, have a fatality. How soon will we have regulation in that area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: Regarding the Coast Guard, the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted several issues with respect to procurement. Has the Minister initiated an investigation in his Department to get to the bottom of procurement practices?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: As the Minister knows, the Air Navigation and Transport Bill is going through the Seanad at the moment. I am at a loss to understand what the logjam is with respect to considering the amendments prepared by the Irish Air Line Pilots Association which I along with others have sponsored in the Seanad. It seems that when a decision is made on a Bill, it is written in stone and nobody is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Gerard Craughwell: I look forward to progressing it through. At the end of the day, the amendments are about safety in the air, proposed by the people who are the practitioners on the ground. I implore and beg the Minister to go back and talk to his departmental officials and ask them to do some listening on this one. Let us not waste time and delay the legislation going through the House.