Results 17,861-17,880 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named had applied under Category D of the 2005 National Reserve that catered for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but did not received any direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named was deemed ineligible under this category as he had received his herdnumber in September 2001. However as outlined in my...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: With regard to the current position of the Operational Programme for Fisheries, the Commission Negotiating position was received on the 22nd of April 2008. The Commission has expressed disappointment that measures under Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund are not included as co-funded measures. The draft Operational Programme involves support for priority areas including decommissioning of...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together. Ireland has been and continues to be bluetongue-free and the presence of the disease in a number of other Member States has had very little impact on Irish agriculture. While a small number of imported animals that were tested on their arrival here were found to have been exposed to the virus in the past, they were found to be free of the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food sends a quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group which details the non-property costs such as travel and overtime. To the end of 2007, the last reporting deadline, the costs amounted to €90,128.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. At the outset, I thank Senator Paddy Burke for raising this important issue regarding the restructuring of cancer services, with particular reference to Mayo General Hospital. Data on surgical cancer procedures is collated by the hospital inpatient inquiry system, commonly...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. Senator Buttimer's raising this issue gives me the opportunity to outline to this House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position on the building project for Ballygarvan national school. Modernising facilities in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I understand that outstanding issues are being progressed through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. All of us who deal with constituency work know how frustratingly slow some of these processes are. I will also bring that point to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin.

Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am giving this reply to the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is unavoidably absent. I note that this issue has for many years been close to the heart of Senator Ross. I have had the opportunity to listen to the Senator speaking in the broadcast media and read his comments in the print media, and I know he has highlighted such issues over many years...

Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: No. It is just to vote.

Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assure the Senator that the issues he has raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister for Transport.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Motion (1 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Members for facilitating this matter. On Report Stage in the Seanad, an amendment which should have been deleted was deleted but was then inadvertently re-inserted. On my recommendation, the Dáil yesterday did not accept the amendment as requested by Seanad Éireann. This is now being reported back to the Seanad.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Motion (1 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: In technical terms, the Seanad did not insist on one of the amendments, No. 1, that it made to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill being agreed to by the Dáil. This is most unusual and I will briefly outline the details. On Committee Stage, the Seanad accepted amendments which criminalised soliciting or importuning a trafficked person for the purpose of prostitution. Since the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. In January of this year the HSE forwarded a report on this particular case to a Deputy in response to a similar Parliamentary question. I will arrange to have a copy of this report forwarded to the Deputy as soon...

Seanad: Hospital-Acquired Infections (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Senator Fitzgerald for raising this very important issue. I wish to express my sympathy to any patients and families who have been affected by this matter. I share the Senator's concerns regarding health care associated infections. I reiterate the Minister's...

Seanad: Hospital-Acquired Infections (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Senator Fitzgerald's point is important. The putting in place of the infection control steering group chaired by Dr. Pat Doorley is a very important development. It is one I hope will bring rapid progress in this crucial area.

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their child care costs are child benefit and the early childcare supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher child care costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of some €500...

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Quite a number have already been notified and the process will finish in less than 20 days.

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As Senator McFadden knows, when dealing with public money we must ensure different processes are followed. I know there can be a considerable financial burden when finalising accounts and having audits done. When using public money, the onus is on the Houses of the Oireachtas and statutory agencies to ensure the best possible information is derived. I am not familiar with the matter of...

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will ask Pobal to investigate the provision of a template to facilitate people and minimise the assistance they need to pay for.

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: From the Seanad (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I move: That the Committee do not agree with the Seanad in amendment No.1 to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007.