Results 4,001-4,020 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 75. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his recent discussions with authorities and members of the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States of America regarding Brexit issues and immigration reform, with particular reference to the undocumented Irish and the possibility of progressing the E3 visa programme; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be no changes to the structure or layout of a former military installation (details supplied) pending resolution of the terms of the British exit from the European Union and a full appraisal of the security requirements of the Army and An Garda Síochána in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the rate of premium payments for afforestation to ensure that full-time farmers receive a higher rate of payment than persons who are not dependent on farming for an income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7158/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he will present to the European Commission in regard to the need to introduce a package of market supports and direct aid for farmers in view of the difficulties arising from poor prices for livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7206/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures he plans to introduce to enable growth in the live export trade in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7207/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (13 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he will present to the EU agriculture Commissioner and the EU trade Commissioner regarding the need to protect farming interests here in negotiations concerning a proposed Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7208/19]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Supports (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide specific additional funding to local authorities in the Border region such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; if regional routes that carry a heavy volume of traffic will be improved in view of the fact that improved road infrastructure is needed to reduce costs for business and commerce and the competitive challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Supports (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has put specific proposals for funding to the European Commission, given the urgent need to upgrade road infrastructure in the Border region due to the additional challenges for business and commerce in the region following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6720/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issues raised by a union (details supplied) on the conditions attaching to the employment status of school secretaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6540/19]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 724. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the benefits available to a person who becomes unemployed and who had been paying class S PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6731/19]

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I remind members and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure that for the duration of the meeting mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device used. It is not sufficient to leave them in silent mode as it maintains a level of interference with the broadcasting and recording systems. Today we will consider a motion referred...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Deputy. He has always expressed strong views on this important issue. They need to be given due cognisance and heed must be taken of them given his experience of seeing how policy has evolved over the years. Does Deputy Ó Snodaigh have a question this time?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: If the Minister of State does not have the relevant material, he might revert to me on the following. I recall meeting chairmen of other foreign affairs and defence committees at a parliamentary forum organised by the Presidency of the EU. Some small member states, which, like us, take great pride in their neutrality, suggested that smaller member states like ours should be involved in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: Simply because it is an issue that can affect all of us in our day-to-day lives.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: As I am sure expertise in how to deal with it is only being developed, it is an area in which we all could welcome our involvement. The matter is important in that respect, particularly when I talk about small member states that are of like mind in protecting their neutrality. It is the type of co-operation and collaboration in which we should consider getting involved.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: We will take up that offer. The Minister of State made it previously, but owing to time constraints and diary commitments, we were unable to avail of it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency Project: Motion (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. That concludes our consideration of the motion.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Message to Dáil (12 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with Standing Order 90, the following message will be sent to the Dáil. The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence has completed its consideration of the following motion: That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in a European Defence Agency Project in relation to Military Search Capability Building pursuant to section 2 of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: River Basin Management Plans (7 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: 18. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to include more river systems under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 such as the River Erne system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5951/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: River Basin Management Plans (7 Feb 2019)

Brendan Smith: Very few of the river systems in County Cavan are included under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. The River Erne is a major waterway which, unfortunately, causes serious flooding in parts of counties Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal. I ask that consideration be given to amending the 1945 Act to include further major river systems such as the River Erne navigation system which is a critical...