Results 1-20 of 5,990 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: In July 2026, we take over the Presidency of the European Union. The media has been rife with speculation in respect of our ability to provide security for the Presidency. The decimation of the Defence Forces is something I have spoken on for 11 years in this Chamber. There are green shoots and hopeful signs in some parts of the Defence Forces. Can we imagine the embarrassment in Ireland...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is my experience that most radio stations now delay the broadcast so there is a lag between the time someone speaks and the time listeners hear it. I agree with Senator McDowell with respect to some of the live debate programmes on television. They are set up with people with specific views. The one that bothers me is that we have a growing tradition of protest in this country....

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister adverted to the man of straw who has no means making defamatory statements and everyone having recourse to the courts. Let us be honest about it: people need a lot of money to be able to go to the courts to defend their good name. Not everyone not has access to the courts. The courts may be there and available, but access to the courts is a function of the income and assets...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: We are largely talking about RTÉ and Virgin Media. One of the things that concerns me is that there has been a massive growth in podcasts. Some of them are really good and deliver excellent programmes regularly and with good timeslots, etc. On the other hand, some of them are run by what might best be regarded as fringe elements. Where do we stand here? Who is liable in a situation...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (6 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Senator McDowell said everything that I wanted to say. It is all gone. My speech is finished. Let us go back to the start of my relationship with Billy. he had a relationship with my brother. My brother bought the Twelve Pins Hotel from Billy when Billy was emigrating. My brother knew him very well. In 2016, I spotted a notice that Enda Kenny was about to appoint a guy living in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Yesterday, I spoke on the issue of tracker mortgages and the plight of those who were moved off trackers by the banks before the banks were ultimately forced to do something. I did, as promised yesterday, write to the Garda Commissioner and it has been passed up the line. Enough has been said about that for now. As a result of yesterday, I have had several contacts already this morning...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I too would like to remember Sr. Stan. May her gentle soul rest in peace. As a proud Galwegian, like the Leader, I am sure we both feel that the election of Catherine Connolly was a great thing - a woman born in The Claddagh and reared in Shantalla. Many people who were born in addresses in both of those areas did not have the same opportunity in life. What a great thing it is to see...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I will write to the Garda Commissioner to look for an investigation and I encourage colleagues to do the same. Think of the families and what they suffered while that horrendous act took place. I will ask for that. I thank you for the time, a Chathaoirligh. I did not quite go over the border.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I had intended to speak on housing, but I will defer that until 4 November because of two things. First, I congratulate the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, for turning up at Citywest last night and supporting his people on the ground. What we saw was a despicable act of thuggery, the likes of which I thought we would never see in this country again. People were firing rockets at members...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I know it has been a long afternoon for the Minister. His remarks that he is willing to have a look to see what changes he might make were promising and encouraging. Senator McDowell referred to the impact on families. In his response a little while ago, the Minister made the point that, where a Garda investigation is taking place into an individual, it is in the public interest for that...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It is a criminal offence and yet we see the term "Garda sources" in the media constantly. In that particular story, three or four Garda sources were quoted without naming any. Of course, if you were to take a criminal case against that particular publication, it would claim journalistic privilege. The journalist would say that he or she is not releasing his or her sources but that he or...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: It did last week.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The Minister said that those on social media would never accuse somebody of being a child abuser. I was accused of being a child abuser.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: I was.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: In recent weeks, I was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of 50,000 babies, which is why I closed down my Twitter account completely.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Maybe I misread what the Minister said. In the context of social media, and I know that is coming later, you contact the likes of Twitter, make a complaint and find that the most outrageous things are not against its rules. The bottom line is that I have no interest in Twitter any more. On the impact that wild statements have on families, yesterday I brought up the issue of migration in...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: The witnesses mentioned the Constitution and neutrality. There is nothing in our Constitution about neutrality nor is there any law. Am I right?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Fire away.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Regarding SAFE, we are the most defenceless country in Europe. A total of €150 billion was available from which this country could have drawn down funds to help it. Who prevented it? Who stopped us applying?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Defence Developments at EU Level and Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 Oct 2025)

Gerard Craughwell: Reference was made to the support we have provided to Ukraine. Where two belligerents are having a barney, like what is going on between Russia and Ukraine, the definition of neutrality is that one takes no side. How do the witnesses square the circle of our being neutral or militarily non-aligned, whichever way we want to define ourselves, with providing that training? I do not disagree...