Results 1-20 of 789 for speaker:Duncan Smith in 'Dáil debates'

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (26 Mar 2020)

Duncan Smith: This is my first contribution and I thank the people of Dublin-Fingal for placing their faith in me as one of their five representatives in the Dáil. It is an honour beyond words, and I will do my utmost to repay the faith they have placed in me. Since polling day more than seven weeks ago, the clutch of new Deputies, or even the more experience Deputies, could not have imagined what...

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2020)

Duncan Smith: I spoke this morning about our concerns, which are held throughout the House, about personal protective equipment. Following on from Deputy Ossian Smyth's contribution, I want to focus on the dental profession for a moment. There is great concern among those in the profession. They believe they are still getting conflicting advice that is putting them in danger. The view coming from...

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2020)

Duncan Smith: The Labour Party welcomes the Bill’s elements concerning the moratorium on rent increases and tenancy terminations. It is common sense and will provide some comfort to people in vulnerable housing and tenancy situations in this scary time. It must be said, however, that we cannot have a scenario where landlords who have been given a break on their mortgage payments by the banks do...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2020)

Duncan Smith: The business today shall be as set out in the third revised Report of the Business Committee dated 30 April 2020. In relation to today's business, it is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the only business to be taken shall be the business as set out in the third revised Report of the Business Committee, with no Questions on Promised Legislation; between each item of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Duncan Smith: I wish to pass on my sincere condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones to Covid-19 since the House last met a week ago. The crisis continues and the sadness mounts as we continue to battle against this appalling virus. To reiterate, the Minister has our support in leading that fight, as do the CEO of the HSE, the CMO and all the workers on the front line and in support...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Duncan Smith: I hope there will be time at the end for the Minister to answer some questions. If not, I would appreciate it if I could receive some answers by means of correspondence. I first recognise the resilience and commitment of all the workers and producers in the agriculture sector in keeping our supermarket shelves stocked at this very difficult time. It is an industry vulnerable every year to...

European Council Meeting: Statements (6 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: Once again, the EU is faced with a major crisis. This crisis has the potential to make or break the Union. The test this time is whether the EU can demonstrate solidarity among its member states based on shared democratic values or just wants to be a marketplace. One of the reasons the UK was never fully integrated into the EU was it only wanted a single market and not a political...

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (6 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I would appreciate if the Minister of State might respond to me in writing with any replies that he does not have time to give here. It is great that we have an opportunity to discuss tourism. All of us in the House share an immense sense of pride in our country as a beautiful, welcoming and varied tourism destination. As we observe the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is...

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (6 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I appreciate that.

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: On a point of order-----

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I am sorry, Deputy. It was agreed at the Business Committee that we would focus on the arts here. We have four minutes only. The second speaker, with all due respect to the Deputy, raises some serious matters but it is not what we agreed. The second speaker in has spent four minutes talking about something totally separate. We probably have thousands of artists tuning in tonight who will...

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I have issues that I would like to raise which I will not be raising with the Minister because of that.

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: My apologies.

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I acknowledge and thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for pushing for this debate at the Business Committee and for the focus to be on the arts, which is vitally important. I cannot sing, dance or act and I could not draw a straight line with a ruler but I am lucky to have people in my family who are involved in the arts and make their primary living from being singers in bands, sound engineers, music...

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (21 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: Kind of, yes. I am certainly a nature lover. I am a committed angler and like other Deputies and many people throughout the country I have seen a silver lining in this pandemic by enjoying nature and in being allowed to enjoy nature more than we usually are. I shall front load my contribution with some questions and I would appreciate a written response from the Minister to anything she...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Ministers for attending this evening.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Duncan Smith: I am going to speak, ask some questions and leave some time for the Ministers to answer. I start by echoing our support for the call SIPTU has made for a taskforce for the farm to fork process for the meat industry. We believe the return to work protocol document is strong. We have major concerns, however, about how it is going to be implemented across several sectors, one being the meat...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Minister for facilitating this important debate tonight and for his opening statement. I listened to it and I read it and it gave me a sense that the gravity of the situation affecting the aviation sector is not lost on the Minister. I welcome the setting up of a task force. It is a welcome and much-needed move. Will the Minister commit to the House tonight that the trade...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I welcome that assurance and I am sure the trade union movement and the workers will as well. Regarding connectivity, will the Minister give any commitment tonight to act, even to write a letter to the CEOs of the airport groups and the companies, to ensure that important routes such as Knock to Gatwick and Cork to Heathrow and the transatlantic routes involving Shannon, to name but a...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I ask also that the Minister write to senior management in the two major airlines, for two separate reasons. The way in which Aer Lingus communicates with its staff and their unions has been very poor. The method of rather dour, foreboding video messages to staff - I am not sure whether the Minister has seen them - has just added to the overall sense of uncertainty, unease and despair in...