Results 1,321-1,340 of 18,442 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 372. To ask the Minister for Health when subvention payments will be increased for nursing homes, particularly for smaller-scale nursing homes, in view of the substantial increase in costs over recent years in providing nursing-home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20196/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: First, I wholeheartedly welcome the progress report given to us by Ms O'Donoghue and commend her, Mr. Duffy and all their colleagues in the shared island unit on the great work done in a very short period of time. In the first engagement I had with the unit, I emphasised the need to engage with local authorities and highlighted that there was a huge amount of corporate memory, knowledge and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I have one question for Ms O'Donoghue and Mr. Duffy. Are they happy with the buy-in from all communities with regard to the shared island initiative? From my own interaction with people on both sides of the Border - I live in a Border community - there has been a very warm welcome for it. Regardless of what some people might have thought of us politically in the past, as far as I can see,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms O'Donoghue. Senators McGreehan and Blaney and I were in the East Belfast Mission, in the Skainos Centre, with Linda Ervine and the great Irish-language project they have there. Most of us would know Ms Ervine over the years. They are doing excellent work. Could their fabulous initiative and work could be supported in some way? I think the Department may have funded or helped...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: That is very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: That is great.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Taoiseach referred to the threat from republican paramilitaries as being an ongoing priority of the Government. Those thugs and criminals masquerading as republicans or loyalists do threaten security, in particular in the Border region. In that context, in all discussions that the Government has with the Garda Commissioner, it must be emphasised time and again that adequate resources...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the current situation in regard to the development of a national security strategy. [19256/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (25 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 481. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the allowance paid in respect of children taken into care is different for a relative and a non-relative of the child; if he will agree that the preference is to keep a child within the family unit if at all possible; if he accepts that the costs for providing care by a family member or non-family...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Dr Fitzpatrick. I will make a few comments. Senator McGreehan referred to the absence of political institutions. Of course, a lot of this work on a North-South basis should have been taking place at the North-South Ministerial Council where Ministers meet in sectoral format. They could have been making progress in regard to a convergence of systems and one learning from the other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Dr. Boland. Does Ms Hanna want to speak again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: The next slot is for the Green Party. Are there are Green Party members online? No. The next slot is then for Sinn Féin MPs. Is there anybody offering? Mr. Brady may go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: We are running out of time. Deputy Wynne has the next seven and a half minutes and there is just a minute left for the response of both witnesses to Senator Black.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Dr. Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: There are only just two. Unfortunately, we have to try to get back to other people again. That is the norm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: Senator Black has a further question, which we will take. We will then group the responses together. That might make the best use of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I made the point earlier that there is too much dependence on people having access to IT and IT knowledge nowadays when they apply for public services. It is intimidating people who, unfortunately, do not have those skills. That applies to both public services and private utilities. I instanced the valuable role of community welfare officers. We do not have enough of them nowadays. In...