Results 1-20 of 357 for long speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Passenger Cap at Dublin Airport on Ryanair's Business and Operations: Ryanair (12 Jun 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: It was more long-haul than short-haul aircraft that were causing the serious noise, although I may be wrong on that. It struck me that these people had tried to negotiate and work with the Dublin Airport Authority but had not been successful. I am ignorant on the issue of slots, so forgive me. When Aer Lingus was being sold off, there was a big question about the slots that were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Dóchas Pre-Budget Submission: Discussion (11 Jun 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I will come back in on a couple of things. First and foremost, Mr. O'Connell has reinforced the argument for getting rid of the triple lock mechanism because as long as it is in place, we will not be able to go unilaterally into Africa and assist in peacekeeping programmes, which is something we should, as a mature nation, be able to do. Where there is a dysfunctional UN Security Council,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...Most people - the Acting Leader should talk to Defence Force people if he does not believe me - will tell you that when they go overseas, the Lebanon knows where Ireland is because we are there so long but, generally speaking, when we go overseas to strange countries nobody has a clue where Ireland is. They have no idea in the world who or what Ireland is. My plea today relates to...

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

Gerard Craughwell: ...morning about the appalling state of our country, entitled, "Ireland’s the ultimate defense freeloader". He sets out in great detail how we have freeloaded on our European neighbours for far too long. Right now, we are an open door into Europe for drug and people traffickers and those who wish to sail over our cables in the Atlantic.I am aware the Acting Leader, Senator Byrne, has...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...This legislation, with one strike, seems to hit all but, actually, it does not. It is slowly but surely destroying the public service. It is currently affecting those in the uniformed services but it will not take long until it hits the full Civil Service. I acknowledge it is a bit late in this Government's life for this but I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Public...

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

Gerard Craughwell: ...manager, who is the project manager and what is the timeline for this? What reassurance can we give the people of Kiltimagh today that they are going to have water in the foreseeable future because six years is too long to wait for a project?

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Mar 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...the public that once it passes the 270 days, the Bill falls. I believe that the Bill passed 322 days, with effect from yesterday. However, it remains on the Order Paper in the Seanad, and as long as it is on the Order Paper, it can be debated. The only way it could fall is the way the judicial appointments Bill fell. It exceeded the 300 days but it remained on the Order Paper and was...

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: ...commander took the parade and the second in command was on parade, as were the sergeant major and the company commanders. Each platoon had a lieutenant, sergeants and corporals. Not so terribly long ago, I had to raise an issue whereby an entire battalion was being managed by a captain and three lieutenants. We constantly see 600 or 700 non-commissioned officer vacancies. Soldiering is...

Seanad: Second Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Statements (22 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...to come out with such a statement? If Ireland's neutrality is to be changed it has to be brought to the Houses of Parliament and discussed. People cannot just unilaterally decide we are no longer a neutral state. When it comes to neutrality, the 1907 Hague Convention IV states that we cannot, under any circumstances, support either belligerent in the case of a war. Our Government has...

Committee on Public Petitions: Petition on Justice and Marine Safety: Discussion (22 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: I just want to return to Mr. Gaffney for a minute. How long after he purchased the ship, did he notice there were stability problems?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: .... Level of Ambition 2 is about two years old and we still see no development in that area. We still see the numbers falling and now we are beginning to see the number of Garda falling. I asked not so long ago for a debate with the Department of public expenditure and reform on the pension scheme. The post-2013 pension scheme is killing the uniformed services – Garda, Defence...

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: First, I would like to extend my sympathies to the Bruton family, Finola and our colleague, Richard. Whenever death comes, it comes suddenly, even if there is a long lead into it. We are never prepared for it. It is no secret that I grew up in a staunch Fine Gael family. My father was a blueshirt to his marrow. He was a sadly misguided man who drove me into the Fine Gael Party as a young...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...never be given the prominence the IRG report was given. We have here today veterans who suffered at the hands of these thugs - for thugs is what they were. They discredited the uniform they wore, the units they belonged to, their colleagues and their country. They hid behind their rank in some cases and in other cases found locations where there were no seeing eyes to carry out the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Gerard Craughwell: ...courage to stick with the case decided on yesterday in the Supreme Court, and get to the Supreme Court. I am really concerned. The debate today is the most instructive debate I have heard for a long time in this House. What we needed was time to tease out all of these issues and to take on board the amendments being brought forward in good faith. They are good amendments. There are...

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

Gerard Craughwell: ...authority members. By disempowering them, first and foremost, we now find - I believe this is the case in the political parties, and while I cannot be sure I am told anecdotally - that people no longer want to run for or be involved in local authorities because they see no benefit to it. I remember in 2014 when I first came into this House and I took on the issue of councillors' pay, a...

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

Gerard Craughwell: ...and empowered. I want to see us take steps to ensure that county councillors are not regarded as cannon fodder to be used at elections and nothing else. I have known the Minister of State for a long time. I am of the view that he will agree with me at the end of the day. I know he is sponsoring some very strong people in the upcoming local elections, some very good friends of mine, who...

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

Gerard Craughwell: .... 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 quite a lot. I am from the city of Galway. There has been a long campaign to get very light rail into Galway. There have been promises and all sorts of things, but I would dearly love Mr. Strachan to give some sort of commitment that he will at least have his...

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

Gerard Craughwell: Long living in the UK.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Oct 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: ...for us to look at marine piloting in Ireland with respect to the legislation and the regulation that is required. I now lay before the House my intention over the coming weeks and months, for as long as we are here, to raise issues with respect to the pilots and to seek that we put them on a footing equal to the best in Europe. We should be the best in Europe. We are an island nation...