Results 7,421-7,440 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19280/15]

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: Before Christmas the Stormont House Agreement averted the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive and legislative assembly, and impending financial suspension. At that time, Sinn Féin agreed to Tory welfare cuts, while the DUP agreed to progress on the proposals previously put forward during the failed Haass talks. At this stage, is the Minister satisfied with the implementation of...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his detailed response and welcome the ongoing work on the matter. It is important that the historical investigations unit be established as soon as possible as we are all aware of different cases - murders, bombings, loss of life and terrible injuries that have been caused to people - which have not been properly investigated. We hope the establishment of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: Would the Minister agree the lacuna or lack of clarity that will exist for some time will probably be detrimental to attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland? Such investment benefits the entire island. I hope a clear message can be sent, namely, that trade and investment are very important from the point of view of Britain's continued membership of the EU, from which we also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to discuss Britain's continued membership of the European Union with the British Foreign Secretary and with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in view of the British Government's proposal to hold a referendum on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: It is just over two weeks since the British general election. It appears the referendum in regard to the continued British membership of the European Union could be held in 2016 and the latest reports from Westminster suggest the parliamentary Bill which will pave the way for the vote will be published next week. We are all conscious that each sovereign country makes its own decisions. At...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he take the opportunity this evening, in his meeting with the Secretary of State, to outline very clearly to her that a very strong pro-European Union view is held throughout Northern Ireland? In fact, as the Minister mentioned in his reply, all of us recognise the very valuable contribution the EU has made to the political advances and the major...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Even though the British programme for government has not yet been published, in view of the commitment in the Conservative Party manifesto to scrap the Human Rights Act, it is incumbent on the Minister and his colleagues in government to give a clear message to the Secretary of State that they cannot renege on the provisions of an international treaty. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his comments. The Human Rights Act, as the Minister implied, is particularly important in regard to dealing with sensitive and contentious legacy issues. As we approach the marching season, we should take note of the fact that all Parades Commission determinations are subject to the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted in the Human Rights Act. A repeal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the Good Friday Agreement of the British Government repealing its Human Rights Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19497/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: The Good Friday Agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed on this island in referendums, North and South, and through parliamentary ratification in Britain. It is an international treaty which has been lodged with the United Nations. The British Government, in the Agreement, committed to guaranteeing the rights of minorities, and the Irish and British Governments are its co-guarantors. If the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports a European Union wide ban on certain Israeli settlement goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19283/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 192. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in respect of professional fees for attendance at a court (details supplied); if he will ensure that there is no further delay in having this payment issued, as the court took place in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19449/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 402. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on plans to scrap the Human Rights Act in the United Kindgom, and the possibility of this breaching the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19601/15]

Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: The Government has promised to introduce, as soon as possible, some legislative measures following on from the Stormont House Agreement. As the Tánaiste is aware, the Conservative Party, in its manifesto before the UK election, promised that if re-elected to government, it would scrap the Human Rights Act. If such a development takes place, it would break the formal link between the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (14 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the opening date for the 2nd tranche of applications under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; the closing date for receipt of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19055/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (14 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 181. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he proposes to meet the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; the issues to be discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Persecution of Christians: Discussion (13 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the presentations and thank the witnesses for the interesting material and facts they have presented to the joint committee. Bishop McAreavey's remarks on the killing each year of 100,000 Christians paint a disturbing and worrying picture. It is something of an understatement, therefore, to suggest the international community should be concerned about this issue because it is...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (13 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 56. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that the status of her Department's offices in Ballybay in County Monaghan will not be changed; that this office will continue to be located in Ballybay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18791/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (13 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 135. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a proposal to provide Family Law Court facilities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18905/15]