Results 13,621-13,640 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: Apologies have been received from Senator McFadden. In part one of today's meeting we will meet Ms Sofia Katsarava, chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee and chairperson of the Ireland-Georgia friendship group. She is joined by: Mr. Sergi Kapanadze, deputy chairman of the Parliament of Georgia; Mr. Giorgi Kakhiani, chairman of procedural issues and rules committee; Mr. George...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Katsarava for her comprehensive and clear outline of the relationship between our two countries and the potential for further development of trade and other links. With her colleagues, she is very welcome to mark the celebration of the centenary. In 2017 two delegations visited Georgia. The Cathaoirleach of the Upper House, the Seanad, led a parliamentary delegation, while...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: Ms Katsarava and her colleagues can answers those questions. I will then go back to members for further interventions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I invite Senator Ivana Bacik and then Deputies Seán Barrett and Pat Buckley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: We have run into time constraints. After Deputy Buckley contributes, I will ask Ms Katsarava to wrap up. We are into injury time, unfortunately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Buckley referred to Ireland and Georgia in international soccer competition. The witnesses will be aware that Ireland recently completed a very successful rugby season and won the Triple Crown, Six Nations and Grand Slam by defeating much larger countries, albeit ones without the abilities of our players. I am aware that the Irish Rugby Football Union has a very close working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Parliament of Georgia Foreign Relations Committee (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: We will, of course, be glad to intensify political co-operation. The Georgian delegation visited in the early part of 2018 while two parliamentary delegations visited Georgia in 2017. This demonstrates the interest in intensifying relations and building up trade opportunities on the part of both countries. We wish Georgia well in its continuing preparation to become a candidate for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: In part 2 of today's meeting, we will meet with Mr. David Turner of Church in Chains to discuss its recent paper entitled, "OFFICIAL INDIA: ON THE SIDE OF THE MILITANTS", which was prepared for this committee and addresses the persecution of Christians in India. Mr. Turner is very welcome to today's meeting and we look forward to his presentation. The format of the meeting involves us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: The briefing that we were given from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade indicated 2.3%, or the equivalent of 29 million, which I assume is based on the official figures published by the Indian authorities. I invite Ms Coulter to make a short contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Coulter. We will now take some questions before returning to the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I will ask Mr. Turner to respond at this point, following which I will allow more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: Thank you. I call Deputy Barrett.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: We will, as a committee, invite the Indian ambassador to attend a meeting. All we can do is invite her and we hope that she will agree to attend. Some time ago I sought replies to my parliamentary questions from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He indicated that Ireland would raise at the UN the right of people to freely practise their religious beliefs, particularly at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Coulter, Pastor George and Mr. Turner for their presentations today. We will follow up on the actions we promised and we will refer back to them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report on Persecution of Christians in India: Church in Chains (29 Mar 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Coulter.

Fodder Shortage: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2018)

Brendan Smith: I agree wholeheartedly with the different proposals put forward by my colleagues. We discussed the fodder shortage as one of the last items of business on Holy Thursday evening and we all hoped at that stage that at least the weather would improve. Travelling through my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan last night, there was torrential rain, once again putting back the possibility of...

Fodder Shortage: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2018)

Brendan Smith: We should have name tags in future.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (17 Apr 2018)

Brendan Smith: 582. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda recruits assigned to each Garda station in counties Cavan and Monaghan from 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16569/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cyber Security Policy (17 Apr 2018)

Brendan Smith: 128. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are proposals to participate in a cyber security project at EU level under PESCO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (17 Apr 2018)

Brendan Smith: 281. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce tax relief on membership subscriptions to trade unions as applies to costs for membership or subscriptions to professional bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16817/18]