Results 15,561-15,580 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: Thankfully.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 46. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if further urgent consideration will be given to the detailed requests of the events and entertainment industry for adequate financial support for the sector in view of the very severe and ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector and the loss of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27423/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (1 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 287. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the need for additional investment in mental health services in budget 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27840/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 33. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it will be ensured that substantial financial provision is made for the voids programme in 2021 due to the valuable and important work being undertaken under the programme in 2020 and the need to make further progress in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28448/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: It is disheartening to see council housing stock that is vacant, boarded up or both, when many people remain on our local authority housing lists. I compliment the Minister on making two substantial financial allocations to our local authorities for this year's voids programme. Those allocations will make a real difference in the two local authorities in the constituency I represent,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. This was the first issue about which I spoke to the Minister when he was appointed. I and Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavan and Monaghan are constantly in touch with the housing divisions in both of our councils. We are working with council officials to ensure that we get maximum turnaround. Each of us in this House and everybody in society wants...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. I work closely with all of the councillors in counties Cavan and Monaghan, my Oireachtas colleagues and the officials in the housing divisions in both councils. I know they value the two allocations that were made in the latter half of this year. They have a substantial programme of work for next year once the funding is made available. It is both good value and is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: I wholeheartedly endorse every comment my colleague, Deputy Ó Cuív, has made. I recently wrote to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about two cases. I was involved, as a public representative, in getting two pensioners a council house almost 30 years ago. They provided a site. Neither applicant ever had the State spend one bob on the house since it was built by the council...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tenant Purchase Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: If I may make one point, please. The Minister of State seemed to cast some doubt in suggesting we need to watch out for a person with cash to buy a house. I was talking about the case of honourable persons who, through hard work and support from other individual family members, are in a position to buy out their house. There would be no question mark over the authenticity, provenance or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 65. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be finalised; if it will be ensured that limits for areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will be improved as a matter of urgency due to the unrealistic limits applicable at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28447/20]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had discussions during his recent visit to the United States on the difficulties facing the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/20]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974 and the need for a full investigation with access to UK files and papers pertaining to the atrocities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28449/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will give consideration to the recommendations in the report prepared for an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the need to provide an annual public service obligation for the post office network of €17 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28671/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 493. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that will be provided to assist persons that have to take time off work to self-isolate in cases in which a family member living in the same household awaits a Covid-19 test result; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that at present some persons have to take annual leave or may receive no income in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Jobseeker's Benefit (6 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 528. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 547 of 22 September 2020, if this jobseeker’s benefit application will be approved with effect from 30 March 2020, in view of the fact the application meets the criteria of the scheme for payment from that date; if this application will be finalised without further delay; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider the issues raised by a local authority (details supplied) on infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29216/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: 8. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proposed enlistment number for the Reserve Defence Force for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29128/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: It is essential that Ireland has the maximum possible enlistment in the Reserve Defence Force. I fully appreciate that recruitment during a pandemic is not straightforward. The Minister has heard me say previously in this House and at committees that the role of the Reserve Defence Force, and prior to that the Forsa Cosanta Áitúil, FCA, has never been given due recognition. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. It is essential that the recruitment numbers are more substantial than the number of retirements. I understand there has been a substantial number of retirements in recent years. Naturally, this will occur again. I advocated at previous committees that a more aggressive recruitment campaign is needed and perhaps a focus on second-level schools, colleges of further...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Brendan Smith: When the Minister establishes the commission and appoints members, I hope that a person with detailed knowledge and association with the Reserve Defence Force over the years will be considered for membership of the commission. Often the Reserve is not given the attention it needs. I fully agree and fully understand that we must be guided by the health and safety guidelines. That is...