Results 3,221-3,240 of 18,314 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: A query that came to us via the Committee on Public Petitions is whether there are plans to increase the upper age limit for recruitment of officer cadets, Naval Service recruits and apprentices? When we compare the age limits for An Garda Síochána and members of the defence forces in Britain and the US, they are higher than ours. Is this being considered?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: Perfect.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: We are very short of time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: Please.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: There were questions from Deputies O'Loughlin and Mitchell.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: Deputy Mitchell had several questions. We are over time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: The Minister of State has three minutes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: How much went unspent in 2018?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: We will deal with this in the select committee meeting in a few minutes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: Each year the Minister of State has come before the committee with a Supplementary Estimate to move money to pay for pensions.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: Therefore, the figures for the beginning of the year are not reflected at the end of the year. In reality, then, the Department's projected expenditure in respect of pensions has been wrong each year. Is that not why we meet in December each year, to move money?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: The way in which this has been presented is incorrect.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: The Minister of State has a fair idea.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: He sure does.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: There is a pattern each year.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: As Deputy O'Loughlin said, the figures are based on replies to parliamentary questions.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces: Discussion with Minister of State (28 Nov 2019)
Brendan Smith: We will deal with this at the next meeting, which will commence in a few minutes. The Minister of State has officials taking notes. There were a number of questions he did not get to because of the time constraints. We would like written answers to those to be ready for the next joint committee meeting on Tuesday, 17 December. A number of issues were not replied to. The reason for the...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Supplementary Estimates for the Public Services 2019
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (28 Nov 2019) Brendan Smith: Apologies have been received from Deputies Crowe and Maureen O'Sullivan. All mobile telephones should be switched off as they cause interference, even if on silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. Today's meeting has been convened to consider the request for a Supplementary Estimate for Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. It was referred to the select committee...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Supplementary Estimates for the Public Services 2019
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (28 Nov 2019) Brendan Smith: Like Deputies Niall Collins and McLoughlin, I compliment the officials in the Passport Office. Throughout the year, Deputies and their offices persecute the Passport Service regarding various passport applications. I also compliment the officials in the office of an Tánaiste on the ongoing help they provide to Deputies in dealing with such cases. I get many representations regarding...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Supplementary Estimates for the Public Services 2019
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (28 Nov 2019) Brendan Smith: I wonder whether those votes will add up. Of course, I am glad to help all those who contact me. I have received a remarkable number of queries in recent years regarding passport applications by constituents' relatives in Northern Ireland as, I am sure, has Deputy McLoughlin. The Minister of State referred to additional public information campaigns. I ask that the Passport Office and...