Results 18,061-18,080 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: Before and after the Second Stage debate in this House the Department, the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General considered this matter. The robust advice to us is that our amendment will deal with the issue in the most comprehensive way. We all want to achieve the elimination of such behaviour, if possible, or to minimise it to the greatest extent possible. A threat...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: In most people's terms offences should lead to prosecutions. The Government amendment provides the best way to ensure we reach prosecution stage and it must be enforceable.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank all Senators for their contributions. The House will recall that during Second Stage the comprehensive strategy which has been put in place to ensure that Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Council of Europe convention against trafficking in persons, was explained in detail and a number of Senators referred to the question of how our international obligations would be met....

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: This is simply a drafting amendment. In the present draft, the Short Title and commencement section is at the beginning of the Bill. Apparently, it is more usual to put such a section at the end as the last section and that is achieved in amendment No. 15, which I commend to the House.

Pharmacy Regulations. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I emphasise that 1 March next is not the deadline for the imposition of a new contract for pharmacists — it is the date for the introduction of the new wholesaler pricing arrangements. The Government believes the wholesale mark-up paid on the price of drugs should be reduced to a level that is fair to...

Vaccination Programme. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the importance to the Department of Health and Children and the HSE of the issue raised. The BCG vaccine protects against TB and is usually given to newborn babies, but can also be given to older...

Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this matter in the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I thank Deputy Barrett for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position regarding the relocation of St. Brigid's boys national school....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years. I understand from enquiries made that the Group in question applied for transitional funding under the NCIP Community Childcare Subvention Scheme 2008-2010 (CCSS) in December 2007, two months later than the requested date for...

Hospital Services. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. As Deputy Carey is aware, the provision of services at Ennis General Hospital and the mid-west in general is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. One of the priorities of the Government and the HSE is to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services. Considerable...

Hospital Services. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: Consultants have expressed concern about the policy of taking major trauma cases to Ennis and Nenagh before transferring them to Limerick. Many years ago, the Medical Council advocated the introduction of what is known as the "trauma bypass". The HSE has informed me that from April 2008, six trained advanced paramedics will be qualified to intubate and cannulate patients in County Clare.

Hospital Services. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government is committed to the continued development of appropriate services at Ennis General Hospital. It has provided for developments at the hospital in the past. It will continue to invest in services at the hospital.

Hospital Services. (21 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ennis General Hospital will continue to play a vital role in providing services for the people of County Clare.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: The National Children's Advisory Committee was established in May 2001. The first Council served from May 2001 until May 2004. The second term of the reconstituted Council commenced in April 2005. This second term is due to conclude in mid-2008. The Council has an independent advisory and monitoring role in relation to the implementation of the National Children's Strategy and reports to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. The National Childcare Strategy: A Report of the Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare (1999) recommended the establishment of a National Childcare Management Committee. Following this recommendation a new National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee (NCCC) was established in late 1999 and held it's first meeting on 17th...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services. Capital applications approved under the NCIP are subject to certain criteria, one of which is that...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years. I understand that, in July 2007, the Group referred to was approved under the NCIP interim staffing support scheme for a start up grant of €3,000 in respect of the period September to December 2007. The interim scheme was...

Written Answers — Grant Applications: Grant Applications (14 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Health and Children have received an application, for a grant allocation of National Lottery funds, from the organisation referred to. There is a protocol in the Department of Health and Children for processing applications for National Lottery grants. Following assessment, evaluation and recommendation applications are considered in the context of the overall level of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am very pleased to present to the Seanad the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007. It is a relatively short but important Bill, not only for the criminal offences it will introduce into Irish law but for the very clear message it will send out on our determination to ensure that Ireland does not become a destination or transit point in the evil trade of trafficking in human beings....

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Feb 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 198 together. The launch of the National Recreation Policy last September highlighted Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés. As the Deputy will be aware there are already a number of youth cafés in operation around the country. Funding for these existing initiatives is provided through local City/County Council and Health Service...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Feb 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. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.