Results 281-300 of 5,447 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

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

Gerard Craughwell: We need the Leader. Where is she?

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

Gerard Craughwell: I think they are welcome all right.

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

Gerard Craughwell: I see an election coming.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I submitted an amendment on section 14 of the Bill, which deals with the dreaded class K PRSI. It has been ruled out of order because of the cost to the Exchequer. Members of this House who have gone to the dentist to get their teeth cleaned have come to me about PRSI. They are paying €386 in PRSI and cannot get dental care. It was...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Is that so?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to-----

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I just wanted to thank the Minister for her direction. I will work across all parties and, hopefully, bring forward a Private Members’ Bill early in the new year.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Last night, we had an excellent debate on the issue of members of local authorities. We are coming up to local and European elections, to be held next year, and a number of senior members of local authorities have decided they will pack it in at that stage. They will get a relatively small lump sum for up to 40 years of service in some cases. Why is it that outgoing members of local...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister is welcome. First and foremost, I want to congratulate him and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on what has been a very good social welfare budget. It clearly set out to look after the less well-off in our society, which is really good. I want to devote my time today to speaking about class K PRSI. I delivered a rapporteur's report on class K PRSI in 2016, which I have here...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry; I did not know.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I formally second the motion. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I think this is my first time to address him since he was elevated as a Minister of State. I am very happy for him. He was a good local representative himself in his time. We are talking about the erosion of power in local authorities and it is important that we put things in context at the very outset. I...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: When we look at issues like security and the personal security of county councillors, I note that the amount of money for telephone and broadband has been reduced.Why, when I get an allowance to carry out parliamentary duties, is it called an allowance when it is a sum of money that is not subject to tax? When a county councillor gets an allowance, it is referred to as pay and it is liable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome the new chairman of the NTA. I always put on record, when we speak to newly appointed chairs, the point that it is a complete waste of time for them to come into us because, at the end of the day, we have no authority whatsoever over their appointments. I thank Mr. Strachan for taking the time to come in to set out his stall. I will raise two issues that come across my table...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I will just come back on the Luas issue. There is an unfortunate situation for anybody who is wheelchair-bound or has very young children. Quite frankly, for those who are in wheelchairs, using the Luas to get to work for a 9 to 5 job is out of the question. They just will not be able to make it. Is there any way that a small section of the Luas could be restricted for people in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Ukraine: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: We do not have a lot of time to go into the briefing, which was quite comprehensive. I am concerned about the issue of sanctions. It seems sanctions are being ignored or abused. Is there any evidence that Irish companies have tried to find a way around the sanctions to supply Russian industry? There is lots more we could ask but we do not have time today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Some time ago, I spoke, and the Leader herself spoke, on the appointment of the next head of intelligence for the State and it surprises me that they are continuing with the appointment. Former colleagues from the UK have contacted me and they cannot believe that we would even consider the appointment of a foreign national. By the way, those who came in here and accused me of racism, etc.,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: There is no need to give way.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: The bottom line on it is we really have to think about what we are doing. The person who will take over intelligence in this country will have access to information on all of us, on past deeds in this country and on those who were involved in various different things down through the history of this country. Micheál Martin, in the Dáil the other day, said that the person appointed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I stand foursquare behind the Minister. She is doing a fine job and should continue to do it. I also think the Garda Commissioner is doing a fine job and he should continue to do it. On the riot, I am probably the only person in this room was ever actually involved in a riot. I was sergeant in charge of a riot section and we faced 15,000 people on that particular day. I can tell the...