Results 241-260 of 272 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Yes. I understand the Minister is the line Minister in charge of what is at the core my next question. On 28 September, a huge American football game will be taking place in Croke Park. It will be a major expression of American sport and culture. We have in the past had military flyovers in Dublin for college football games. We have had F-16 jets and V-22 Osprey aircraft flying over....

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Cathaoirleach. There is no doubt the UN is in a weakened position and the UN Security Council is paralysed. For those of us who want to see the UN restrengthened, commit to it and value Ireland's history and tradition with the United Nations, I will posit a theory. I will direct the question to Mr. Murphy first. Setting aside operational practicalities, at least in theory, if...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I understand that. We are talking about the direction of travel in the EU, which I do not dispute, that Kaja Kallas and others want to bring EU nations towards. I have huge worries about that direction, the militarisation of Europe and Ireland being caught up in that. I have a massive concern about us simply removing the triple lock without at least examining other methods for a potential...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I have a question for Professor Tonra. Does the triple lock stop us investing in our Defence Forces' capacity, protecting our undersea cables, engaging with PESCO, Partnership for Peace and similar which we have already done? Does it generally stop us increasing our capacity for national security?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank Professor Tonra.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: UNRWA is under fierce pressure in Gaza and Palestine at present. I welcome the increase in funding the Irish State has given. Does the Tánaiste think, given the deteriorating situation day to day with regard to aid in Gaza, the figure could be revisited and we might end up increasing it? Should we increase it again in the course of this year?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artists' Remuneration (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the basic income for the arts (BIA) scheme will be continued in Budget 2026; if he plans to make the BIA scheme permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Insurance Coverage (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 193. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify whether it is a legal requirement for all private medical insurance to include maternity, newborn and fertility sections on all policies, regardless of the age of the policyholder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34693/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the possible roll out of the taxi EV grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34338/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 549. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to raise the cap on the first home scheme and the help to buy scheme, specifically for Dublin, as new builds in areas such as Swords exceed the current cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34441/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 598. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether his Department will consider a proposal to extend the child benefit payment for a number of months for families who lose a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34435/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 212. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issues with the reliability of the 33B bus service from Portrane to Swords which is operated by the bus company Go-Ahead Ireland, that in May 2025 busses were cancelled on 18 days of the 31 days’ services operated, leaving commuters stranded, with many having to take taxis to their destination at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm if there is capacity in any of the existing primary schools in Donabate to add extra classes on a temporary basis given the shortage of places which is set to worsen with the rapidly growing population in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35034/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 278. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in the roll out of the hot school meals scheme in a school (details supplied) and to confirm that the roll out of this scheme in this school will be prioritised and delivered at the earliest possible time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35150/25]

Nursing Homes: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: Two weeks before the "RTÉ Investigates" programme, a man in his 80s came to my clinic. He makes a bare minimum of 14 trips a week to the nursing home in which his wife is living. He visits in the morning to make sure his wife's day can begin with care, dignity and love. It is not the nursing home's job to provide love but it is its job to provide care and dignity. He goes again at...

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: I welcome the time to speak on this topic. The northern commuter line is one of the most stressed lines in this country. The plan in the all-island strategic review, which is a long-distance project, aims at four-tracking that line. That is a must for towns like Donabate, the population of which is going to increase by up to 5,000 people in the next couple of years, or 25%. It is the...

Middle East: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: Given the slaughter, the genocide and the last 20 months of horror, to wake up to the news, as we did this morning, that perhaps there will be a 60-day ceasefire will be welcomed by most people. Of course we will welcome it if it happens but for a number of reasons it is hard to have confidence in a ceasefire in this conflict. One reason is that the person who announced it this morning,...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Chair and warmly welcome all the witnesses. Their depth of experience is not only their service to the State, which is unbelievable, but also in peacekeeping and within United Nations. It gives a very different flavour to this particular group of witnesses which is much needed in this committee. There is a deep sense of pride, as Mr. Doyle said with regard to the shiver up...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: Those of us concerned about the removal of the triple lock hold that concern because of our love and desire for the United Nations, in general, to be the only global multilateral organisation, albeit the UN Security Council is paralysed and is the only legal entity that can give assent to missions. The witnesses say the future for us looks like deploying peacekeeping through NATO or the...