Results 5,581-5,600 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 435. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 700 of 23 May 2017, the progress that has been made in relation to the holding of a competition for promotion from captain to commandant within the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44935/17]

Topical Issues: Emergency Departments Services (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. If the small project I mentioned were to be provided eight more cubicles and minor surgery could be provided in that accommodation. That would cost less than €1 million. That would ease the pressure considerably on the staff in the emergency department and provide better facilities for the patients who are our number one consideration. ...

Topical Issues: Emergency Departments Services (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: In May 2014 I instigated a Topical Issue debate on the need to provide a new emergency department at Cavan General Hospital. The hospital opened in June 1989 and since then the number of patients presenting at the emergency department has grown substantially. That particular debate, to which the then Minister for Health, Senator Reilly, replied at the time, highlighted the need to provide...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I commend Deputy Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy for commenting in her concluding remarks on the positive role Fianna Fáil played in strongly advocating for a number of measures which are being implemented in budget 2018. My colleague, Deputy Frank O'Rourke, has referred to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the increases in social welfare payments and the additional funding for other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: In the first part of our meeting, we will meet representatives from Dóchas, to whom I extend a welcome. The committee agreed as part of its work programme for 2017 to review the work of Irish Aid, particularly the overseas development aid programme and the way it has been used to date to deliver added value in communities around the world. This is the second in a series of meetings...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Meehan. I call Mr. MacSorley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations. With regard to Mr. MacSorley's concluding remarks on the 20 million people facing starvation at present and 65 million refugees worldwide, there really is a crisis. There are so many crises throughout the world at present. In our engagement with the Secretary General of the Department and Irish Aid officials, we spoke at some length...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: In his earlier contribution, Mr. Meehan mentioned that we need to focus funding where it is needed most. At times, all of us ask why humanitarian aid does not reach particular areas or regions. Do the UN-based organisations and other transnational organisations not have greater capacity than NGOs to get assistance to the most needy in a quicker manner? I am posing this as a question and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: No, because I must go back to my colleagues then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Mr. Meehan's colleagues will get a chance to come back in but I want to bring in my colleagues first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Meehan. Our colleague, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, does excellent work for the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, AWEPA. She is a great champion of the organisation and does a huge amount of work to facilitate meetings. Many of us would like to give more time to it but pressures on time from committees and other commitments do not allow us to give as much time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Thank you, Senator Bacik. I call Senator Lawless.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I call Deputy Seán Barrett.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Thank you very much, Deputy Barrett. We need to take the questions individually. One person can respond to each of the subjects. I call Ms Keatinge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Meehan. I call Ms Foster-Breslin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Thank you, Ms Foster-Breslin. I call Mr. MacSorley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Thank you very much. On Deputy Barrett's question, can any of the witnesses give a rough estimate of what percentage of Irish Aid goes to education?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Gumbo. On Senator Lawless's question in regard to relationships with the US and recent political developments there over the past 12 months to 18 months or so, does anybody want to venture into that territory? Does Ms Finan wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: That is a good position to hold. We all played our under-aged football in that position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review (Resumed) (19 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Thank you, Mr. MacSorley. I call Ms Finan.