Results 61-80 of 5,447 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: At the outset, I record my sympathy to the family of Councillor Pat Hynes in Galway, who sadly passed away this morning. Pat is the uncle of Geraldine Donohue, who works here with Senator Boyhan. I would also like to remember Corporal Tadhg Quinn, one of the Jadotville heroes denied a medal, who passed away today. Yesterday, there was an attack on me in the House about having my photograph...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 1: After the last paragraph under "calls on the Government to:", to insert the following paragraphs: " - restore the pensions of members of An Garda Síochána to what it was pre-2008 and remove the requirement for post-1996 retirees to sign on for jobseekers benefit while awaiting access to full pension; - implement the recommendations listed in multiple...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I compliment Senator Moynihan on bringing forward the Labour Party motion. As she spoke, I had visions of my youth where there was one garda in Salthill in Galway and that one garda was able to police the entire holiday resort. I remember a row breaking out one night in Salthill and the garda stood in the middle of the road and put the two opposing sides on either side the street and nobody...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Limerick is a city today in which we do not have huge crime. It is a pleasurable city to visit. It was done by co-operation across the board between communities, gardaí, and elected representatives in Limerick who had a direct line into the Garda station. Where there was a problem, it was possible to fix it. The Minister must fix the terms and conditions of employment for...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I move amendment No. 2: After the last paragraph under “calls on the Government to:”, to insert the following paragraph: “- ensure that the important role played by local authority members in policing is protected by granting them equivalent duties and representation in the new Safety Partnerships and by appointing a designated Garda who can act as a contact for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I ask that Sinn Féin might have a look at two opinion pieces on security in Northern Ireland that are published in The America Timestoday, both of which were written by me, one addressing the issue of closing the-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Yes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: One article is addressing the issue of closing the back door and the other one addressing the issue of the changing security concerns of the UK because of our failure to provide proper defence for this island. That party might read these articles and it might awaken a few things.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have here a copy of Bunreacht na hÉireann-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I have here Bunreacht na hÉireann-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I will not take any lectures-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I am not speaking to the Cathaoirleach but I will not take lectures from people who were terrorists on this island and who terrorised my mother and my father back in 1974. Do not give me any of that rubbish.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Getting back to the Order of Business, Articles 18 and 19 of Bunreacht na hÉireann deal with the elections of the Seanad and I ask the Leader to organise a debate with the Minister on the next election for the Seanad. Every day, I sit in here and hear some small few colleagues talking about their constituency. We do not have a constituency. We are national politicians. This is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I welcome all the delegates. I want to turn first to the IRG, which is the foundation upon which the oversight body is established. Like Ms King, I have spent most of my life representing workers. A key element of representing workers is the principle that no man is guilty until proven so. As a former serving soldier, I was deeply upset to find the IRG was published as fact rather than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Another issue relates to the independence of the board. It is vital that the board be independent but also that there be balance. I am following on from the Deputy's point about the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department. I understand what the professor said about this being a matter for the Government, and it is something our committee will have to take up. Whatever about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: The matter of independence has often arisen in situations such as this. I am mindful of a Supreme Court ruling that it is not good enough just to say you are independent. Rather, you must be seen to be independent, and I think all members of the board would agree with that. Ms Sinnamon is chair of the implementation group. I have had conversations with some very senior people throughout...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: My colleague spoke about heads 25 and 26 of the proposed Bill, which set out to silence the representative bodies and prevent them from making public comment. Surely one issue that is going to be really important for cultural change within the organisation is that if complaints are brought to the representative bodies and are not dealt with correctly, they should have the power as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: Can I come in on that point? Looking back at ombudsman reports over a number of years, some of the issues that arose in the IRG report never materialised in the ombudsman’s report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: If ever you could give me a reason for having the representation bodies as ex officio members of the oversight body’s committee, you have just given it to me there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: My point is they would learn.