Results 5,981-6,000 of 8,600 for speaker:Seán Crowe

Establishment of Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Motion (14 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: I apologise if I caused any delay. We welcome the motion, the content of which has been discussed since the Government came to power, and its hand has eventually been forced by public opinion. It is hard to believe, especially by the people who have suffered, but it is approaching seven years since the first signs of this crisis became visible. As pointed out by many commentators, we have...

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: -----as the same gender as the person he or she married. There is also a warped idea that a person in a marriage or civil partnership could not possibly want to stay with a person who has had another preferred gender legally recognised. It is crazy stuff. Transgender people who are married or have families are entitled to the same protection-----

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: I know, and I am sorry. In conclusion, I welcome the report, as it is a useful starting point. It is not for the Minister, me or anyone else to be the arbiter of a person's gender identity. It is up to the person himself or herself. This should be fully respected and legally recognised by the State.

Report on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Motion (9 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: Some of the contributions we have heard this morning have been welcome, and I will probably repeat some of the points that have already been made. Sinn Féin has long recognised the need for a legal framework for transgender people to have their birth certificates amended to reflect their preferred gender identity. It was for this reason, as has already been said, that we published a...

Open Adoption Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as a phost nua. I welcome the Bill and commend Deputy Anne Ferris for its introduction. It responds to the real needs of families and individuals in Ireland. We all accept that the current law is rigid and has many flaws. It is not sufficient and has a number of loopholes. I welcome the fact that the Bill will proceed to Committee Stage and that this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (8 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: The Senator would not get away with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Discussion (8 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: I will begin by welcoming the delegates. I apologise for the small attendance, but we have been overtaken by events. Usually the turnout is better. It is welcome that Senator Mary Moran has arrived to remove some of the pressure. The committee has representatives of both genders. Ms Michelle Gildernew, MP, was supposed to be present. I do not know what happened, but she was definitely...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (8 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: 32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact he did not raise the case of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings during his most recent State visit to Britain, and that we are approaching the 40th anniversary of the bombings, his strategy and proposals to ensure that the British Government provides all information relating to the bombings and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions of Christian Aid Ireland (7 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: I apologise for being late but it has been one of those days. I had to meet Turkish MPs who talked about a peace process and all sorts of issues which is important work that the delegation will appreciate. I have a couple of questions on Christian Aid's report on Angola which is another damning report that gives Africa a bad name. Mention was made of high level corruption. The country...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers (7 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: 48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the proposed changes to a programme (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24, which would cut student numbers by half; and if he will consult the local VEC with a view to changing this proposal which will have a very damaging effect on an area that has some of the highest rates of unemployment in the country....

Europe Week: Statements (6 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: I begin by apologising for the absence of my colleague, Deputy Gerry Adams. This Friday, 9 May, marks the EU celebration of Europe Day. It marks the date of the Schuman Declaration in 1950 which proposed the pooling of French and West German coal and steel industries and which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. The people of this state voted to join what was...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2014)

Seán Crowe: It is another tax.

Housing Provision: Motion [Private Members] (30 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: Last Friday there was a photograph of a young family on the front page of many newspapers. The story was that the young woman concerned and her family had slept in a car. There was much media interest in the case. On the same day a different family from Tallaght visited me. The young woman was five months pregnant and she had a three year old child, and she and her partner had slept in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: 37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that the Government of the USA funded the undercover construction of a mobile telephone messaging system, with the aim of destabilising the Cuban Government; if he condemns this reported illicit subversion attempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria: Dr. Thomas Pierret (16 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: Dr. Pierret started off by saying that he did not believe there was a military solution. Is he suggesting that he does not believe there is a military solution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria: Dr. Thomas Pierret (16 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: Dr. Pierret is suggesting that perhaps there is no diplomatic solution at this stage. He referred to attacks on the regime. It appears that Assad is unlikely to resign or give up his grip. Those in the opposition seem more divided now than they have ever been. The only thing those in the opposition seem to be joining together is their opposition to some of the groups within the country....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Voting Rights of EU Citizens: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: We always seem to begin a conversation about what we cannot do. First, what is most important to establish is whether we agree with the idea and if it is a good idea. We should really start the conversation from there, not by saying why we cannot do something. We can all come up with obstacles, some of which have been mentioned previously. Fraud is one issue. Logistics is another issue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (15 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: 146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied), a Saharawi political prisoner, who launched a hunger strike 42 days ago in reaction to the abuse of his human rights; that several other Saharawi political prisoners are on hunger strike in the prison of Tiznit in Morocco; that they are...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: I thought some leeway was being provided.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Apr 2014)

Seán Crowe: I thought I would be given extra time for being a good boy today and coming in on a Friday.