Results 121-140 of 5,475 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Somebody said something about scaremongering. I am delighted the Minister rejected the scaremongering by his Cabinet colleagues. I compliment him on that. There is no fairness in the charge. There is no fairness in anything this Government has brought in. We have only to consider property charges. Try living in Dublin and see how much the property tax is, then start paying for water. My...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with Senators who have wished the Cathaoirleach and the staff of the Seanad a happy Christmas. I shall now refer to the letter I got from him this morning that ruled my amendment to the Water Services Bill out of order. It is for that reason, and for that reason alone, that I again call for us to amend the Order of Business and take the Water Services Bill off the Order of Business...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes, I propose a formal amendment to the Order of Business. I regret doing so because all of us want to see the end of this Bill. The issue of a referendum for the Independents in the House, on which all of them have spoken, is a red line issue. The plebiscite to my mind is-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I formally request an amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I tire of the manner in which things are done in this country. A constitutional referendum was proposed to ensure protection of the right of the people of Ireland to their water. Article 10.3 of the Constitution states: "Provision may be made by law for the management of the property which belongs to the State by virtue of this Article and for the control of the alienation, whether...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I can read the Constitution too.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I will leave that to Senator Landy. I am sure he is well capable of it. Did the Minister not learn anything from the protests on our streets?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not sure the Minister did.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator Barrett's amendment is being debated. At least it goes some way towards meeting the requirements that I would have had. I intend to ask Senator Barrett not to push for that today because I am going to see if there is a way I can reintroduce a wording similar to what I have in my amendment for a constitutional referendum. I will deal with the Cathaoirleach's office and some of the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Maybe the Minister should go back and have a look at it. Let us all try to find a way that we can guarantee ownership. We cannot guarantee ownership with this plebiscite. I would like the Minister to give a direct answer to Senator Cullinane's question. Is it possible for the Minister to introduce an amendment now or at some stage in the future or for any Minister to do so?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: It is not a case of being the brave one. We saw Lisbon II.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: We did not like Lisbon I and we did not like Lisbon II. Are we going to have plebiscite one, two, three and four, until such a time as some future Minister gets the answer he or she wants? I have huge reservations about this. I support the Minister in trying to fund water but I cannot support this Bill without a referendum. While I would like to stay on my feet talking, I am just totally...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: On a point of order, the Minister has just got a break and he is well entitled to it. His officials have been sitting there as long as him and they are entitled to a break

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I am asking the Leader to do that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Before I turn to the Bill, I note that the Leader has returned to the Chamber. I ask him to consider breaking for a few minutes to facilitate the officials. While one official has just come into the Chamber, another has been sitting there for as long as the Minister and he is entitled to a break. I would expect this for any employee at any time. Will the Leader consider doing this before...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: I find that regrettable-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: This morning I asked a question about the establishment of a company called Uisce Éireann or Irish Water Limited which was established in October in Wales. I would be grateful if the Minister of State were to advise me whether that company had been set up by Irish Water in Ireland or whether it had been set up by a director or person associated with it. I wish to establish whether...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: In Ireland the Office of the Attorney General is paid to give advice and I am sure it could find a way to come up with a wording that would meet all of the doubts the Labour Party has. I am delighted its members have doubts about the way in which the wording of a constitutional amendment might be brought forward because the example of what happened with the eighth amendment to the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: It does not matter. If such a subcontractor fails in its job, we will not have water services. Consequently, I am not at all satisfied with the manner in which things are going. My colleague, Senator David Cullinane, asked for the withdrawal of section 2 in its entirety and that is not a bad idea. Let Members get rid of the plebiscite proposal totally and return the Bill to the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Gerard Craughwell: Ninety-eight years after the founding fathers of this country declared the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, we are here pleading with the Minister to call a referendum in order that we can enshrine one tiny part of the ownership of Ireland to the people, and that is water. Water is the single commodity we cannot live without. A lot of people are repeating the same...