Results 10,281-10,300 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: My understanding is that the immigrant-rich cities are very much in favour of the legislation, whereas the parts of the United States that have had little immigration over the years are where the greatest opposition is articulated. It is very important for the families and individuals who contact us from the United States and their representative organisations that we continue to give them a...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider re-opening the Irish embassy in Iran; if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form by year of the savings made by the decision to close the Iranian embassy; if he still supports EU sanctions against Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/14]

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: When the Tánaiste announced the opening of some consulates in January, there was an expectation that the embassy in Tehran would be re-opened. It is an important trading partner. I think the trade is worth €51.5 million on an annual basis. I know that on a successful visit by some members of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to Iran, they got a very clear...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I hope resolution of the nuclear issue can be advanced in the context of the Vienna talks. I am sure the new Iranian ambassador to this country has spoken to all political parties. He is very anxious that we move on and give added impetus to the diplomatic and the trade relations between both countries. I understand the Ceann Comhairle has an...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: From High Representative Ashton's presentations to the Foreign Affairs Council, is there any belief that conditions are improving in Iran and that it is making the effort to enable the European Union to reduce sanctions and to improve the trading relationship between both blocs and obviously deal with other issues as well as trade?

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the EU’s engagement in the Iraqi crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28223/14]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: Yesterday marked another very difficult day in Iraq when Sunnis and Kurds walked out of the first session of the Iraqi Parliament, which impeded the formation of a new government. I understand that following a recess there were not enough lawmakers present in the parliament to form a quorum and there has been charge and counter-charge. Is it likely that High Representative Ashton, on behalf...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome also the announcement in recent days by the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, of humanitarian assistance, which is badly needed. I hope the European Union can provide additional assistance, as well as the Government. It is frightening that the United Nations announced that June had been the deadliest month in Iraq for many years....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions, if any, he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State or with members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement which need to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28227/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Egyptian Conflict (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 19. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contact he has had with the Egyptian authorities to protest at the seven-year jail terms handed down in the case of the three Al-Jazeera journalists recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28225/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council regarding the conflict and humanitarian disaster in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28226/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 113. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns in an area (details supplied) in County Cavan regarding the poor quality of broadband telecommunications service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28639/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 181. To ask the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card is treated as an urgent application if the person is having palliative care and the relevant medical evidence is submitted with the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28697/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Relations Between Ireland and Great Britain: Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I compliment Ambassador Mulhall on his presentation today and his work over the years in different postings. Most of us will recall that the former President, Mary McAleese, had as the theme of her first presidential campaign the notion of building bridges. While we understood that as being about North-South co-operation, we were all delighted to see it being expanded to include the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Relations Between Ireland and Great Britain: Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: The role of the GAA in Britain is very important for our young emigrants. We have spoken about the societies that do excellent work for older age cohorts, which is important, and reference was made to facilitating people who wish to return to Ireland. In my county of Cavan we did work some years ago making housing available for people who wished to relocate. It is not straightforward and...

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training Boards (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to raise this important matter on Topical Issues. As the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, will know, the Cavan and Monaghan education and training board has submitted a detailed proposal to the Department of Education and Skills in respect of the delivery of training in Cavan and Monaghan from 2015 onwards. The Dundalk training...

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training Boards (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I sincerely hope that the proposal from Cavan and Monaghan ETB will indeed be considered in detail and subsequently approved. It will not be acceptable to anybody in Cavan-Monaghan if we do not have our own training remit. We are fortunate that in the past two decades we have built up a very good further education structure in the area. For...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if humanitarian assistance will be provided to persons in need in Iraq in view of the very difficult circumstances that have arisen due to the security situation in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if further humanitarian aid will be provided for Syria and that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28819/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the long-standing policy of neutrality remains a central element of foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/14]