Results 761-780 of 18,442 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Health Service Executive commissioned an external expert to undertake a review of the Health Service Executive's involvement in this case and to prepare a report on the matter. Work on the formal report has commenced. The review commenced in April 2007 and all interviews with relevant Health Service Executive staff and relevant staff from the external agencies involved have been...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the Visiting Teacher services there are 42 posts as Visiting Teacher for Travellers (VTT) and 42 posts as Visiting Teacher for Hearing and Visually Impaired (VTHVI), of which 13 posts are dedicated to visually impaired students. Taking into account temporary appointments covering job-sharing arrangements, the numbers of visiting teachers in each service employed by my Department at this...

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: From the Seanad (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I move: That the Committee do not agree with the Seanad in amendment No.1 to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007.

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: From the Seanad (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am seeking the agreement of the Dáil to two amendments made in the Seanad to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007. Deputies will note that a third amendment appears on the list of amendments and I will explain the reason later to the House. I need only say a few words on the deletion of section 1 and the transfer of the Short Title commencement section to the end of the Bill....

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: From the Seanad (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will explain the reasoning behind these amendments. I am aware that there is some confusion in the House. Deputies will recall that during the Report Stage debate in this House the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, undertook to consider whether it would be feasible to introduce an amendment creating an offence of having sex with a person trafficked for...

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: From the Seanad (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Deputies for their positive contribution to the legislation. As Deputy Naughten said, there was a lively discussion in the Seanad on the issue we have just debated. The Department is preparing the criminal law (sexual offence) Bill and it will be in discussion with Ruhama and other organisations about potential provisions. This legislation was extracted from that Bill.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Apr 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. In January of this year the HSE forwarded a report on this particular case to a Deputy in response to a similar Parliamentary question. I will arrange to have a copy of this report forwarded to the Deputy as soon...

Seanad: Hospital-Acquired Infections (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Senator Fitzgerald for raising this very important issue. I wish to express my sympathy to any patients and families who have been affected by this matter. I share the Senator's concerns regarding health care associated infections. I reiterate the Minister's...

Seanad: Hospital-Acquired Infections (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Senator Fitzgerald's point is important. The putting in place of the infection control steering group chaired by Dr. Pat Doorley is a very important development. It is one I hope will bring rapid progress in this crucial area.

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their child care costs are child benefit and the early childcare supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher child care costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of some €500...

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Quite a number have already been notified and the process will finish in less than 20 days.

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As Senator McFadden knows, when dealing with public money we must ensure different processes are followed. I know there can be a considerable financial burden when finalising accounts and having audits done. When using public money, the onus is on the Houses of the Oireachtas and statutory agencies to ensure the best possible information is derived. I am not familiar with the matter of...

Seanad: Child Care Services (30 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will ask Pobal to investigate the provision of a template to facilitate people and minimise the assistance they need to pay for.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Motion (1 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Members for facilitating this matter. On Report Stage in the Seanad, an amendment which should have been deleted was deleted but was then inadvertently re-inserted. On my recommendation, the Dáil yesterday did not accept the amendment as requested by Seanad Éireann. This is now being reported back to the Seanad.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Motion (1 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: In technical terms, the Seanad did not insist on one of the amendments, No. 1, that it made to the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill being agreed to by the Dáil. This is most unusual and I will briefly outline the details. On Committee Stage, the Seanad accepted amendments which criminalised soliciting or importuning a trafficked person for the purpose of prostitution. Since the...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. At the outset, I thank Senator Paddy Burke for raising this important issue regarding the restructuring of cancer services, with particular reference to Mayo General Hospital. Data on surgical cancer procedures is collated by the hospital inpatient inquiry system, commonly...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. Senator Buttimer's raising this issue gives me the opportunity to outline to this House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position on the building project for Ballygarvan national school. Modernising facilities in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I understand that outstanding issues are being progressed through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. All of us who deal with constituency work know how frustratingly slow some of these processes are. I will also bring that point to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin.

Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am giving this reply to the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is unavoidably absent. I note that this issue has for many years been close to the heart of Senator Ross. I have had the opportunity to listen to the Senator speaking in the broadcast media and read his comments in the print media, and I know he has highlighted such issues over many years...

Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: No. It is just to vote.