Results 6,681-6,700 of 8,654 for speaker:Seán Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Democratic Republic of Congo: Presentation (21 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: I welcome the witnesses. The biggest problem in discussing a major issue such as this one is that people despair about it. The point was made that we had a situation where there was political agreement or that peace had broken out but we know from other areas throughout the world that peace is a process and is not something that happens overnight. That reinforces the view that it must be...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: I also wish the Taoiseach well in the clearly difficult negotiations he faces. In his speech he said we must be realistic and that there is a real possibility that this week's summit will not reach a deal. He went on to say that we do not want a failed summit as this would have serious implications for the Union's reputation and that we do not want a deal which isolates any member state as...

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion [Private Members] (20 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: I also wish to place on the record my deepest sympathy to the husband and family of Savita Halappanavar. We cannot even begin to comprehend the grief and heartache that they are now experiencing. While we acknowledge that the HSE is going to conduct an inquiry, I am conscious of the fact that her family are deeply unhappy with that inquiry. What seems to have happened is that in its usual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on comments expressed by the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland regarding the loss of national State certification at junior cycle level will damage education and that the decision to axe State certification at junior cycle level will have a negative impact on students. [51350/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (20 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce measures that will address the estimated 5,000 job vacancies in IT companies which cannot be filled because of the skills gap and the 2,300 IT experts from outside the EU who had to be hired by multi- nationals based here in the past year. [51351/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Equality Budgeting (15 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Minister for Finance if he supports the concept of equality budgeting; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Scottish Government provides an equality budget statement alongside each annual budget; his plans to provide an accompanying equality statement along with Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50247/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Promissory Notes (15 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the annual interest repayments owed for the next forty years if the maturity of all remaining promissory notes currently owed to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation was extended out to 2052 and if annual interest on the notes was charged at 3%, 4% and 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50246/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: The Minister's answer was very comprehensive. We discussed this matter earlier. I was interested in hearing about the connection we have with various countries on this matter. It appeared at the time in question Ireland was acting unilaterally. The Minister stated there was constant toing and froing by officials. They did seem to adopt a different approach. It has certainly worked in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Global Economic Forum (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: It is important to ensure the members of the Diaspora feel part of this development. Their views and ideas need to be taken on board. It is surprising that it is only a recent initiative because members of the Irish Diaspora always ask about home. They are willing to help out. The initiative has been slow in its initial phase but it has potential. However, this needs to be a long-term...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: Does the Minister not accept there is no pressure on the Israeli Government? There certainly is none from the United States or the European Union, which has awarded Israel favourable trading status. As we sit in this Chamber, a massive military attack on the people of Gaza is taking place. In recent days an Israeli Minister is on record as having said that families in Gaza should have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: In regard to the meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, did the Tánaiste express the view that Bahrain had a sectarian society and that the society appeared to be propping up such a society? People are discriminated against and denied jobs on the basis of their religion, yet an Irish company is operating within such a society in Bahrain. What is happening is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the increased human rights abuses against the Kurdish minority in Turkey; and if the issue is being discussed at EU level. [50342/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: Discrimination against Turkey's Kurdish community has been well documented during the years. There are approximately 20 million Kurds in Turkey but they have never been granted the same rights as ethnic Turks and are not even recognised as Kurds and are called mountain Turks. The Tánaiste referred to the fact there is a hunger strike in the jails. There are some 700 prisoners on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the report from the Irish Aid delegation that visited Uganda to investigate the misappropriation of Irish Aid funds will be completed; and if he will make it public. [50341/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: I share the Minister's concern on this issue. My question was submitted some time ago and I know the issue has been well ventilated in recent days at the meetings of the Oireachtas Committee Joint on Foreign Affairs on Trade and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs and in statements made by the Minister. I share his concern about the misappropriation of €4 million...

Credit Union Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: The Bill should be about the future as well as about regulation. I have asked why the Government is opposed to shared services and electronic accounts. Credit unions should be allowed to invest in socially responsible job creation schemes with State-backed guarantees. Is it necessary to provide for term limits for board members and prohibitions on service by family members? I see these...

Credit Union Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: Ireland is currently facing one of the worst economic crises in living memory. That crisis was caused by unbridled capitalism, the gross mismanagement of the economy by successive governments and a complete lack of any serious regulation in the banking sector. It is completely understandable that Irish citizens are extremely angry that their taxes have been used to bail out gamblers,...

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: When is the legislation due?

Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: Answer the question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Seán Crowe: I wish the Tánaiste well in these negotiations. We would all agree with his statement that Ireland is in favour of a properly funded and properly functioning EU with the right mix of priorities, a fair allocation of resources and a focus on jobs and growth. As the Tánaiste said, the EU needs a budget that is fit for purpose. I agree that it is time to break the vicious circle...