Results 8,241-8,260 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in South Sudan: Concern, GOAL and Oxfam (11 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank all three witnesses for providing detailed presentations with great clarity. They paint a very bleak picture of an unfolding tragedy, in which there has already been great loss of life and all the horror and pain that is associated with conflict and humanitarian disaster. We were asked if Ireland and its political representatives could use all the forums available to us to highlight...

Local and Community Development Programmes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: I agree with Deputy Bannon that the so-called reform of local government has been a disaster for rural areas. The number of councillors in County Cavan has been reduced from 25 to 18, leaving the county with the same number of councillors as other counties with less than half its population. The Government's decision to abolish town councils was also disgraceful. Moreover, the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at his recent meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24069/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 27. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive the need to establish the North-South Consultative Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24079/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised recently with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive the need to progress the proposed Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24080/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 29. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the need to provide a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24082/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State at his recent meeting the need for the British Government to respond positively and without further delay to the motions passed unanimously in Dáil Éireann requesting the British Government to release the papers-files pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the present stage of this project; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24083/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Exchange of Views: Mozambique Ministerial Delegation (4 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: I join the Chairman in welcoming the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operations and his delegation. Mr. Balói mentioned that he is engaged in updating the electoral process and this would be the fifth general election since 1992. Who is entitled to participate and who is entitled to vote? How widespread is the franchise to enable people to vote? It is welcome that our Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Contracts (4 Jun 2014)

Brendan Smith: 85. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Office of Public Works will finalise the awarding of a contract in respect of a project (details supplied); when this necessary work will be undertaken; the likely timeline for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23957/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (29 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a poll that suggests strong public support for external and independent assessment for junior certificate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23382/14]

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his presentation. Naturally, we welcome funding and assistance being given to poverty stricken areas. We also welcome assistance being given to development as well as trying to eradicate and eliminate poverty. However, I have one issue with this matter. I want to be assured that there is no duplication. I presume each member state has an overseas...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (29 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will re-examine his plans for small schools following on from recent comments he made about their importance in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23381/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: What was the timeline for the figure of 12,000?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: Has the loss of life intensified the longer the insurgency has lasted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: Like the Chairman, I take the opportunity to express solidarity with the Nigerian authorities in dealing with a very difficult situation. The Tánaiste on behalf of the Government and the Irish people condemned in the strongest possible terms the frequency and spread of terrorist attacks and violent activities. Naturally, the authorities must take all steps to protect their citizens and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I referred to the loss of life and the intensification in the period January to March 2014 when Amnesty International estimated there were 1,500 deaths.

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Has he had the opportunity to discuss with other donor states the reasoning for their cutting off aid? Were they not conscious, as the Minister of State seems to be, of the message from civil society in Uganda? Is the Minister of State confident that the civil society representatives whom he meets are representative of society in general and...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider reviewing the allocation of Irish aid to countries which have oppressive anti-homosexual legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/14]

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Ugandan President signed a law last February that imposes very tough and unacceptable penalties on homosexual acts. This legislation threatens to usher in an era of very harsh treatment of offenders and could lead to widespread oppression of gay men and lesbians, which should be totally unacceptable to the international community. The denial of basic human rights is not tolerable. Has...