Results 5,701-5,720 of 5,781 for speaker:Cathal Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: My questions are primarily aimed at the University of Limerick. I recently travelled to see the laboratory and all they are doing. In the formal confines of the committee, I propose that we might have a committee visit there at some stage, if fitting. What is going on there is incredible. Today we are talking about air drones, but they also have a huge number of robotic craft and maritime...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: Other European countries have what is called a national laboratory where the state has very much bought into this. They bankroll innovation and ensure they are at the cutting edge for civilian use, military use and all sorts of applications. Is Ireland unique in not having a national laboratory? Do the witnesses have any suggestions as to how we might be able to develop one?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I have a few more questions for the University of Limerick. It is great that there is innovation and it is reaching out to other agencies, but what could a national laboratory look like in terms of pulling all this together? On my earlier point, while there is incredible stuff going on, are we laggards as a Government and a political institution in not being fully involved in funding these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: My question is to Mr. Weir from the University of Limerick. I know we are talking about drones today but I refer to the maritime aspects. How does the University of Limerick marry maritime and air drones, and what can it do to benefit Ireland Inc.?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: All of that would be a lot cheaper than buying new naval vessels and investing millions - billions, potentially - in infrastructure for the Defence Forces.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Taoiseach for taking this question. In the last few days of the school year, Gareth Heagney, the principal of Sixmilebridge national school in County Clare sent a letter out to parents. The school has around 400 pupils, so is quite a large school, and for the last few years it has only had three SNAs even though the children in the school have needs that far exceed that...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I also wish to speak in support of this Bill. I will take up from where Deputy Roche left off. We all acknowledge the huge efforts of our front-line workers in every part of the country, and the Deputy is right to pay tribute to them. They work damn hard. Conditions for them all are not great. I have been in hospital myself in the past as a patient and visiting people. One would often...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: It is not just the Department of Health; it is also the Department of Transport. If we table parliamentary questions to that Department, they are forwarded to the National Transport Authority or Transport Infrastructure Ireland. A large number of agencies have been set up over many decades. The all-important stuff we try to do as TDs gets siphoned off in different directions, and it can...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: Sorry, it is not on the Minister’s desk yet. I apologise. The report to the Minister is imminent and the Cabinet will have to consider it. The report is on emergency healthcare access in the mid-west region. From replies to parliamentary questions that I and others have tabled, I know that initially HIQA was supposed to report to the Minister and then to Cabinet. Now, however, she...

Pride: Statements (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. Fianna Fáil is very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Back in 1993, it was then Minister for Justice, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who led the decriminalisation of homosexuality. It is hard to believe that at that time, it was still illegal. I was someone born in 1982 and throughout my secondary school years, the standard insult in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: 134. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider loosening the criteria for the vacant property grant, which does not allow the property to be occupied during the grant application process as it can cause difficulties for the applicants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39810/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: 252. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department will undertake a full assessment of the financial impact of heart failure on patients with recommendations on appropriate actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39903/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (16 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: 253. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an overview of actions that are being taken to ensure a reduction in current waiting lists of up to two years for cardiac rehabilitation programmes, which reduce death from heart disease by at least 20%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39904/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Services (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I echo what others have said here. In Ennis and Clarecastle in County Clare, even though the sewage treatment system is modern and new, it is already close to capacity. If we want to reach these housing targets, the first thing that needs to be done is to upgrade all of that network underground. The public will not see it and we might not get great praise or thanks for it, but it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: 14. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an overview of OPW drainage, flood protection and coastal erosion defence works that are planned to be undertaken in County Clare in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39855/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Minister of State for taking this question. I would like to know what plans the OPW has for drainage, flood protection and coastal erosion defences in County Clare this year.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Minister of State. There is a lot of positive stuff happening in the county. I will bring the Minister of State back a bit to the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. Neither of us was around at that time but some guru decided that different watercourses would be divvied up between the Board of Works, now the OPW, and local authorities. The River Inagh in north Clare comes under the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: Before the Minister of State was appointed, his name was synonymous with communities fighting back against flooding. He has done stellar work in and out of politics on that. For many people in these areas, insurance is still impossible to get. The term "risk equalisation" is used when applying for health insurance. It means that all people of all ages pay a little bit of a premium so that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Cathal Crowe: I echo the points made by Deputy Séamus McGrath. The EU procurement rules are rather outdated. A lot of the regulation that is stifling what this country is able to do is not domestic but comes from an EU treaty. The time has come for us to be able to procure beyond the EU 27 bloc for very large projects, such as hospitals, large road projects, rail, etc. It has repeatedly happened...