Results 14,521-14,540 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: White Paper on Defence Update: Discussion (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I am not suggesting otherwise. However, the good knowledge that exists is often written out of the script in all respects and not just in the Department. I thank the Minister of State and the members for their engagement this afternoon. The joint committee stands adjourned until Thursday, 4 April 2019, when we will meet the former Tánaiste, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, to discuss conflict...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I welcome members and viewers who may be watching the proceedings on Oireachtas TV. On 19 December the Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for public services for the following Votes be referred to the select committee for consideration: Vote 27 - International Co-operation; Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade; Vote 35 - Army Pensions; and Vote 36 - Defence. Today the committee...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed presentation. I ask members to pose questions in the format for each programme.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I wish to take up Deputy Jack Chambers' point on subhead A18 and the provision of medical and healthcare support for members of the Defence Forces. There has been an increase of 133%. What is provided for under that subhead? Does that consist of buying in health services from outside the Defence Forces?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. Each of my colleagues mentioned the importance of the Reserve Defence Force and that we would like to see its numbers increase. On a number of occasions over the years I have taken the opportunity at this committee to outline the importance of the Reserve Defence Force. The Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association made a very good presentation to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: The Reserve Defence Force as we would know it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. To be fair, when he was before the committee, the Chief of Staff delivered a strong message to the effect that he wants to see the Reserve Defence Force's membership increased as much as possible.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: It is very important that we retain the local element relating to the Reserve Defence Force. A number of years ago, there were proposals from the Department and the Defence Forces to regionalise the local Reserve Defence Force in my area to Dundalk in order to cover the Cavan-Monaghan-Longford area. I raised the matter in representations to the Minister of State via parliamentary questions....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: We sincerely hope there will not be a no-deal Brexit and that Britain will leave the European Union with an agreement. We hope that we will not need additional security measures in the Border region. I previously outlined the major mistake of closing Dún Uí Néill barracks in County Cavan. That barracks was in a central Border area and was the most modern barracks in Europe....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: On behalf of the select committee, I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending and for dealing with the issues raised by members.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Message to Dáil (5 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with Standing Order 90, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2019: Vote 35 - Army Pensions and Vote 36 - Defence. Under Standing Order 89(2), the message is deemed to be the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister will be aware, this is a big issue in my part of south Ulster and also neighbouring countries. There is a need for a clear message to be sent on what the exact situation will be should Britain leave the European Union without a deal. Thankfully, there are many people who have come back to live in Border counties, be it Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Leitrim and Louth, and...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: I wish to make a very quick comment. I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he clarify the conversion of the British licences? I am not exactly clear on that. He also mentioned that reciprocal arrangements would be put in place. Will the British authorities do that by regulation or will legislation have to be put through Parliament, which is obviously a time consideration? We cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has completed its analysis of the proposal by Cavan and Monaghan ETB to close schools (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is widespread opposition at local level to the ETB proposal; his plans to ensure that the present delivery of second-level school services in the west County Cavan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given a specific commitment of funding to Cavan and Monaghan ETB to develop a new second-level school and close schools (details supplied); if so, when such a decision in respect of funding was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10868/19]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Job Creation Data (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 65. To ask the Taoiseach the number of jobs created in each of the counties in the Border region in 2018. [11250/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (6 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 284. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects approved under category one and category two of the second round of funding under the rural regeneration and development fund were required to have planning permission in place before funding could be approved; the specific applications for which funding was approved in which planning permission was in place; if funding...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 39. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department and the agencies under her remit have ongoing contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland for the protection of business and employment in the Border region, both North and South, due to the uncertainties that have arisen due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11232/19]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Negotiations (7 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 52. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had with the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the economic uncertainty and the difficulties that will arise for business, commerce and employment in the Border region, both North and South, due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11231/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Services Provision (7 Mar 2019)

Brendan Smith: 166. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing concern of parents regarding perceived inadequate services (details supplied); when the necessary resources, both personnel and facilities, will be provided to ensure that a proper level of services will be provided without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11394/19]