Results 11,721-11,740 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: This is my first opportunity in the House to congratulate Deputy Seán Kyne and wish him well on his appointment as Minister of State. As my party colleagues have stated, we broadly support the Energy Bill 2016 which mainly involves amendments to existing energy Acts and strengthens secondary legislation, which is very important. One issue of concern to us and consumers throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 316. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will formally recognise the actions of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq against the Yazidi people as genocide, given the United Nations report citing these actions as such; his proposals to encourage the international community to recognise the genocide and to request the United Nations Security Council to refer this ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Contracts (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 362. To ask the Minister for Health his proposals to ensure that adequate resources are provided to continue the present level of services for the centre of excellence for sarcoma in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; if he is aware of the concerns of the Sarcoma Action Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18581/16]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 534. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she or the statutory agencies under the remit of her Department have had or propose to hold with the senior management in a company (details supplied) or with representatives of employees, given the recent announcement of redundancies in that company, to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to employees...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 535. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had with senior management or representatives of employees in a company (details supplied), in view of the recent announcement of redundancies, to ensure that appropriate supports are provided without delay for employees who may lose their jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18517/16]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (28 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 552. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had or proposes to have with the senior management of a company (details supplied) on the need for this company to retain the maximum level of employment in County Cavan in view of its recent announcement regarding redundancies; if the statutory agencies under the remit of her Department have offered...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, is here with us. This is the first opportunity I have had in the Chamber to congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well on his work. I worked closely with him in the previous Dáil as a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. I have to say he was an exemplary Chairman of the committee over a five-year period....

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Will he and his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, maintain contact with the statutory agencies under the Department's remit to ensure they maintain contact with the employees who will be affected and that all possible support is given to those people when they seek upskilling, retraining and alternative employment. I must...

Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Before the debate was adjourned yesterday, I was expressing my total opposition to the proposed North-South interconnector. I want to refer to a meeting of the all-party transport and communications committee held last April in which I participated, with others in the constituency. At the meeting the chief executive of EirGrid confirmed that it was technically feasible to place underground...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 11. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether setting up funding models in conjunction with various private equity funds is the most efficient way to provide social and affordable housing to deal with the current crisis. [18460/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Policy (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 16. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the legislative changes he plans to implement to provide for the much needed massive increase in social and affordable housing in order to deal with the current housing crisis. [18461/16]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the working of the European Court of Human Rights and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement arising from the British decision to leave the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18765/16]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Issues (29 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 239. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the implications for the implementation of Irish defence policy following the British decision to leave the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18767/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Farm Assist Scheme (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when he will review the farm assist scheme as promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18711/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Farm Assist Scheme (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 19. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that changes to the farm assist scheme introduced in budgets 2012 and 2013 have had a very negative effect on many low-income farmers; if he will reverse these measures at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Farm Assist Scheme (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the review committed to by the Minister. In case it takes a long time, however, a good initial step would be to reverse the decisions made in budgets 2012 and 2013 to abolish the disregards. I ask the Minister to implement that with immediate effect. The farming community across all sectors of farming, be it dairy, beef, poultry, pigmeat or whatever, are facing a very serious...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Farm Assist Scheme (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I endorse the comments of my colleague, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, on the rural social scheme. If there were more places on it, it would be of great benefit to many individuals and communities because excellent work is carried out on the scheme and Tús also. These are areas where devoting a small amount of additional resources would enable so many more people to participate on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Farm Assist Scheme (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: She was a member of the Labour Party.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 65. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of schemes to assist local authorities in providing closed circuit television for areas where there is anti-social behaviour and incidences of crime on a constant basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18995/16]

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Business of Select Committee (30 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Apologies have been received from Deputy Noel Grealish, Deputy Seán Crowe, Deputy Darragh O'Brien and Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. I propose that we go into private session to consider arrangements and the format for today's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.