Results 1-20 of 471 for speaker:Ollie Crowe

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Taoiseach. I will keep it Galway. Galway city's population is expected to exceed 120,000 in the coming years. As he is aware, the ring road is one measure that is essential for reducing traffic congestion, improving retail connectivity and supporting the continued economic development of Galway. We need it, and I was pleased that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, included it...

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Enterprise, Tourism and Employment): Statements (14 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister and thank him for joining us to talk through budget 2026 from an enterprise, trade and tourism perspective. The budget was very positive for Irish businesses and companies that have invested in Ireland. It reflects the Government's commitment to supporting our businesses and its determination to continuously attract foreign direct investment that will further...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Many thanks to our guests who have come before us this afternoon. Dublin Chamber referenced that the regulatory burden is rising too quickly, especially for SMEs. That is an issue I have come across myself in Galway. In their view, are there any immediate measures the Government could take to assist SMEs to address this? Yesterday, budget 2026 had significant support for the hospitality...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Okay. Mr. Talbot highlighted in Chambers Ireland's opening statement the importance of a referendum on the Unified Patent Court. Could he expand on that? What would be the biggest benefit for Irish businesses if it is to succeed? What are the risks posed by not holding a vote or the vote failing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: In his statement, Mr. Talbot highlighted the negative role of planning objections, judicial reviews and delaying tactics. As we are aware, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has signalled the intent to address this. We would all like the system to be quicker and more efficient. What reforms does Chambers Ireland believe are needed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Both opening statements highlighted the need for increased investment in infrastructure, which was a key part of yesterday's budget, with €19 billion allocated towards capital projects and with investment plans to be published by Departments in the coming weeks that will work to a five-year timeline. What projects or areas need to be prioritised, from our guests' viewpoint?

Seanad: Growing and Building Resilience in Ireland’s Small Business and Retail Sector: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to the Chamber. Fianna Fáil believes in the vibrancy of the SME sector. It is critical to Ireland's future economic success. With 99.8% of all businesses in Ireland being classified as SMEs, it is essential for the overall health of the economy that we do as much as possible at all times to support their continued growth and development....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee this afternoon. ISME noted the limitations of consultations in its opening statements and questioned their necessity. I ask Mr. McDonnell to expand on this point. What would be a more effective way for the Government to engage with SMEs on policy making?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Okay. ISME also noted the challenge for SMEs when multinational companies raise wage expectations and make it harder for local businesses to compete for staff. Are there any measures that could be taken to support SMEs without discouraging foreign investment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Okay, I will leave it at that, Chair.

Seanad: Pension Auto-Enrolment: Statements (30 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for joining us this evening. I welcome the introduction of the My Future Fund scheme. First, it addresses a growing problem that affects many workers in Ireland, namely, the lack of retirement savings. For years, a traditional State payment has been the main source of income for people when they stop working, but the truth is the State pension alone...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I congratulate Martin Hughes on being appointed as Clerk of Seanad Eireann and wish him well. Ahead of budget 2026, I want to raise the challenges facing pubs across the country and the scheme that the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has proposed that would go some way towards addressing those challenges. As Members will be aware, 2,000 pubs across the country have closed their...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I compliment her on the great work she continues to do. This is a topic that has touched every family in Ireland. Thankfully, we are now speaking about it much more openly, which is needed. This Bill is an important step forward for mental health care in Ireland. It modernises our legislation with a more compassionate approach that puts...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. We appreciate them. As regards comments made about the hospitality sector, it is important to note this is a sector which is the lifeblood of small towns and villages across the country. It is not just in terms of employment. Clearly, the hospitality sector is extremely important for such areas where jobs are lost and they may not be replaced...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Legal and insurance fees are a significant cost as well. I have talked to many businesses owners and some have remained open but others have had to close due to the costs. Does Dr. McDonnell have any views on how we might be able to address those levels of costs?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and his officials for joining us this afternoon. It is a hugely ambitious and bold plan, which is what we need. One of the major risks I see to its implementation is projects getting tied up in planning bottlenecks, as the Minister mentioned in his opening statement. I have seen that happen in small and large projects since I first got involved in...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: The construction sector also has capacity pressures, and there is international competition for skilled labour and expertise in that sector in particular. This is probably another major concern in terms of the ability to deliver the plan, although we are seeing positive trends in workforce growth in that sector. What are the Minister's views on how we can ensure the construction sector has...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: The Minister referenced €3.5 billion in equity funding for ESB and EirGrid to strengthen the energy grid. Will he confirm how much of this investment will directly support renewable integration and whether the Government has identified priority grid projects that will be fast-tracked?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Ollie Crowe: Very good. The Minister has spoken of political and public support being essential to take on inertia and entrenched interests. What role does he see for this committee in overseeing delivery of the NDP and ensuring the barriers identified by his Department are dismantled?