Results 1,821-1,840 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I also appreciate the interest of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, in this area. Along with Oireachtas colleagues and parents from Cavan and Monaghan, I met the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on Tuesday last. The stories those parents told to the Minister of State that day were really heartbreaking. I had met the parents previously...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: 22. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in advancing a building project at a hospital (details supplied); when it will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26864/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: 207. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when additional financial supports will be introduced for the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27171/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: 208. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the post office network will be enabled to provide additional government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27173/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: 315. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if grant aid will be made available in respect of the retention of a childcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27185/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: 316. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the grant aid that is available at present towards the provision of childcare facilities by community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27199/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: It is great to have Mr. O'Connor. His recollections obviously are accurate and I hope he puts them on paper for the future because far too often, we read so-called history books and we can see the inaccuracies in them ourselves. It would be important that a person like Mr. O'Connor, who has no agenda and who only wants to recall the facts, would do so. He made such a contribution and he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: Yes. In Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Breffni Park and elsewhere. Mr. O'Connor also mentioned the ceasefire in July 1997 and I remember where I was that day. I was at the Ulster final in Clones, which Cavan won of course, which was important. We do not win enough of them but Mr. O'Connor's county is on a high with hurling at the moment and it is great to see such athleticism, quality...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: So those of us who are privileged to be in public life and to be in elected office have to treasure and always hold uppermost in our minds that we have a mandate to implement that agreement. We know there are difficulties and unfortunately there are aspects of the Good Friday Agreement that are not working. We can rehash why that is happening but that is not the purpose of our exercise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: I am glad that Mr. O'Connor mentioned Dermot Gallagher. After Dermot left the public service I used to meet him the odd time at football matches in Cavan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: They are very interesting. It was very interesting to hear Senator McGreehan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: It is wonderful to have had Mr. O'Connor with us for more than two hours. I refer to preparation. He mentioned Articles 2 and 3. It comes back to the point raised by Senator McGreehan. I remember that my party in particular was very much attached------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: The Fianna Fáil Party in government in 1937 put the Constitution before the people to be enacted by the electorate. If Bertie Ahern were to appear before the committee, he would be able to go into it in detail, but I remember that during the negotiations he met several of us back bench Deputies and Senators. He broached the subject of changing Articles 2 and 3. We said, "What?" To my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: Fianna Fáil probably had 80 Deputies and 20 Senators at the time. We were a big parliamentary party and we were all surprised when the issue was broached first. The preparatory work was done, however, and there was then no dissent whatsoever within the Fianna Fáil Party in that regard because we saw the importance of it. It was not sprung on people as a surprise. The homework...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: Yes. It is a pity that more people did not listen to them. Those who were there, such as Mr. O'Connor, saw the reality and the difficulties of reaching an agreement as well as the huge amount of work and preparation that goes into it. Several members have expressed the hope that Mr. O'Connor will put down in writing his recollections so that they can be accessed and inform the history of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: Again, that showed the necessity of doing the preparatory work. We were significant------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: I remember being told this in Ballyconnell at 7 a.m. on a Monday by the Taoiseach at the time. The Chairman has heard me mention on several occasions that there is a lack of respect nowadays in this country, and possibly elsewhere as well, for experience and corporate knowledge, particularly in governance. In political life at least, there is a lack of respect for the experience and...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 May 2022)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Once again, we are debating Northern Ireland issues, legacy issues and the need to implement the protocol and to deal with outstanding issues relevant to it. It is most disappointing that the institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement are not in place or working on behalf of the people at present. In recent days,...