Results 41-60 of 270 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Given the paralysis imposed upon UNRWA, will it be able to put the money we have allocated to it to use in 2025?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: It is worth saying that our commitment to development aid in its many manifestations is one of the twin pillars, along with peacekeeping, in why Ireland is held in such high regard. Does the Tánaiste feel in his relatively short time as Minister so far, that with other states peeling back from commitments to development aid, Ireland's leadership in this area has increased? Perhaps the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I might come back on another twin pillar on peacekeeping when we are in the defence committee. On subhead A6, contributions to multilateral organisations, notwithstanding our long-term commitment, which the Minister mentioned in his opening statement, our funding has gone down in the area following a review of how we fund them. That review is ongoing. Where is that review at and how...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I have two questions. My second one is a bit out of left field, but the Chair might give me a bit of time at the end. My initial question relates to subhead A7 and concerns the measures to support the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. There is a relatively modest amount of funding compared with other subheads here. I am keen to understand what our approach is going to be to the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Yes. I understand the Minister is the line Minister in charge of what is at the core my next question. On 28 September, a huge American football game will be taking place in Croke Park. It will be a major expression of American sport and culture. We have in the past had military flyovers in Dublin for college football games. We have had F-16 jets and V-22 Osprey aircraft flying over....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: UNRWA is under fierce pressure in Gaza and Palestine at present. I welcome the increase in funding the Irish State has given. Does the Tánaiste think, given the deteriorating situation day to day with regard to aid in Gaza, the figure could be revisited and we might end up increasing it? Should we increase it again in the course of this year?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the possible roll out of the taxi EV grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34338/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 549. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to raise the cap on the first home scheme and the help to buy scheme, specifically for Dublin, as new builds in areas such as Swords exceed the current cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34441/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 598. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department will consider a proposal to extend the child benefit payment for a number of months for families who lose a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34435/25]

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank Dr. Burke and Mr. Power for their opening statements. I will begin by welcoming Dr. Burke’s comments on the integrity of academics and academia. That is hugely important. The vibrancy of our academic sector and our academics comes from differences of opinions and pushing each other’s work. Calling into question the integrity or bona fides of any academic deeply...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I am not confident; I am putting it forward as a discussion point. I am just saying, as a theory, that we can take part in regional missions that have the imprimatur of or that have at least have gone to the UN General Assembly and have been passed. They may then be vetoed at the Security Council, but the Irish Government could say that it was taking part in a certain mission in a particular...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Why?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: There is a lot that our Defence Forces can do, however, notwithstanding that they have been under-resourced and so on. We take part in training missions, exercises, PfP operations and so on. There is a great deal we have done and have been capable of doing.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Every single one.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: The point Mr. Power made earlier was what makes more sense. Sorry, it might have been Dr. Burke. The point that what will make increasing sense is a regional-based peacekeeping force, probably through the EU.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Mr. Power accepts the concerns. He also stated we need to welcome reform of the UN and passionately believes we should support the UN.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: That is where we are at. My concern is that we cut the triple lock without reform with this proposed legislation and then what emerges on the dancefloor is an EU or a regional-based sphere, that is the most likely stage which would be operated on. What we have in the EU now, for understandable reasons, particularly on its eastern borders, is this rising sense of militarism, defence...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: It has also had huge success in the history of the UN, Mr. Power would agree-----

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Nuclear non-proliferation treaties-----