Results 6,341-6,360 of 8,604 for speaker:Seán Crowe

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: Unfortunately, it is when there is a difficulty with passports that these issues come across our desks. It is a nightmare to try negotiate the system in those cases and to find someone to whom one can talk in order to resolve the issue. Nine times out of ten, everything goes smoothly, but unfortunately for elected representatives, we are left in the position of dealing with the situations...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: It is difficult to make sense of the figures. I note the Tánaiste's comment that given the high level of administrative costs involved, the figures are indicative rather than definitive. One would expect the area of reconciliation and co-operation on the island-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: It is important to separate trade from development. Concern has been expressed about the decision to include trade in the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Many non-governmental organisations are concerned about the message this sends out. Where will savings be achieved? I note an increase is recorded in the provisional outturn? How were the figures for the strategic programme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: Another area at which the group might look is people being denied access to stay in the country. I know of one instance where someone who was gay was sent back to one of the countries about which we were talking and in which people might serve up to 14 years if caught with a partner. They are practical things at which we as a State can look. Most people would be horrified at the idea of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: I also mentioned hostel accommodation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: I welcome the witnesses. With regard to the report I take it to be a whole of government approach. There is a big difficulty with this and I wish the witnesses well. How is progress monitored and assessed? It is a difficult question. The North was mentioned and it is being excluded although I do not understand why. In the North support programmes exist to promote women's participation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: It is not just in the North but also in this State. Ex-prisoners face difficulties in the adoption process. They also face huge difficulties when applying for a job. To get a job in this building one must have Garda clearance. Men and women face barriers. We say one thing but tend to do the opposite. People spoke about making peace, creating a new society and involving these people, who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes Issues (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: 34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene to stop third level institutions employing debt collectors to pursue student debt, in view of the serious difficulties that arose from the processing of grants through Student Universal Support Ireland in the 2012-13 academic year. [32215/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (3 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the details of the terms of reference that will apply to the working group that is being established to review the allocation of special educational resources. [32222/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: I welcome that the Minister of State has secured additional funding for this area. It would be useful if the Minister of State could at some stage provide the House with information on waiting lists for adaptation grants in each of the local authorities. I know from other Deputies that in some areas none is being provided. It would be terrible if a person with a serious illness had to move...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: Is the Minister of State aware of the difficulties that are facing such families? I am hoping that in her reply, she will outline what she will do about this matter. These grants can have the potential to transform people's lives, but there is a long wait involved. In some cases in my constituency, people can wait for up to three years for such grants. I am aware that some local...

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: They are bugging the Minister of State's telephone.

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: I was listening the contribution of the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and would like to be associated with her remarks about the staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, particularly those young people who helped out and brought so much energy to the Irish Presidency. The Snowden affair has dominated the news in the past week. The Taoiseach and the...

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: Ireland's Presidency of the EU has ended. The last major event was the Council meeting last week. For many people poverty is seen as having grown in Europe, recession has returned, hunger is knocking on many doors, and there is not much hope about. The Taoiseach spoke in terms of success. He may be too close to it but many people across Europe who are stuck in that awful place would not...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Seán Crowe: 86. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider legislating to force lenders in covered institutions which have been rescued by the taxpayer to seek permission from the Financial Regulator when varying their mortgage interest rates. [31875/13]

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Seán Crowe: 8. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount allocated by his Department for the proposed roll-out of a major consumer marketing campaign to promote Ireland and The Gathering 2013 in key markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30954/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (27 Jun 2013)

Seán Crowe: 44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support Loop Head tourism in view of the fact that the Loop Head Peninsula, County Clare, was recently voted the overall winner in the Irish Times best place to holiday in Ireland competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30945/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Seán Crowe: As with others, I welcome the policy paper and the consultation process, in addition to the fact that the Minister of State said he would not only like to hear the views of this committee's members but also the views of others. He is still open to submissions. Let me concentrate on my concerns about the paper in order to be supportive and helpful. With regard to hunger, the Government's...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Seán Crowe: While there have been numerous Tuareg ceasefires in the past, I see this as positive in that there is now a real opportunity in that country. The agreement is that many of the grievances of the Tuareg population would be addressed. There is criticism that there was no common agreement across the EU in regard to the conflict in the region but I presume there is common agreement in regard to...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Seán Crowe: This conversation is giving me a feeling of déjà vu. We remember the situations in Iraq and Libya. When people spoke about chemical weapons in those cases, consideration was given to no-fly zones and invasions. The position in either country is far from a success story. Does the Minister of State agree that the suggestion of bringing more weaponry into this conflict will not...