Results 3,981-4,000 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Minister for Finance when he plans to implement additional recommendations of the insurance working group; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns in many sectors about increased insurance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7243/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is well aware, the cost of insurance is a huge burden on customers, be they businesses, charities or sports clubs. People continue to face insurance premiums far in excess of what is justified or fair. According to the most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, that I have seen, while premiums decreased in 2017, they have increased considerably, by more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional measures he plans to implement to counteract cross-Border smuggling and illicit trade in fuel, tobacco and drink products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7242/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I have been constantly tabling parliamentary questions to the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, about the need to deal with the criminals involved in illicit cross-Border trade and smuggling. The issue goes back over many decades. In one reply, the Minister referred to the resourcefulness of those involved in those forms of criminal activity. It is an area...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: It is important that Revenue and the Minister's Department constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the different measures in place because those criminals, including paramilitary gangs in some instances, have significant resources and the State can never underestimate the resourcefulness of those people involved in criminal activity. I fully appreciate that the new marker system has had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response and I do not doubt the good work of the Revenue Commissioners in any way. I take this opportunity to compliment many revenue officers who dealt with very hostile situations in the past. People stood up to those criminals and thugs. We also want to protect legitimate business. I compliment the Retailers Against Smuggling group, which continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 53. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent comments by the Committee on the Administration of Justice regarding the rights of persons in Northern Ireland claiming Irish citizenship after Brexit following a reply by the British immigration Minister regarding the rights of persons to Irish or British citizenship under the Good Friday Agreement; if in all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 199. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has put to the European Commission on the need to introduce measures to support the pig sector in view of continuing inadequate price returns to producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 200. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce measures to support primary producers in the pigmeat sector in view of the closure of some pig units; if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing pressures on individual farms to survive due to inadequate returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 216. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the detailed costs of the North-South interconnector approved overhead line; the reason the published costs in the recent EirGrid ten-year development plan report have increased from €286 million to €500 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the procurement process for the North-South interconnector will cease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: We will commence the meeting in public session. Apologies have been received from Senator Ned O'Sullivan. Given that the Tánaiste is here, we should proceed with public business first and dispose of private business when the engagement with the Tánaiste is concluded. Today, we are meeting An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: In light of the number of members offering, I will group questioners. I call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, to be followed by Deputy Niall Collins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: The next speakers are Senator McFadden and Deputies Durkan and Haughey.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his detailed presentation. As Senator Richmond said, we received a good briefing from him yesterday at the meeting of committee chairs. I was very glad, on a quick perusal of the draft Bill, that many of the issues that affect constituents of mine, such as those who worked in Britain or came from Britain and who access pensions here, and people crossing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: Like others, I welcome the delegation. I compliment Mr. Campbell on the quality of his contribution. It covered a broad sweep of the various activities in the Border region. It was very comprehensive and welcome. I also compliment him on the publications he has produced in recent years in conjunction with Katy Hayward of Queen's University. Deputies Breathnach and McLoughlin and I, as...

Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I join with other Members in paying tribute to the late Brendan McGahon and my former constituency colleague, the late Seymour Crawford. Seymour and I were both elected to the Dáil on the same day in 1992. Although we differed in our politics, we were always able to work closely together on issues of concern to constituents. On constituency issues, Seymour was a good colleague and a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 47. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided in 2018 towards the provision of new or upgraded childcare places; the financial provision for such developments in 2019; the number of childcare places that will be supported with such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6994/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 55. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase the level of maximum grant aid towards the provision of new or upgraded childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6995/19]