Results 5,801-5,820 of 8,652 for speaker:Seán Crowe

EU Association Agreement with Georgia: Motion (27 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: I thank the Whips for agreeing to the debate on this issue. I raised it at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and, although only a small period is set aside for the debate, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the proposed association agreements. Sinn Féin is not in favour of these association agreements because they comprise a Hobson's choice that does...

European Council: Statements (27 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: The new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, has said it is time to move away from slogans to policies that might actually work. Whether we are talking about Ukraine or other conflicts, we need to examine that idea, although I do not think there is any simplistic answer. As regards Ukraine, rather than the Hobson's choice of going with Europe or Russia, the way...

European Council: Statements (27 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: These post-European Council statements relate to the meeting on 18 December but, along with the Taoiseach, I wish to express my condolences to all those killed and injured in the recent attacks in Paris as well as in Pakistan and Ukraine. I hope that at the next Council meeting the Taoiseach will inform President Hollande of the condolences and the messages of sympathy of all parties in this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (27 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 344. To ask the Minister for Health the number of qualified nurses that remain on the graduate scheme introduced in 2013; and the number of hospitals included in the scheme. [3329/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (27 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 345. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospitals that have reversed cuts to nurses' pay under the graduate scheme and that have returned these nurses to a full first year staff nurse pay; and the number of nurses this reversal involves [3330/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the arrest of 12 lawyers in Spain who were involved in defending Basque political prisoners; and his views that this move is a worrying development which damages the potential peace process. [2988/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: Last week 16 individuals, including 12 lawyers representing Basque political prisoners, were arrested. The arrests came just days after a huge demonstration in Bilbao when more than 80,000 people marched in support of the fledgling peace process and also Basque prisoners. There is huge support across the political spectrum for the peace process in the Basque country. Does the Minister of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: Everyone is entitled to legal representation and lawyers engaged in such sensitive political cases deserve to be allowed to carry out their work without interference. I accept what was said about the cases being before the courts. However, unfortunately, in this country we know what can happen when the State tries to prevent human rights lawyers from carrying out their work. The Finucane...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: There is agreement across the political spectrum in the Basque country that this is the way forward. There is a difficulty in terms of prisoners. The Spanish Government adopted a dispersal policy, as a result of which prisoners were located away from their families, across Spain and as far away as the Canary Islands. Given our experience, there are issues the Government could address,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: I do not know who wrote the script in this regard but maybe I am not explaining myself very well. I am asking about the full implementation of previous agreements; I am not asking about the Stormont House Agreement. I welcomed the agreement but it could have been better. Perhaps my demeanour portrays the glass is half full. There were other agreements, of which the Minister will be aware,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to ensure the full implementation of previous peace agreements during the recent Stormont House talks in Belfast. [2987/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: We had an interesting discussion about the Stormont House Agreement on Tuesday but I want to raise specific aspects relating to the full implementation of previous agreements and what actions, if any, will be taken by the Minister to ensure these outstanding matters are brought to the table and implemented. Is there a plan or timescale for these issues?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: That is useful. In the few minutes we have, I want to get some sense of how we can move on many of these issues. For example, there was agreement that there should be an inquiry into the Finucane case. What will the Irish Government do with that issue? The Barron report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is not part of the agreement but it must be dealt with if we are to move things on....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports Palestine’s application to join the International Criminal Court; and if he is concerned by Israel withholding customs revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Government. [2640/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent Boko Haram attacks in northern Nigeria; that death tolls vary from hundreds to 2,000; and his views regarding the violent spread of Boko Haram throughout the region. [2642/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent agreements by the US and Cuba aimed at normalising relations between the two countries; if he will support any efforts to lift the illegal blockade of Cuba; and his views on sending a delegation to Cuba to improve bilateral and trade relations. [2643/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: 38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the human rights defender Mr. Nabeel Rajab will be tried in Bahrain on 20 January 2015 on charges of insulting the Bahraini security services in a Twitter post and that Mr. Rajab visited Europe in September 2014 in an advocacy mission to European capitals; if he has discussed the upcoming...

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: I agree with many of those who have spoken tonight. There is no huge disparity between both sides of the House, but there are difficulties in the system. We are in favour of reform. Deputy Joanna Tuffy has suggested there has been a change in Sinn Féin's position, but we have not changed our position. I was spokesperson for Sinn Féin on education before Deputy Jonathan O'Brien...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Association Agreements: Motions (21 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: I am in a minority in the committee on this issue. I will be opposing the Minister's proposal, and I will expand on the reasons for that if I get the chance. It is not that I or my party, Sinn Féin, are opposed to the attempts to expand the EU. Association agreements are supposedly aimed at bringing countries closer to the EU politically and economically. However, moving closer to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Association Agreements: Motions (21 Jan 2015)

Seán Crowe: On the timing of the agreement itself, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the minorities in different countries that are part of this, does the Minister accept that rather than de-escalate tension, it will actually increase problems in the area? There are issues with the language used in the association agreements. The one relating to Georgia refers to the "deep and comprehensive"...