Results 16,421-16,440 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (17 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (17 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Tully. Offensive comments by groups or individuals are not acceptable in any form. Unfortunately, there is too much of this type of behaviour in life today. It causes much grief for individuals and families and it is a difficulty for society at present, with individuals and groups posting comments, unfounded in many instances, about people. It is not to be tolerated, in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (17 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms McNamee. Anyone listening to her or Ms McGlone would be very clear that they are very complimentary of the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement. Ms McNamee said it was a fabulous and massive achievement. All of us around this table would agree with that and we compliment those who made it possible. It is up to all of us to ensure it is implemented in full. I have often...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Funding (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: 58. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress to date at EU level in introducing new tourism-specific funding supports for member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10504/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: 64. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional resources will be provided for the marketing of Hidden Heartlands in view of the recent reconfiguration of tourism regions and the particular challenges facing part of that region due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10503/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: 110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the up-to-date position concerning the review commissioned by his Department in respect of the proposed North-South interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10462/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: 132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the present position regarding the roll-out of the national broadband plan in respect of counties Cavan and Monaghan; the further progress that is expected in this roll-out during 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10463/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (17 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: The order of speakers' contributions for different political parties and groupings is Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, SDLP, MPs and Alliance MPs, Green Party, Sinn Féin MPs, Labour Party and then Independents and Aontú. I understand Senator Blaney indicated. Is he here? He is not here. Does Deputy Tully need to get away?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: Senator Blaney has other commitments and I believe Senator McGreehan will be joining us. I apologise that I missed the start of the contributions by Mr. Holder and Ms Boyd, because I was at another meeting. I very much welcome their contributions. The opening statements and the responses to questions from colleagues have been very enlightening. This again goes back to the many times that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: That is grand, a Chathaoirligh. I concur with you in regard to hearing from the Department of Justice officials. What Mr. Holder and Ms Boyd have outlined is very concerning from all points of view. We live in the communities where these people, thankfully, go about freely North and South in their everyday business. My understanding is that the UK's Nationality and Borders Bill is due...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: Does the Committee on the Administration of Justice have regular engagement at political or official level with our Department of Foreign Affairs, our Department of Justice or any other statutory agency here in regard to these issues and what the committee is hearing from people who are affected by these measures being implemented? Is there any forum where all stakeholders meet, discuss...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Brendan Smith: Not at the moment. That is fine.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (2 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: 195. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the need to improve services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11899/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give further consideration to the introduction of specific funding on an annual basis to local authorities for the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12061/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister knows, up until 2012 the local improvement scheme had a substantial and specific funding stream. Unfortunately, that ceased at that time. As we know the local improvement scheme provides for the upgrading of more minor local roads which are particularly important for rural communities. At present, most counties have a significant backlog of such roads in need of urgent...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. The reply prepared by the Department is somewhat inaccurate in that the backlog does not go back to 2008; it began in 2012. The Minister and I were members of a Government that, until 2011, provided very substantial funding for the local improvement scheme. I agree that we need huge investment in our regional and local network. When the Minister met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the funding that has been provided through the Department of Rural and Community Development. In the past, as the Minister will recall, when the Department of Rural and Community Development had a CLÁR programme, it used to involve a top-up to the line Department's funding. The people I am talking about live down small local roads where no public transport goes but they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: Will the Minister give me a commitment that he and his Department colleagues will carry out an analysis of the capital spend throughout the year? If there is a slowness in drawing down some of the capital funding under any given heading, will he give due consideration to providing funding that is not drawn down by other sections to the roads section specifically for the local improvement scheme?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: There was a horrific and despicable assault on a young member of An Garda Síochána, Padraig Scott, early last Monday morning near Blacklion which has shocked the local community. This was a serious and concerning attack involving the use of an accelerant and possibly a gun. Physical injuries were inflicted on this young garda. Sadly, there has been an increase in the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (3 Mar 2022)

Brendan Smith: 78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the issues outlined by a representative organisation in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12064/22]