Results 181-200 of 3,819 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the working of the shared island unit in his Department. [20374/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the success of the shared island initiative to date. I welcome the funding for a project in my constituency, namely the Ulster Canal, which will bring economic benefits to many counties in Ulster. As the Taoiseach may recall from his days at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have continually raised the value of developing enterprise centres and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Good Friday Agreement (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the Queen's University Belfast conference to mark 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement. [19259/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Good Friday Agreement (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Taoiseach for his answer and his contribution at the conference. I was privileged to be present for most of the conference, which was excellent. It was inspiring to listen to those people who brought peace to our island by reaching the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. I was struck by many of the comments, particularly the contribution of former Senator George Mitchell. Two or...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Tánaiste is aware, there is a shortage of bus drivers and drivers for heavy goods vehicles. This impacts on the operation of school transport services at times. Bus Éireann will not employ qualified drivers aged 70 or over. In instances where a school bus driver is off sick, Bus Éireann finds it extremely difficult to recruit a temporary replacement. There is no...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy has got in twice.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 83. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in view of the inadequacy of the review of the proposed North-South interconnector carried out in 2018, given that it did not take into account the concerns of householders, farmers and communities in relation to a number of aspects of this proposed project, if he will ensure that the concerns of local communities will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is well aware, there is outright opposition in communities in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath to the proposal to put overground the transmission cables for the proposed North-South interconnector. Over the years the Minister has heard me state that if the project is to go ahead those transmission cables should be put underground. The communities affected and the landowners have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I vehemently disagree with him that the views of communities, farmers and households have been taken into account in preparation for this project. This has not been the case. As the Minister knows better than I do, since this project was first initiated 16 years ago there have been great advances in technology which have enabled more undergrounding of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: In every engagement I have with individuals living in our counties, on a person-to-person basis or at public meetings, they all state they fully understand this is critical infrastructure. They say they are not against the project but they are against the project going ahead in the form of having overground transmission cables. In other countries in Europe, similar projects can be put...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Taoiseach referred to the threat from republican paramilitaries as being an ongoing priority of the Government. Those thugs and criminals masquerading as republicans or loyalists do threaten security, in particular in the Border region. In that context, in all discussions that the Government has with the Garda Commissioner, it must be emphasised time and again that adequate resources...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the current situation in regard to the development of a national security strategy. [19256/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the United States. [15168/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I also welcome President Biden's successful visit and it was great to see the international media coverage throughout the three days. I am glad that the Taoiseach outlined in his reply that he raised immigration reform with President Biden and in other fora when he was in the United States. It is extremely important that this issue is kept on the agenda in regard to the undocumented...

Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces: Statements (30 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: Like others who have spoken on this very important issue, I take no pleasure in participating in today’s statements. While we rightly congratulate An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence on both the speedy publication of the report of the independent review group into the Defence Forces and his commitment to implementing a comprehensive programme of immediate actions to address the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (28 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: It is a very important question. I came across a few cases in which people who were on prepay systems found it hard to get the household energy credit from the relevant provider. I saw a reply to a parliamentary question from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in which he said that if people did not get their energy credit, they should go to the Department for an additional needs payment....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (28 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: 85. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date on introducing a total contributions approach, aligning a person’s contributory pension more closely with the contributions they make; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15139/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (28 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: The programme for Government 2020 commits to the introduction of a total contributions approach aligning a person's contributory pension more closely with the contributions they make. This will include a provision for credit contributions, ensuring that people who take time off work to care for loved ones are not disadvantaged. Will the Minister outline to the House the progress to date in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (28 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the progress the Minister outlined. We all remember that back in 2012, there were some changes at that time to the method of calculation which caused many difficulties for people who had worked for more than ten years full-time but had insurance contributions going back many years. I came across one case of a person who came to Dublin and worked in a pub for two weeks at 17 or 18,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pensions Reform (28 Mar 2023)

Brendan Smith: It is very important that people who were at home caring or who had to leave the workforce get the relevant credits. This is a separate question. It was an issue that arose some years ago and I raised it with one of the Minister's predecessors. Farmers who had been on farm assist might have had a good year, gone off farm assist and through the fault of the Department, Revenue and their...