Results 61-80 of 386 for speaker:Ollie Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies (Protection of Employees’ Rights in Liquidations) Bill 2021: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Ollie Crowe: Okay. I understand the point Mr. Hurley is making. Mr. Egan mentioned that the CLRG considered, but did not recommend, the expansion of the class of preferential payments, which is in section 2 of the Bill. One of the concerns I have seen is that this proposal would create a special class of redundant worker with legal rights that go beyond those of workers who are made redundant, in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies (Protection of Employees’ Rights in Liquidations) Bill 2021: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Ollie Crowe: I thank Professor Lynch Fannon for that detailed response. I will leave it there for now. I might come in again later in the second round.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jan 2023)

Ollie Crowe: I raise the VAT rate for the tourism and hospitality sector, which, as Senators are aware, is currently at a special rate of 9%. This special rate is due to expire on 28 February, with the rate returning to 13.5% from 1 March. Given the challenges facing these sectors as a result of spiralling costs, we must reconsider and announce the retention of the 9% VAT rate for the year ahead. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Ollie Crowe: I wish the Cathaoirleach well in his term over the coming months and years. I also wish the Leader, Senator Chambers, well. There is no better lady for the job. This afternoon, with my colleague Senator Ardagh, I will bring the Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023 before the House. As Senator Ardagh outlined, the purpose of the Bill is twofold. The main aim is to...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the fantastic tributes made by my colleagues. Terry and I came from different parties. Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of serving with him in the Seanad. We had mutual friends, such as Brian Walsh in Galway and Deputy Carey from the Banner. He visited our city on many occasions. I was lucky enough to have been elected to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank Senator Ardagh for sharing the time and I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the Chamber. I want to follow on from my colleague, Senator Ardagh, and discuss section 12 of the Bill, which provides for an ex gratiascheme for community employment scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, as all Members of this House will be familiar with. I appreciate that this represents...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I also thank the office of the Cathaoirleach for choosing this very important matter and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the House. I raise with the Minister of State social housing schemes in Galway and Galway city and acknowledge that there is a considerable amount of work going on in respect of them. Significant social housing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I have needed ten minutes to raise this with the Minister of State and the senior Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I do not want to be giving out too much but, with respect, what I got from this answer is that there will be 85 affordable houses built in the lifetime of this Government. We are talking about 17 affordable houses for all of Galway, with a population of 200,000 people. We are moving...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: Now.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Dec 2022)

Ollie Crowe: Now.

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his continued work. Like many Senators, I welcome this legislation. As all Senators appreciate, and as the Minister of State alluded to, our SMEs are the backbone of the economy. There are 270,000 SMEs, accounting for 66.5% of all people employed in businesses. SMEs generate 44% of the total turnover in the business economy and 37% of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sentencing Policy (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, for coming to the Chamber this morning. Before I commence, I acknowledge that this an issue on which my colleague, Senator Gallagher, has been working for some time in seeking to progress with the Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019. To give a bit of context, I raise this Commencement matter following recent attacks on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sentencing Policy (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. Maximum sentences are fine but what we need minimum sentences also. All I can talk about is Galway city. What is frustrating people in Galway city and county is the large percentage of cases where someone found guilty serves no time at all. Even though they have been found guilty, they are walking out the door and that is outraging...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I will keep my contribution local because I only have two and a half minutes. Over the past couple of years, I have repeatedly referred to the growing antisocial behaviour problem in Eyre Square. This issue has already had horrific and life-altering consequences. Indeed, a young woman recently lost the sight in one eye after fireworks were...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I wish to bring to the attention of the House the fact that I was rushing during my contribution in order to try to keep to the time limit. The word I wanted to use was "gangs" in order to highlight the fact that gangs were gathering around Eyre Square.

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I just want to be clear as to what goes on in the evening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges Facing the Technology Sector: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank IDA Ireland and Technology Ireland for appearing before the committee this morning. Ms Fitzpatrick spoke about the need for intensifying support for the SME sector and enterprises in the digital transition. Will Ms Fitzpatrick expand on that point? What additional supports could be provided?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges Facing the Technology Sector: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I thank Mr. O'Donovan for that comprehensive answer. I am conscious of the clock. Ms Buckley spoke about the continual strong flow of investment since reporting mid-year results. All members will be delighted to hear that. Has IDA Ireland seen less investment in the technology sector as a whole this year, compared with previous years? There have been predictions of a slowdown within the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges Facing the Technology Sector: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I need to be in the Seanad Chamber at 10.30 so I will leave it at that for now.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2022)

Ollie Crowe: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is welcome legislation, which reflects a key commitment in the programme for Government and the action plan for insurance reform to enhance and reform the PIAB process. The data from the Central Bank report are clear. They show that prior to the introduction of reforms, it took twice as long for claimants to go down the legal route,...