Results 16,001-16,020 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Consultations (1 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in finalising the consultation process in relation to the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35307/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (1 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the Total Contributions Approach 2012 review for those effected by the 2012 rate band changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35334/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (1 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of measures to address anomalies in the homemaker’s scheme for those who provided the majority of their caring prior to 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35333/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (1 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the pass rate at each NCT test centre for the most recent annual report; the reason for the variation in pass rates between centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35702/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (6 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 135. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if urgent consideration will be given to concerns in relation to delays in persons being issued with their first learner permit due to unacceptable delays in processing applications due to technical issues on the NDLS site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35767/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way (6 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 462. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration is being given to the recent submission by an organisation (details supplied) requesting a deferral of the deadline of December 2021 in relation to rights of way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36484/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (7 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 11. To ask the Taoiseach the outcome of discussions at the recent European Council concerning EU relations with Russia. [34647/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (7 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Taoiseach the outcome of discussions at the recent European Council regarding the Northern Ireland protocol. [34648/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (7 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is important that at every European Council the EU make it clear to the Russian leadership the need for it to demonstrate a clear political commitment to stop actions against the EU and its member states and, importantly, against third countries east of the European Union. We need full implementation of the Minsk agreements. It is important the EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 8. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be implemented to intensify co-operation on a North-South basis in the areas of further education and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36830/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: As we know, the Good Friday Agreement established a number of all-Ireland implementation bodies, including the promotion of tourism on an all-Ireland basis and the management of rail and waterways. At that time, a number of areas were identified for further collaboration and co-operation on an all-Ireland basis, including education. Unfortunately, that has not been give the priority in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his positive response and for his determination to make progress in this area. I represent a constituency where, fortunately, there are two good colleges of further education, in Cavan and Monaghan. The Minister may recall that at our virtual meeting at Cavan Institute, we spoke again about the potential for co-operation. In our neighbouring counties, there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: I acknowledge that my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, is working on apprenticeships and I welcome that. I welcome also the Minister's commitment in regard to Magee College and the great co-operation between Letterkenny Institute and Magee College. Having listened to the director of the former and the president of the latter, the level of co-operation taking place in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 89. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposals there are for further co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland on the need to implement effective measures to deal with the scourge of illicit drugs on this island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36818/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: The prevalence of drugs in our society is causing havoc and devastation for individuals, families and communities. Unfortunately, this destruction is happening in every community, urban and rural, and is not confined to any particular age cohort. I am aware that drugs are travelling North-South and South-North. That supply chain needs to be smashed. We need to cut off the supply and deal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her reply. I welcome the actions that are being taken. I know about cross-Border co-operation at a local level in my own constituency. The Minister referred to the task force. Prior to that task force being established, I proposed legislation in the Dáil some years ago, which went to committee level, regarding the establishment of a cross-Border crime agency,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: As we are aware, paramilitary groups are still involved in drug dealing. I understand from some media reports that drugs are travelling from Dublin to east Belfast and drugs are coming from the North into our jurisdiction. Drug trafficking is not what it was ten years ago. The continuing development of new drug trafficking networks causes havoc and destruction and destroys the lives of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Irish Central Border Area Network (22 Jun 2021)

Brendan Smith: I will share time with Senator Erin McGreehan. Senator Niall Blaney is in the Seanad but hopes to join us later. I welcome Mr. McNeill and Mr. Campbell. I also welcome their presentation, which gave a positive outline of the potential of our region. I am glad that I suggested, when this committee was first formed in this Dáil, that we meet with different cross-Border partnerships...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals there are to develop opportunities for additional North/South co-operation in the provision of further education and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36831/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (8 Jul 2021)

Brendan Smith: 124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if additional measures will be implemented on a cross-Border basis to deal with the illicit trade in illegal drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36819/21]