Results 13,921-13,940 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Business of Joint Committee (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan, and I thank her, all the members and, very important, our support staff for their contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: Under schedule A, it is proposed that these proposals do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed. Under schedule B, it is proposed that COM (2018) 204, COM (2018) 205, COM (2018) 207, COM (2018) 249, COM (2018) 258, COM (2018) 333 and COM (2018) 362 do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: We welcome Mr. Sam Taylor, director of Doctors Without Borders-Médecins Sans Frontières in Ireland and Ms Hassiba Hadj-Sahraoui, humanitarian affairs adviser on migration, who joins us from Geneva, to discuss search and rescue in the Mediterranean and the migration crisis in general. As the number of migrants continues to increase and with the recent proposals made at the European...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Hadj-Sahraoui. Her contribution and that of Mr. Taylor depict a very frightening and depressing picture of what is happening to people. We have heard outlines from the colleagues of the witnesses and from other NGOs about the terrible situation in so many crises throughout the world in recent years but I have never previously heard the phrase used by Mr. Taylor. He stated, "We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: Senator Higgins has some questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: Will Mr. Taylor forward a note to the committee on Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's question on Yemen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: I accept the cogent points made in regard to the deficiencies of the different programmes in Operation Sofia. We are told that through the work of Operation Sofia, boats were removed from the criminal organisations involved in smuggling and trafficking people. Do the witnesses accept as a positive element of the work of Operation Sofia the removal of vessels from criminals who were in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: The information we were given shows that 545 boats belonging to criminal organisations were destroyed. I assume that doing away with their means for evil activity is positive to some extent. Ms Hadj Sahraoui said that the NGOs are involved in work of a similar type to that of the naval services of different countries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Search and Rescue Missions in Mediterranean and Migration Crisis: Médecins Sans Frontières (5 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: Ireland has considerably increased its funding to the trust fund. I thank the witnesses for their attendance. This is the third time we have invited Médecins sans Frontières, MSF, to appear before the committee. In previous discussions with Mr. Taylor we indicated our appreciation for people who are working in very difficult circumstances, in particular the Irish doctors and...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy had better tell the House that he has no interest in it.

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 75. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to introduce additional support measures for small and medium enterprises in the sectors in the Border region that will be most adversely impacted on by Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30640/18]

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is fully aware, the economy of Cavan-Monaghan is very heavily dependent on the agrifood, engineering and construction products sectors. In turn, these sectors are very heavily dependent on exports to Northern Ireland and the British market. They are experiencing huge uncertainty because of Brexit and very anxious that all possible assistance will be provided to ensure...

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her reply. I have referred on a number of occasions to the importance we attach to a good economy in our neighbouring counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh. I welcome the fact that the Minister referred to this cross-Border interdependence earlier. I mentioned the three sectors upon which our local economy in Cavan-Monaghan is heavily dependent. The economy in...

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: I welcome that engagement. It is very important because so many of our companies have sister companies north of the Border. Thankfully, since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, there has been a huge development of business on an all-Ireland basis. We want that to continue. Have the Department or the relevant agencies carried out studies on the impact of Brexit on a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 87. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an analysis on a regional basis has been undertaken of the sectors that will be most adversely impacted by Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30641/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Work Permits Eligibility (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 618. To ask the Minister for Health the outcome of discussions held with the nursing home sector regarding difficulties in recruiting staff and possible changes to employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30681/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (10 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 809. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided towards the implementation of essential safety measures at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30680/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Enforcement Activity (11 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce new measures on a cross-Border basis to counteract illicit trade; if there are ongoing discussions with the authorities in Northern Ireland to address cross-Border smuggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30915/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Enforcement Activity (11 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 106. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce additional measures to counteract smuggling and illicit trade in products such as fuel and tobacco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30914/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (11 Jul 2018)

Brendan Smith: 299. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to remove care assistants from the ineligible list for work permit applications; if such changes will be introduced on a temporary controlled basis for two years and to be reviewed subsequently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31524/18]