Results 2,901-2,920 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 95. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes as a result of FEMPI or the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 in the impact that sick leave may have on projected incremental pay levels of public servants. [51257/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the delays in processing applications from migrant workers to work here are justifiable (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51298/18]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 127. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if delays and ongoing technical difficulties in receiving documentation and processing applications as experienced by migrant workers coming here could be eased by the use of online applications without the need for visits to GNIB offices especially in cases of workers already resident here; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for extra resources to be deployed in the INIS and GNIB in view of delays facing migrants who need to apply for visas or for renewal of residency permits, and in further view of the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU and the added pressure this may place on the system in 2019; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; the reason her Department does not inform persons in the years prior to their retirement age that they may fail to qualify for the pension without additional contributions paid or voluntary; if such advanced warning will be provided in the future; the reason...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 273. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for a State contributory pension since 2012 who have been refused a contributory pension due to the fact that they did not have 520 contributions; and the number of these who had over 260 contributions. [51471/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Data (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for the State contributory pension who failed to qualify due to the fact they did not have 520 contributions but they had over 260 but also failed to qualify for a non-contributory pension due to means testing. [51472/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. My first question is for Mr. Collins on the legislation and the role of the Minister. He stated the Minister's role is to provide a comprehensive legislative and policy framework but then the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control with regard to the performance of local authorities and their functions. It is 22 years since...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I understand that Parliament passes the legislation but my question is whether, 22 years after it was passed, Mr. Collins sees it as a help or a hindrance that the Minister has no power or control regarding the performance of the EPA or the local authorities in respect of this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Is it a strength that the Minister has no control or power over it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: However, there is no accountability in that case, is there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: That is one question. It extends to another one, and it is close to my home. On my doorstep there is a site belonging to Thorntons Recycling, which has the contract for all the brown bins in all the hospitals, colleges and McDonalds branches in the greater Dublin area. A large amount of brown bin content is going to that site, which is no more than a quarter of a kilometre away from one of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: The EPA deals with the complaints but the maximum penalty the company suffers for breaching the odour bar set for it is €3,000. The company has been in court two or three times and it has paid the fines, but it is like lunch or pocket money for the company compared with the profits it makes and the money it saves on diesel, location of workers and so forth by being on the doorstep of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Chairman, I wish to put my question to the representatives of the EPA as it has not been answered. Do they think the penalty is strong enough to prevent this type of breach of regulations? I do not believe it is. That is one question for the EPA, but I have a few more questions for Mr. Collins about the incinerator. He describes how the level of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I did not realise there was the capacity to fine companies so much. Obviously, it is up to judges to make that decision. I did not realise that. I was told by the city manager that the maximum a company could be fined is €3,000.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Somebody would probably have to be killed or die from a disease.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I will put the same question to the EPA, but I also have questions about the incinerator. I am representing people in the Ringsend area who have asked me to say that people living around Dublin Bay often see the smoke coming out of the chimneys and are concerned about its condition. It is thick, dense and incessant. They worry about what pollutants are going into the air they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Thirteen times out of 365 days in the year does not sound like an awful lot to me. I assume it works every day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: The tone of the presentations is that we are getting to grips with our waste, we are one of the best recyclers, the best at waste reduction in Europe, landfill is becoming a thing of the past etc. The tonnage, 600,000 tonnes in Ringsend and 250,000 in County Meath, going through waste to energy sounds like good news. If we are so good at reducing waste why do we need more incinerators, such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Policy and Incineration: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I understand the argument for Poolbeg as per what Mr. Collins has laid out here but additional thermal treatment does not make sense. We are trying to reduce plastic, to recycle more, we already use Poolbeg and Meath, why do we need more waste incineration in the country? If Mr. Collins cannot answer that and it is part of the local authorities' plan we should have them in here to question...