Results 401-420 of 451 for speaker:Ollie Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: Broadly speaking, I welcome the Bill. Most if not all members of the committee have spoken in the past about the need to enhance the authority of agencies to enforce competition law and provide greater protection for the consumers. There is a need for effective deterrents in order to ensure compliance with competition law. The power to impose financial penalties is naturally required and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: To clarify, European law requires any legislation in this area of surveillance to be extremely clear and have strong protections against abuse. Is it the view of Ms Goggin that the Bill has these attributes? Is there a concern about such powers being used at the investigation stage when there is no legal charge against a person?

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I want to raise the issue of changes to the opening hours of bars and nightclubs which are to be included in the 2021 justice plan of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. This is welcome news. We need reform of our opening hours as the tourism sector will play a huge role in Ireland's recovery from Covid. The current opening hours are a drawback in this regard. Asking tourists to...

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State to the House.Since 2014, there has been a 40% reduction in the number councillors, electoral areas have significantly increased and additional duties involving local community development committees, LCDCs, climate action committees, the local property tax, LPT, the setting of rates, etc. have been introduced. If one wants to know the life of a councillor,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: As all Senators will be aware, over two years ago, on 17 October 2018, legislation was passed to combat and stop harmful drinking. The legislation, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, was praised by international policy experts as being model legislation that was well structured and evidence based. One of its main provisions was minimum unit pricing, which is a targeted measure designed to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I was on it.

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the motion and recognise its importance. I compliment Senator Currie on her great knowledge of this issue, which she has raised for a number of years. From our point of view, the motion fulfils a programme for Government commitment in which it is specifically pledged to developing a strategy for remote working. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought hardship and loss in so many ways...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (8 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, to the House and I thank for his time. He is familiar with Galway and I am hopeful that will help the case. In Irish terms, Galway is a massive geographic county, inclusive of four offshore islands. It is the second largest county by land mass in the country. It takes two and a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (8 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: The Leas-Chathaoirleach is taking up my time. An allocation of €1 million was assigned to Galway County Council last September. In areas where synergies and savings can be made, for example, library services, fire services and salaries, this is already happening and this can continue in other areas, if justified, on a financial basis without the need for a merger. In the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (8 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I thank Minister of State, Deputy Burke, for his response. What I am asking for is that the Government would focus on addressing the funding issues which were identified previously. As my colleague Senator Murphy outlined, we want more people in our city and county involved in the political process. As the Minister of State knows, the census was deferred to this year, but one is talking...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I wish to address the landmark decision handed down by the High Court last Friday, which rightly found insurance companies must honour policies that provided cover for business disruption. While it should never have needed to be the subject of legal action, it is welcome that justice has prevailed, and the decision has been accepted by the insurance firm in question. One of the publicans I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018 (Resumed): Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (29 Jan 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Tánaiste and the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Robert Troy, and their officials. I thank them for their presentation. As public representatives we are all aware that there has been a fair bit of criticism in recent years to the effect that the ODCE lacked the necessary resources to most effectively carry out its role. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I want to speak today about the impact lockdown is having on our education structure. Understandably, most attention in the last number of weeks has been on those preparing for the leaving and junior certificate examinations. We now need to give more consideration to the impact on those currently in primary level education. Irish and international research has shown the impact at this...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (26 Jan 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the fact that Senator Victor Boyhan is the Acting Chairperson for this debate. His contribution on the mother and baby homes last week was certainly one that I took on board and was upsetting to all, including the Senator. I acknowledge it this afternoon. Naturally, this is the first time I have spoken to this matter in Seanad Éireann and I begin by stating my full agreement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018: Discussion
General Scheme of an Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill
Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018: Discussion General Scheme of an Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill (22 Jan 2021)

Ollie Crowe: I am fine for the moment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Ollie Crowe: Along with my colleagues I want to thank the staff of the House, Martin, Bridget and the team, who have been very welcoming since the first day I arrived here last April. I wish all my colleagues a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas. Senator Casey alluded to the hospitality sector. Generations of my family have been in the hospitality sector in Galway. What is happening at the moment is...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Ollie Crowe: I will be brief out of respect for other Members. This is straightforward. I was a councillor for 11 years. The reality is that we are losing young and ambitious people from local government because they just cannot give the commitment that is required. This is causing untold difficulties. I believe every Member has great respect for local authority members and the work they do, which we...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Ollie Crowe: Does the Senator have an amendment tabled?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Ollie Crowe: I echo what has been said and compliment Senator Craughwell on his work on this issue. In fairness to the Senator, he has raised it for a number of years. In Galway, we had young councillors, particularly in Galway County Council, who only served from 2014 to 2019 and left it at that because the pressures of their jobs meant it was not feasible or manageable to continue. I spoke to a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Ollie Crowe: I wish to bring a matter to the Minister of State's attention. Senator Casey just outlined part of it. The CRSS was a crucial piece of budget 2021 and provided businesses with certainty and necessary supports, which was especially important during the lockdown. More than 13,000 businesses have already received support under the CRSS. As the Minister of State is aware, the hospitality...