Seán Crowe

Sinn Féin is often accused of being Eurosceptic. We often hear that thrown around this Chamber as an insult or a lame response to an alternative voice. We are not Eurosceptic: we believe in a partnership of European nations working towards the advancement of human rights, social justice and democratic values. What we cannot support, and will never support, is a federal militarised Europe that clos…

I begin tonight by mentioning Mary Prior, a friend and neighbour who passed away recently. Mary's childcare facility was an institution that supported hundreds of children and their parents in the Springfield area of Tallaght down the decades. Comhbhrón to her husband Oliver and their family. Tonight, we are advocating for parents who are at their wits' end. First, they have to find a childcare p…

I am pleased to co-sponsor this legislation with my colleague Mark Ward. Reduction of the abuse of nitrous oxide is something I have been highlighting and working towards for some years. I introduced legislation to that effect in the previous Dáil. I am glad to have the opportunity to do so again. The abuse of nitrous oxide is something that flies under the radar for many people. It is incredibly…

Will the Taoiseach tell us about his new man?

Will the Taoiseach tell us about his new man?

"Not confirming anything" is right.

There is no doubt that foreign direct investment has been good to Ireland. The pharmaceutical and medical technology sector in particular has been an enormous boon to the economy. This has been supplemented in recent years by the tech sector. High-paying jobs and exports allowed Ireland to progress beyond our small island and become a global economy. The reports overnight that the pharma industry …

The anti-water charges movement was one of the largest opposition movements this State witnessed in modern times. Citizens from different backgrounds and of different ages came together, said "No" to this unjust tax and took to the streets in their hundreds and thousands. Even the 2016 Fianna Fáil manifesto committed to abolishing Irish Water and ending water charges. The Government of the day was…

Sinn Féin supports the motion. It is welcome and timely. We were colonised and know what it is like to struggle for freedom against a foreign invader. The principle of neutrality is a fundamental republican principle and was one of the cornerstones of the foundation of the Irish State. The Irish people set great store in our neutrality. It is a point of pride that our troops have only ever gone a…

The European Council continues to be entirely impotent when it comes to the genocidal actions of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The Council's conclusions do not even mention the word "Israel". One would think Israel was not even involved and that it was not the party to have smashed the ceasefire and resumed the bombardment of the Palestinians, and indeed of another sov…

Spoofer.

The programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools to ensure that schools can meet elevated day-to-day running costs and reduce the financial burden on families. A school in my constituency was forced to consider closing from April and moving to online learning. It is not the only school in the area experiencing huge challenges in meeting its day-to-day running costs.…

The ceasefire in Gaza has been abandoned by the Israelis. It has not just been breached; it has been blown to pieces. They never wanted a ceasefire and have now abandoned negotiations on an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Netanyahu says the negotiations will only take place under fire. Already, Israeli forces have moved to partition the Gaza strip. Air strikes have recommenced in Gaza and sout…

It does not make any sense but the Government seems to take every opportunity to make the housing crisis even worse. We have heard during the debate about the number of people, some 2,500 households, who were saved from homelessness. Families with children, couples and single people, including pensioners, have been prevented from enduring long stays in emergency accommodation because councils were…

The programme for Government refers to road safety in terms of enhancing driver training and introducing re-education courses for those who commit road traffic offences. I have raised the issue of the backlog of the Tallaght test centre with three different Ministers and now two different taoisigh. Five years ago, there were 5,000 people on the waiting list in Tallaght. There are now 18,000 waitin…

Ireland stands resolutely with the Ukrainian people as they defend their nation's right to freedom and sovereignty. Sinn Féin supports the utilisation of all diplomatic, economic and financial sanctions against Russia in response to the breaches of international law and flagrant disregard for human rights. As a neutral country, Ireland must be consistent in its stand for the observance of internat…

The difficulty people right across the State have in accessing a driving test, particularly those who rely on the test centre in Tallaght, is something I have raised in this Chamber not just for years, but over several Dáileanna. I remember raising the fact the waiting list in Tallaght had passed the 5,000 mark and urging that immediate action be taken before things completely spiralled out of con…

I listened to the Minister of State and wish him and the Minister well in their jobs. The Minister of State mentioned the parents in the Gallery. I am conscious that there are people here from Tallaght and the Dublin South-West constituency. Others are probably watching from home. I am conscious that there would have been many more parents here but for the fact that they cannot get out because of …

It is the Opposition's fault.

The bottom line is that you got elected.

Honest after the election.

We were on holidays.