Results 2,381-2,400 of 8,652 for speaker:Seán Crowe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: It is nine years since Yasser Arafat died and the event still brings more questions than answers. The recently released forensic report indicates results from Yasser Arafat's body moderately support the proposition that he was poisoned with polonium 210, which will surprise few. Polonium 210 killed Alexander Litvinenko and it is a rare and highly radioactive isotope that is extremely hard...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: Yesterday, the Palestinian delegation to the UN cast a ballot for the first time in a routine General Assembly. That is the one positive message. We hope that symbolic and important action will lead the Palestinians closer to UN membership. Unfortunately, last night there were reports that Israel had bombed Gaza, which led to Palestinian deaths. Palestinians know that the way to peace and...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: With regard to the fixed-weapon aircraft which landed at Shannon Airport, the Tánaiste stated previously that it had been an administrative error. The difficulty is we do not know what is on board many of the aircraft. It is like Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns. As we do not seem to carry out any inspection, it will continue to be unknown. The concern of workers and civilians...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 88. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the current multi-country talks on Iran’s nuclear programme will achieve a positive outcome; if he has discussed the issue with his European counterparts taking part in the negotiations; and his views on whether it would be timely to organise a delegation of Irish parliamentarians to that...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: This question relates to the situation in Iran. There is huge potential for an agreement and we are closer now than ever to one. The mood music seems to be good. There have been recent difficulties as the French Government expressed negative reports in the media. Has the Government had discussions with its European counterparts on this issue? Is it possible that a delegation from Ireland...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: I accept what the Minister of State said about a parliamentary visit. However, foreign affairs Ministers and parliamentary delegations from other countries have visited Iran. There is a need to create an atmosphere of openness and to promote the idea that the West wants to work with Iran in order to solve issues relating to it and other countries in the wider region. Governments and...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: I am not overly fixated on the idea of the visit itself. However, our small country should do whatever it can to assist in respect of this matter. As already stated, other countries have sent delegations. The most important step we can take is to encourage everyone involved in the discussions at present. The most important thing is that people continue to talk. A solution to this...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Protection (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: I agree with the other speakers. We are talking about viable, high quality jobs in profitable companies. According to its website, Lufthansa Technik had a turnover of €205 million in 2011. Its workers were called to a meeting last Friday when the manager read a report and talked about possible job losses. He said it was not because of the workers and that he was happy with their...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Protection (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: The Minister of State said it was regrettable that 107 jobs would be lost at PWAI and 408 at Lufthansa and that both he and the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, appreciated that these closures would have a devastating impact on employees and their families. That is an understatement. Many of the employees and their families are probably listening to this discussion and were under the...

Youth Employment: Motion [Private Members] (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: All of us in this House are frustrated at the slow pace of change. That attitude is reflected not only in Ireland, but across Europe. Every opportunity I have had to speak on this issue, whether in addressing the Taoiseach regarding meetings of the European Council or speaking at the Joint Committee on European Affairs, I have noted that there is little recognition of the crisis that faces...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 91. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the landing of a US military plane in Shannon Airport with a fixed weapon, his plans to curtail and stop the movement of military aircraft through Irish airports and airspace. [48955/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 92. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a cross-party delegation of MEPs, which included two Irish MEPs, were recently refused access to visit Gaza during an official visit to the region, and if he has discussed it with representatives of the Israeli Government or its embassy in Dublin. [48957/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 101. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent negative developments in Colombia, with increased attacks on civil society organisers; and if he shares the widespread concern that they will impact negatively on the peace talks being held in Havana, Cuba. [48959/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 104. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent reports which provide further evidence of war crimes and human rights abuses carried out by the Sri Lankan Government during the recent war with the Tamil Tigers; if he supports demands that these crimes are fully investigated; and if he will raise the issue with his European...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: I welcome Mr. Power. I suppose the scale and magnitude of the issues in Syria and the Philippines are difficult to take in. Mr. Power has been graphic in his description of what is happening. We have seen it on the television but I am unsure whether we get any sense of how it is affecting people thousands of miles away. At the centre of the problem is the actions of man, whether it is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: It is difficult for local people to organise even the basic things if they are starving.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: Like others, we were unsure of the timing of the visit. It had been postponed because of the situation in Syria and our visit occurred immediately after the Republicans were forced to agree to a temporary budget. Many of the Republicans in Congress appeared to be quite raw about that decision and how it was rolled out. Other members of the delegation can speak for themselves but I was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges in Urban Belfast: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: I am pleased that the witnesses started their contribution by referring to the positive things going on and in particular the statement about how it was immensely satisfying and encouraging to live in an interface area. It is a positive message that needs to be sent out. It is part of all that is going on in the background which people throughout the island do not hear about, but it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ex-Prisoners and Conflict Transformation: Discussion with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (21 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: The issue of barriers to ex-prisoners has come up previously; collectively or as individual groups, have the witnesses identified the different barriers that exist with regard to adoption, insurance and so on? It might be helpful were the witnesses to provide formally to the joint committee a list of such barriers, which hopefully could then put it through the relevant Government structures....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Seán Crowe: 462. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any planning permission applications which were flagged by fire officers as not suitable that were granted by Kildare County Council; and if so, the reason planning permission was granted. [50197/13]