Results 3,761-3,780 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Projects (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, successive PEACE and INTERREG programmes have been very important for regional development Border counties, North and South. Community groups and statutory agencies have been able to bring projects that would not otherwise have been funded by the State to completion. I am very anxious, as are communities on both sides of the Border, to hear a clear message from the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cross-Border Projects (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response and I welcome the fact that the European Commission is committed to a post-2020 programme. My questions asked the Minister if there is ongoing contact with the authorities in Northern Ireland and with his counterpart in Britain on the commitment of the British Government and the authorities in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, the Minster does not have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Apologies have been received from Deputies Breathnach and Sherlock; Senators Black, Feighan and Ned O'Sullivan; and Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP. Today, we will resume our discussion on legacy issues and we will hear from Dr. Thomas Leahy from Cardiff University and Ms Margaret Urwin from Justice from the Forgotten. Their presentations will be in public session. First, we will go into private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off completely or, depending on the device used, switched to airplane, safe or flight mode. It is not sufficient for members to leave them in silent mode as that would maintain a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank Dr. Leahy very much for his interesting submission and presentation. I call on Ms Unwin to make her presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Urwin for a very interesting and powerful contribution. I call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Does Ms Urwin wish to come in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Thank you very much, Dr. Leahy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: During his research, did Dr. Leahy conduct interviews with British Government officials or Ministers, past or present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Was that in general or on specific incidents?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Dr. Leahy spoke about the opportunity the committee might have to raise these issues with counterparts in the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies as well as Westminster. We have done that consistently through the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Some members of this committee are also members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which comprises Members from the Oireachtas, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: No. The Minister answer questions in the format. We get a fudge all the time - that is my only recollection of Mr. Brokenshire. I met Ms Karen Bradley separately from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly but previous British secretaries of State always gave us a fudge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: Some members take a keen interest and are supportive. I could not say it is a majority. I do not want to misrepresent anybody but some people from all of the assemblies and parliaments are always supportive.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank Dr. Thomas Leahy and Ms Margaret Urwin for their presentations. It was a very worthwhile contribution to our work on this important subject. I hope we will have an opportunity to engage with them at a future date.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (19 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 49. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the request of a federation (details supplied) on the increasing costs of insurance which is having a negative impact on some businesses within the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25501/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products (19 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 67. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional measures that will be implemented to deal with cross-Border smuggling and illicit trade in products such as fuel and tobacco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25502/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Union Regulation (19 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 103. To ask the Minister for Finance if urgent consideration will be given to concerns on the proposed increase in the industry funding levy for credit unions (details supplied) in view of the fact this will impact most severely on smaller credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25806/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (19 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 177. To ask the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided to the HSE to eliminate the long delays for persons being reimbursed for costs incurred in having surgery under the cross-border directive; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such delays are causing undue hardship to persons and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25675/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (19 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of increase in organic production on an annual basis since 2010; the incentives that are available to encourage organic food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25679/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (13 Jun 2019)

Brendan Smith: 24. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve pay and conditions for members of the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24353/19]