Results 141-160 of 1,911 for speaker:Seán Crowe in 'Dáil debates'

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2020)

Seán Crowe: Like others, I welcome this Bill. The consensus in the House is we need to do more. These amendments strengthen the Bill. They certainly do not undermine or weaken it and the Minister of State needs to look clearly at them. The IT changes over the past two decades have made it much easier for such communications. As a public representative, I have dealt with some of these cases. I...

Mental Health Parity of Esteem Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: It says much and highlights the lack of regard, respect and priority that we display to those with mental health issues that we are forced to bring forward a Bill acknowledging that mental health issues should be held in parity with physical health. I welcome the Bill and thank my colleague, Deputy Ward, for introducing it and giving us the opportunity to begin this conversation on an...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: I am one of those unfortunates who likes a bargain. I listened to the speech of the Minister of State and I must write a note to myself not to shop in his store in future. I do not think there was anything he outlined to us that would change our minds on this. We are all starting from the position that we believe the sector is on its knees and this will introduce a new element that will...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: As other speakers have pointed out, this section is out of synch with the rest of the Bill. I read the explanatory memorandum to the Bill and it states that the threshold for third-country residents to qualify for the scheme is €175. That has not been updated. We need an explanation of where the Government is coming from with this provision. As colleagues have noted, the retail...

Scrambler Motorbikes and Quad Bikes: Motion [Private Members] (17 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: The misuse of scrambler and quad bikes presents a great danger to people in many of our communities when they are used by children or adults without any level of training, supervision or respect for one's neighbours. I accept that this problem is not occurring in every area but it is a phenomenon that is growing every year. Many of our communities are plagued by the buzzing noise to which...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (11 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: My party, Sinn Féin, has been clear since the Brexit referendum in 2016 that the protection of full and equal access to EU benefits, such as the EU health insurance card, Horizon 2020 research funding and Erasmus programmes are vital in protecting the rights of Irish citizens living in the North of Ireland. It is welcome that the Irish Government has sought to make arrangements in order...

Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2020)

Seán Crowe: Budget 2021 will be judged by the way it impacts on citizens' lives, whether it improves, disimproves or has no impact on them. It is important that we talk about real citizens. I want to give the Minister an outline of a letter I got today from a constituent. He says that he is in agony. He has problems with his cervical spine, which he says is busted, and his lumbar spine. He has been...

Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: Is my name not there?

Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: The former Minister, Deputy Creed, spoke in terms of this being a temporary and unavoidable setback. Most of us here would agree that it is an issue which is not going away. Whatever legislation is put forward, good or bad, is useless without resources. The industry employs 12,000 people, mostly in rural areas. It is worth €2.3 billion. It highlights the Government's lack of...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: We would all agree that we need to create an environment that is aggressive in tackling those who would scam, cheat and con Irish people. Many of us who are active in our communities will be aware of the amount of drug intimidation that is going on, and it is happening daily in many communities throughout the State. What normally happens is that it normally involves vulnerable people, or...

Community Safety and Fireworks: Motion [Private Members] (22 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: I have a copy of the Minister of State's speech. I think there is general agreement that this is happening earlier and earlier each year. I do not know why it is happening particularly early this year. Deputy Ward said that in his constituency it started in June or July this year. It was July or August in my area. The explosive noise of the bangers seems to be louder than in previous...

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: I congratulate all of the drivers who took the time to take part in the protest yesterday. It highlighted the importance of unity of purpose and action. Like a lot of other Deputies, I have been asking questions of the Government about how we can help the taxi industry to remain viable in the midst of the Covid pandemic. I have to say I am not impressed and, more importantly, taxi drivers...

Gnó Comhaltaí Príobháideacha - Private Members' Business - Cancer Screening: Motion [Private Members] (8 Sep 2020)

Seán Crowe: For me this debate is very personal. In October 2014 I was told I had prostate cancer. Perhaps it would be relevant if I focused on this in the couple of minutes I have. At that time one got a biopsy up the back passage. When I was told I had the cancer, I was told they would probably monitor it for six months. I asked the doctor at the time whether it would be possible to get a...

Future of School Education: Motion [Private Members] (28 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: In her speech, the Minister spoke about a significant commitment to schools from Government. I remind the Minister that it is Irish taxpayers who are paying for this package rather than the Government parties. From day one of this pandemic the Government has been all over the place and has lacked direction in its response to the issues facing the education sector. Since March, I have been...

Early Years Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (21 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: I thank my colleague, Deputy Funchion, for putting forward this timely motion. We all agree that childcare is the keystone that holds together the building blocks of our economy and society. Unfortunately, it took the dual crisis of outrageous insurance premiums, which almost shut the industry down permanently, combined with a global pandemic for some in this House to understand how...

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: There is common agreement that we all need to do more as a country to combat climate change and that Ireland has dragged its feet and been a laggard in that fight for far too long. Having said that, we need to bring people along with us and we need to engage with the public. It is a huge local, national and global issue, but the biggest impact it has globally is on communities that are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: It was announced in budget 2020 that the weekly income limit for medical card eligibility for people over 70 would be increased by €50 for a single person and €150 for a couple from July 2020. The legislation to increase the income limit has been published but it has not been enacted. When will this be signed off and when will we see it enacted?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: The big question is how to get 40% of the students up to another site. That is the big difficulty and challenge. The school's representatives are saying to us that it is not viable for the school in the long term to put parents into that situation. Those parents are going to move their children out of the school and that will put pressure on other schools in the area. Logically, if one...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: I congratulate the Minister. The way this goes is that we will ask her questions and she will read from a script. All the Deputies in the constituency are concerned about the move. There was no real consultation with the school itself. I have tabled parliamentary questions on that, and I will be interested to hear what the Minister has to say about it. Roughly 40% of the students have...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Seán Crowe: We all touched on the refugee crisis. Has the Tánaiste been in touch with his Greek counterpart? I heard him state that he was trying to get broad agreement on responses to the crisis but I do not think he will do so. Is there a view on what can be done by those who are willing to help? We have seen the shocking scenes. There is a crisis there and it will get worse. We need to do...