Results 1-17 of 17 for sligo speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: High-Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: I might come back quickly on the RDF and the implication of barracks closures throughout the country. For example, if I live in Sligo and want to become a member of the RDF, where do I go? Do I go to Athlone, Finner Camp or Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway? We have broken the RDF by not having units locally. When I was in the RDF as a very young man, every Tuesday night every...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2023)

Gerard Craughwell: ...of years, I have spoken frequently on search and rescue in this country. We lost four very good people when R116 crashed off the coast of Mayo. This morning, I received information that R117 from Sligo was flying off Derry on Sunday. The aircraft was overstressed, lost control and exceeded its maximum airspeed. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has impounded the aircraft to conduct a...

Seanad: Search and Rescue Policy: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...one of the current bases; - the Department of Transport fails to recognise the Report of Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit which agrees that a four-base structure including Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo is optimal for Ireland; - there is also no evidence, as recommended by the Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit, that the appraisal process for the next search and rescue...

Seanad: Search and Rescue Policy: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: ...to provide the service on a 95% availability basis, but the Air Corps was expected to provide 100% availability. Why was that the case? I understand the business case for SAR involved bases in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo. That is the optimal situation. When the PQQ was published, why was this changed to three bases? How does the fact that the Government has now revised that to...

Seanad: Technological Universities Agenda: Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Gerard Craughwell: ...of Ulster. As part of a shared island forum, we need to develop the east-west relationships that should exist in terms of the University of Ulster and Donegal. The connection between Galway and Sligo is pushing it as far as one really can. Galway, Mayo and Sligo involve quite a chunk of the country. The connection between Athlone and Limerick is a bit odd geographically. They do not...

Seanad: Emergency Aeromedical Support Service: Statements (19 Nov 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: ...colonels or as administrative officers? What other pilots are in the pipeline to be recommissioned in the near future? We find ourselves in a situation where the people of counties Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo and in various other rural parts of the country are really worried about the availability of helicopters. Many of those watching the debate need to know where we are precisely on all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Gerard Craughwell: ...country. Now one knows one is in Northern Ireland because one is obliged to drive on the worst roads in the country. Somebody mentioned the central area of the Border region. I would drive to Sligo rather than try to cut across the Border. The mismatch of funding concerns me greatly. Have our guests considered local authorities on the other side of the Border? If they lose...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Test Centres (26 Apr 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: ...at the end of it? Some of the driving instructor schools employ up to 14 people whose jobs are now on the line. The Road Safety Authority has provided dedicated reversing compounds in Finglas, Sligo, Limerick and Waterford. In 2016, a similar problem arose in Athlone and within four weeks the Road Safety Authority secured a plot of land and created a new reversing compound. Earlier...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: ..., "Damn this to hell," and "Damn that to hell," and "The Government did not do this and did not do that". However, if the Government made them vote on it before it kicked off with the gig in Sligo, they would have very little to say. I get tired of the goddamn history lessons. We get it in here every bloody week. We have people shouting at us about trolleys and housing. Are they...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Gerard Craughwell: When I finish, the Leader might extend time to allow further debate on this matter. The bottom line is that I understand that if the Government had this debated in the House before it went to Sligo, it would have to cancel the brass band and switch off the media because there would be no big announcement.

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: .... How neutral we are has always been a question. For example, on 6 June 1944, the Irish weather forecast service provided a weather report for the Allies to invade Europe. Overflights by Mayo, Sligo and Donegal were commonplace during the Second World War. Today, the RAF covers our skies because we cannot do it ourselves. There is nothing wrong with this. This is all good...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: ...are two qualified chain saw operators covering the entire northern section of the country in a line from Dublin to Galway. I wonder how useful they will be in the entire counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. This is shameful misleading of the public.I believe that the Minister misled the public this morning. He should come to this House this...

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Greenways Development (20 Jul 2017)

Gerard Craughwell: ...on track, the issue of whether the line is going to be reopened or not has to be unequivocally resolved. The greenway story has been a runaway success, with Mayo and Waterford particular success stories. Sligo and Galway have been trying for years to get greenways on disused railway lines and Waterford proves it can be done. I am a supporter of building the country's rail infrastructure...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

Gerard Craughwell: ...well, Ireland does not have a seat at that table when it comes to negotiations. It is regrettable that we do not have a Minister with responsibility for Brexit. I understand that Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Kerry county boards have passed a motion condemning the GAA for selling the rights to some of the championship matches to Sky broadcasting. Senators in this House are very much aware of...

Seanad: Master Plan for the City of Dublin: Motion (24 Jun 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: ...the towns and cities around the country. I hope she has a good set of lungs because I have been all over this country and the small towns are dying on their feet. In places like Donegal, parts of Sligo, parts of Mayo, parts of Galway-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: I support my former colleagues in St. Angela's College in Sligo, who are on strike today. I believe this strike has been brought about as a result of a failure to engage in discussion with respect to the takeover of St. Angela's College by NUIG. The issue I rise to speak on is one I had hoped I had put behind me many years ago and one I hoped I would never again have to face but late last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: National Strategy and Framework for Higher Education: Higher Education Authority (4 Feb 2015)

Gerard Craughwell: ...If one considers the west-north-west cluster, it proposes the inclusion of Letterkenny Institute of Technology as part of a cluster that extends as far east as Athlone, as well as taking in Galway, Sligo and Castlebar. If one is travelling to Galway from Letterkenny for a meeting, it is a two-day journey as far as I am concerned. Therefore, I am a little concerned as to the direction...