Results 6,301-6,320 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I remind members to turn off their mobile phones. On 15 December 2016, the Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. We will consider these Revised Estimates today and report back to the Dáil. I welcome...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I ask members and all those present to make sure their mobile phones are turned off, as they are interfering with the broadcasting and recording equipment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I now call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan followed by Deputy Tony McLoughlin, and we will then come back to the Minister.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: We will take all the members' queries now, as it will save time for everybody.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: We are sticking with programme A for the moment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I also wish to record my appreciation for the work of staff in the Passport Office. We are on to it constantly and we appreciate its help. I note the substantial increase in capital funding for office premises. Have there been any successful efforts to reduce the costs of official residences and chanceries? As regards the diaspora, we appreciate the emigrants' support programme....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I shall allow Deputy Grealish to make a short comment. Members have veered away from discussing this programme. I urge them to stick to discussing this programme.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: It sounds like that at the minute.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: We have move on to programme B fairly shortly.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. We will move on to programme B.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Minister's statement that there is a dedicated Brexit unit in the Department and that it has been possible to increase the number of personnel in key embassies. The brief we got from the Department states funding for Brexit related activities across programmes will impose resource challenges on the Department this year. I hope there will be adequate resources to deal with this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: There is a committee for each Department and they should also be taking that initiative.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: We need to move on.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. That is very important. I ask the Minister to speak to programme C.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Before the Minister responds, when we contribute to international organisations do we have any input into the programmes our funding goes towards or do we get a report of the outturn for the year for each organisation as to where the money went?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. The committee will be very glad to support his efforts to secure that place. I invite the Minister to speak on programme D.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: The new trade strategy is urgent in view of Brexit. When does the Minister hope to have that strategy finalised?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister.