Results 12,521-12,540 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (29 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 34. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if consideration is being given to a reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Forces with particular reference to the security needs of the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15432/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Branch Closures (29 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns in many rural communities due to the decision of a bank (details supplied) to close branches in Arva and Cootehill, County Cavan, and Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; if he will raise with the bank the need to review these decisions in view of the serious losses to local towns resulting from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Good Friday Agreement (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 40. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that adequate resources are provided for the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in view of the urgent need to make further progress in the searches for the disappeared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15662/17]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 56. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress on the investigation into the bombing in Belturbet in December 1972; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15663/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 167. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied); if he will ensure that this project will be given urgent consideration with a view to progressing same to construction stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15882/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 185. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to implement changes to the State contributory pension criteria to ensure that persons who had a break in their insurance contribution records while in receipt of farm assist due to periods of low farm income are not deprived of full State contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 191. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if further consideration will be given to the request made to him by a delegation (details supplied) relating to the provision of services by his Department or agencies of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15989/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 243. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if EirGrid has been instructed to cease work on the proposed north-south interconnector following the passing of motions in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann which requested that no further work be carried out on this project until the independent international study would be undertaken; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (30 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 244. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will have further consultation with the community groups he met previously before finalising the terms of reference for the forthcoming study on the proposed north-south interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/17]

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 42. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce further restrictions to the import of fuel products, both fuel for vehicles and household fuel products, from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16394/17]

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, the State is estimated to be losing €300 million per annum because of fuel smuggling across the Border. Numerous legitimate retailers and merchants are very seriously impacted and adversely affected. It is not confined to activities along the Border and I understand that illicit products are now also going to the southern part of our country, making it...

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his answer. Because of time constraints I only referred to household fuel. In the last Dáil I brought forward legislation calling for the establishment of an all-Ireland cross-Border agency to deal with this type of crime and the illicit trade in fuel, tobacco and drugs. Some agreements were reached between the Northern Ireland authorities and our Department...

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is aware that the change he could effect is to change the differential in the VAT rate between Northern Ireland and our State in respect of solid fuels as well as the application of carbon tax which is not applied on products in Northern Ireland. The differential is more than €2,000 on a 20 tonne truck of coal, meaning there is not a level playing field for many of our...

Defence Forces: Motion (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I compliment my party colleague, Deputy Lisa Chambers, on tabling this very important motion. It is a comprehensive motion, and those of us who participate in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, and Deputy Noel Grealish is a member, know Deputy Lisa Chambers has consistently highlighted the issues of concern to the Permanent Defence Force and to us as a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 56. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to implement additional measures to deal with the smuggling of diesel and tobacco products and other illicit trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16395/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Data (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 379. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme at present; his plans to increase participation throughout 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16756/17]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Conventions (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 396. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a firm commitment has been received from the UK Prime Minister, Mrs. May, on Britain's intention to remain in the European Convention of Human Rights in view of the fact that withdrawal from this convention would have implications for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16333/17]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 399. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 25 January 2017, if he has had further discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the British Foreign Secretary on the need for the British Government to respond positively and without further delay to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann to provide access...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Services Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 568. To ask the Minister for Health if funding under the EU INTERREG IVA programme is secure for the work of CAWT in view of the importance of this programme for the delivery of some health services on a cross-Border basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16757/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 599. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding payments for GLAS and AEOS will be issued to persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16519/17]