Results 1-20 of 5,475 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I, too, would like to be associated with the sympathies to Michael's family. I welcome the Polish ambassador. I could not trump the Cathaoirleach's words. He said everything we needed to say. The ambassador is always welcome in the House. Yesterday, I mentioned overseas development aid and the moneys flowing out of Ireland to other countries. We have to start asking a question. If...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: We are in election mode, and will be for the next 12 months as far as I can see. Regarding overseas development aid, Ireland must be the most generous country in the world or home to the greatest shower of idiots who ever walked the earth. Let me talk about Ethiopia receiving €552 million from this State in overseas development aid. Its military budget is $1.58 billion. It has a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for coming to the committee. She is not a member and it shows a great interest in her community. I have a question for Mr. Carney. He mentioned the cost of freedom of information requests. He mentioned the figure of €351, if I am not mistaken. How much in total has he spent on FOIs at this point in time?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: In recent days the Taoiseach made a speech about people in this country who find themselves up against "city hall". It was specifically in relation to the Stardust. I cannot understand how any organisation would force a community to go down the FOI route to get answers to simple questions that should be answered by default. The local authority is there to serve the community and not to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Would it be fair to say that dithering has caused the installation cost to increase? The amount of €1,350 seems to have been acceptable to the community but because no action has taken place the people have been caught by escalating costs of labour and material. Is this a fair assumption?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to put in a formal proposal to the committee. I assume the FOIs went to Mayo County Council.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I propose that we write to Mayo County Council and ask for a refund of the costs of the FOI. I do not know whether it can be done legally but it should be done. It is outrageous that a citizen of this country would be forced to put his hand in his pocket to get answers to simple questions that the local authority is obliged to provide. To force somebody into an FOI is absolutely...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: That is excellent. I have some questions for Mr. Ivers. I thank Mr. Ivers for his statement. He talks about water being unavailable and having to go and draw water and put it into his well, so he is topping up the well two or three times a day.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: During dry periods. I do not know if Mr. Ivers is qualified to answer this or not. Are there health and safety issues in transferring water from one source to another place? For example, regarding the methodology used for transportation, and I do not mean to put Mr. Ivers on the spot. I am concerned about the consumers of the water he draws, whether it is drawn in suitable containers, how...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Ivers for being honest. He could have tried to fluff the question but he did not. He gave it straight as it is. Fair play to him for looking after those who are in the house and for doing the best he can. There is a question with respect to people's health being put at risk. I am sure, from listening to Mr. Ivers, that he has warned the family involved that they cannot drink...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: It is important that they have water. I live in urban Ireland. I have only ever had my water cut off twice and it was like somebody took away both my arms. I cannot imagine what it is like there. I do not think there is a lot more that we need to ask the witnesses. Their honesty and straightforwardness are impressive. We will follow that up with the local authority whenever the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have one quick supplementary question. Can Mr. Carney tell me when the scheme was first sought?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Was it in 2012?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry to interrupt. I read the statement. What relevance does it have to the discussion today? It sets out the Department's position with respect to water and the only thing it offers at the end is that the final or second last paragraph tells us that no application has been made by Mayo County Council for this water scheme. I do not mean to cut off Mr. Kelly. He put a lot of work...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I apologise to Mr. Kelly.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Department for making its position clear in all of this. I am sorry for interrupting Mr. Kelly. I really do not know why he is here. As regards Mayo County Council and Uisce Éireann, another committee on which I sit heard from Iarnród Éireann. I asked witnesses from Iarnród Éireann about putting in a spur line from Swords to Dublin Airport. They told...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: No.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I want to go back to Mr. Kelly, who has a lot of experience in these situations, for a moment. Is this one of the longest projects he has on his books or are there similar ones scattered around the country?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I do not want to get into the reasons as the answers from all the witnesses have been quite comprehensive. Mr. Kelly and Ms Bourke have come in for great praise from the community as I believe has Mr. McDermott. It is a good thing that they are engaging with members of the community. Perhaps I could ask Mr. Condon and Mayo County Council to engage with the Department of Social Protection...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on Kiltimagh Water Scheme: Discussion (25 Apr 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Mr. Condon for that.