Results 261-280 of 425 for speaker:Brian Brennan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: I thank the witnesses for their time. In my career before I entered politics, I did a lot of travelling and encountered a lot of problems. I was at the coalface when the tsunami came. I was out in Sri Lanka working in that area. I was also there when the Government there was overthrown. I was on the ground and saw the killings, the lootings and everything going on at first hand, but what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: How can we legally include services? I know it is with the Attorney General. If that is rejected, have the witnesses any advice on how we can proceed?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: 140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if further to the recent fires on Tara Hill, Gorey, County Wexford, there will be a review or recommendations into the matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36452/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: 165. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of the carer's benefit application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36649/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wild Fires (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: 202. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further to the recent fires on Tara Hill, Gorey, County Wexford there will be a review or recommendations into the matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36451/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: 255. To ask the Minister for Health if she is considering including fibromyalgia as a long-term illness; if she will consider access for patients to GP visit cards/medical cards regardless of income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36455/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: I welcome both Ministers. The Department's portfolio covers sport and culture. It encompasses everything that is good about Ireland in terms of volunteers and what they are doing. Last night, we had a very long committee meeting with some departmental officials. I left with many questions even after getting some very thorough answers as to how €5.3 million was wasted by the Arts...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: Sorry, that was not the question, which was about funding from the Arts Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: With that in mind, I am very interested in what Professor Brennan's remit is. Obviously, she and I are not related. Is it a root-and-branch review? Based on the conversations last night and on what the Minister just said, that is what the arts need. The arts are such a part of our culture but not everybody is being covered. There will be 1 million people at the fleadh cheoil in Wexford....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: Sports funding is an incredible incentive. It takes kids off the street corners as per the motto, "Join clubs not gangs". However, from my brief experience in politics, I fear some areas have been totally ignored. Taking my area of Arklow as an example, it does not have a town park and in terms of the arts, it does not have a theatre. There are 16,000 people in the town. Are there some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: I have no doubt the issue is not only in Arklow. It is replicated around the country. There are small patches that are not being covered because they do not have a voice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: My question is linked to the last question. I feel that the Arts Council is not fit for purpose. I am entitled to say that. We wasted €7 million. There was a data breach on 19 June, which is being investigated. Somebody presented a document here two weeks ago that did not have VAT on it. That is basic accountancy. It is intermediate certificate accountancy. How can an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: First, I sit here in total admiration of what Senator Black has done. I was there in a different country and different scenario. To do something good, as she has, in a different country with the road blocks we will both have experienced is incredible. I urge her to never underestimate what she is doing. I loved her comment a few minutes ago when she said "when" we got through this, not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: Will Mr. Liston answer the question in case he does? He should not get me wrong, I am with him on it, but the Attorney General has not yet given his firm advice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: To challenge it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: It was a clear question and I got a clear answer. I thank Mr. Liston. In my opinion, on political consensus, the witnesses are winning hands down in Ireland. Please God we will get over this but then, let us get into Europe. What is their opinion on how we should take it onwards? We are growing momentum. The key word, as was said earlier, is "momentum". I really feel that. It is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: Not that we are looking for one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: I think most of the people in this room agree with the Senator on a political and a personal level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: Most of my questions have been covered. This has been a very interesting conversation. Such a huge effort has been made by the delegates to get this far, to get almost to the line. I would love to hear a little more on enforcement, about which I am concerned. Such an effort has been made. I hope there will be a victory. If not, the fight will go on. It is just a matter of enforcement,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Brian Brennan: I have one more point. I am not disagreeing with Mr. O’Neill but I am not agreeing with him either. On the point I made on moral responsibility, it is not only a matter of the owner or manager of the business. I had 600 people working for me and noted staff often have a significant say in how a business is run. They will put the moral obligation on the manager. We should not...