Results 241-260 of 5,447 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Assuming there are bonds.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I wish to put on the record that I have been a carer for both of my children. I have been a carer for my grandchildren. In fact they play hell with me when I am on my own with them. They stay up late and convince me that I do not have put them to bed early. They do all sorts of things. My two children ring me constantly when they have problems. They do not seem to feel that they have to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: In October 2014, when I came in here for the by-election count, which saw me into this House, it was initially very difficult to get to the Ceann Comhairle’s dining room. When I eventually arrived down there, the one person who stood beside me as the count took place was you, Senator Norris. I will never forget your generosity on that day. My sister sent me a text this morning in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I doubt it very much.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Following on from my colleague, Senator Mullen, I have to talk about the democratic process. For something as serious as a constitutional amendment, to come to the House and give a couple of hours of debate to two major changes to the Constitution is repugnant to the very House itself and everything we stand for. One of the Minister's colleagues, during an interview on a radio station with...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: You mentioned everybody. You did not mention me or-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have heard a lot this afternoon about mothers and I support the notion of removing some of the archaic language that is in our Constitution. Shortly before my mother died, I visited her in Galway. The visit ended and while on my way home to Dublin, I thought about her and the impact she had on my life. I realised, by the time I got to Athlone, that I had never told her, so I turned...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I join with everybody else in wishing Tom Hickey well in his retirement. I also wish Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and the staff of the Seanad a happy and peaceful Christmas. They need a peaceful Christmas after what we saw here last night. I wish the Cathaoirleach well and thank him for his tolerance. That will get me an extra few seconds. This week, the Irish Examinerreported that a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We need to have a debate on that. We also have a Senator or two down there. I will very quickly mention another thing. Galway Bay FM has contacted me and, I am sure, most other Senators about the need for funding for reporting on local elections, local democracy issues and so on. The Taoiseach has promised that funding will be forthcoming once any European competition issues have been...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister of State was spokesperson on defence in a former life. The notion that a country would not have sovereign capability in search and rescue is repugnant to any reasonable person. The Irish Air Corps put a 415-page document together as part of their bid to take just one base. We wanted CHC, the SAR operator, to hold three bases and the Air Corps to take just one base. I made...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The crash of Rescue 116 left the Department exposed as a Department that was unable to oversee the search and rescue system in Ireland. As my colleague has pointed out, 80% of the crew of one base is about to be withdrawn for training with Bristow Ireland. This means that this base must close. I am asking the Minister whether he is prepared to call in the Irish Aviation Authority...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: In respect of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, are we going to stop on Committee Stage today or are we going to go on to Report Stage? I ask because I am not quite sure where we are going with it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Okay. Following on from Senator Paddy Burke and the issue of oversight, we had a Commencement matter debate this morning on the search and rescue, SAR, contract awarded to Bristow. In his reply, the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, spoke about how the process was overseen by an external body that reported to the Department. The process that was overseen was an administrative issue,...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Bill contains vague language such as "from time to time". That is not good enough when it comes to legislation. We need to know there will be a directive from, perhaps, the Minister that once the Bill is passed, there will be an onus on the authority to produce a report, whether biannually or at certain times. The phrase "from time to time" is very vague. I will not talk forever on this.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I have to concur with my colleague. Intelligence services are not normally not part of a police force. An intelligence service is a very different thing. If we go through Europe, we will not find police and intelligence services mixed together. My colleague has adverted to the vacancy for the head of intelligence. It is absurd that we would employ somebody from outside the State as the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Perhaps there will be an opportunity on Report Stage-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Stick with me on this.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am getting there. Perhaps there will be an opportunity on Report Stage to table an amendment with specifics-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Specifics could be introduced whereby we would cover off these areas. I agree with Senator Chambers on this issue.