Results 161-180 of 17,751 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (20 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that despite reduced pupil teacher ratios and increased capitation grants, many schools are finding it difficult to manage given the level of cost inflation that they have to deal with; if she is further aware that schools are looking at dramatically reducing their expenditure, impacting essential school services and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: The 50th anniversary of the darkest day of all during the era known as the Troubles, when 33 innocent people were murdered and hundreds badly injured in bombings in Monaghan and Dublin, will be marked on 17 May. The Government needs to continue to reassure victims and families of victims that we will relentlessly pursue the need for truth and justice. That message has to be reinforced with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: The services from the Department of Social Protection that are provided through the post office network must be maintained. If there are changes to the television licence system and the method of supporting public broadcasting in this country or if the current system is continued, it should still be operated through the post office network. If Revenue were to be involved in the collection...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are proposals to expand the range of services available through the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11122/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister knows, our post office network is a considerable asset for our country and for communities in urban and rural settings. Thankfully, there has in recent years been an extension of some of the services that our post office network can provide, with good services being provided for Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks, AIB. It has been suggested that the Government should...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been engaging with the Irish Postmasters' Union. I have been told that by the personnel of the union and I know they appreciate that. There is one issue that should be addressed. Post offices are, in reality, small businesses. They, like every other enterprise in the country, have faced increased costs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals for further discussions with the British foreign secretary and the secretary of state for Northern Ireland on the need for the British government to respond positively and without further delay to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann regarding the Monaghan and Dublin bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been any recent substantive response from the British authorities in relation to the unanimous motions passed by Dáil Éireann concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11118/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 108. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date with the roll out of the National Broadband Plan throughout County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11121/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has put forward to the European Commission in relation to the need to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11375/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. It is heartening to have that outline of progress and indeed this shared island initiative as launched by Deputy Micheál Martin in the latter half of 2020. Much as been achieved in a relatively short space of time. There was cynicism initially at the announcement of the unit's establishment, but, thankfully, all political viewpoints are now...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection are insurance contributions carried over to persons who are foster parents and not in employment outside the home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10916/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (6 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who are foster parents are eligible for contributions to be included under the homemaker’s scheme for pension purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10917/24]

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: The comments in the British command paper prior to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council were particularly negative in regard to the all-Ireland economy. Regardless of what British public servants or politicians think, the all-Ireland economy exists, is growing and is being strengthened every day, thankfully, for the benefit...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [9021/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (5 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 234. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review the tax treatment of statutory sick leave payments made by employers in order that they are not subject to the deductions such as USC that the State avoids it when it pays illness benefit to employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10707/24]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Correspondence (5 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 256. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give urgent and detailed consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence from a business group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10696/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (5 Mar 2024)

Brendan Smith: 459. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the tax treatment of statutory sick leave payments made by employers in order that they are not subject to the deductions such as USC that the State avoids it when it pays illness benefit to employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10706/24]

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): General Practitioner Services (29 Feb 2024)

Brendan Smith: 15. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the measures being implemented to increase the number of GPs practising in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9717/24]

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): General Practitioner Services (29 Feb 2024)

Brendan Smith: 20. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being implemented to recruit and retain more GPs in rural practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9716/24]