Results 4,381-4,400 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I understand that. Deputy Crowe is in the same position. I call on Ms Suzanne Keatinge to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: On the issue of a Dáil debate, we are still waiting for the Business Committee to allocate time to resume the debate on our report, which started some months ago. Perhaps, with the agreement of members, we could ask that it be built into the year's parliamentary activities and that the Minister reports twice a year to the Dáil on overseas development assistance and the aid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will get unanimous agreement on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator. I do not think the Seanad had a discussion on our report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: Maybe that would be a good idea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Future of EU Development Funding: Discussion (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Keatinge, Dr. Hinds and Ms Garvey for their contributions here today. They have highlighted a huge number of very important issues and their engagement with the committee was very worthwhile. Many of the issues they raised are issues we have raised through our own paper. Deputy Seán Barrett mentioned education and communication, which we have highlighted in our own paper as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress in dealing with legacy issues following the Stormont House Agreement and the A Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40304/18]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (4 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 223. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to the request of a union (details supplied) for additional investment in the childcare sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40559/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel serving in the Permanent Defence Force; the projected enlistment for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40058/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Deputy Aylward, on the need to urgently improve the pay and conditions of Permanent Defence Force, PDF, members. It is necessary to ensure we retain the members. I understand the approved establishment figure is at a strength of 9,500 members. What is the current enlistment figure? What proposals does the Minister of State have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Remuneration (3 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He referred to a rewarding career in the Permanent Defence Force. From speaking to many serving personnel, I know it is not a rewarding or properly remunerated career at the moment, unfortunately. In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan there is a strong Irish Army tradition. I have spoken to members of families who have served for three...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (3 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 81. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to recruit personnel to the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40057/18]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (3 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 111. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the British foreign Secretary regarding the need for the British Government to respond positively and without further delay to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann to provide access to papers and files pertaining to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her reply. She pronounced "Kilconny" accurately and almost with a Cavan accent.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: Will the Minister instruct Waterways Ireland to reconsider the feasibility of extending the Erne navigation? I was told in the late 1980s that it was not feasible from an engineering point of view to restore the then Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal, which became the Shannon-Erne waterway and has been phenomenally successful, as the Minister is aware. The studies should be revisited on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: Coming from the immediate vicinity of the former Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal, now the Shannon-Erne Waterway, I recall that when the studies of making the waterway navigable began, we were told that doing so would flood the countryside and cause awful damage. However, the restoration of the canal has been of benefit to drainage in the area. We were told that the opposite would be the case...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 66. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to develop a blueway in the waters of Lough Oughter, County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39799/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: The Erne river and lake system from Belturbet to Killykeen and Killashandra, County Cavan is a considerable natural resource. The potential of the waterway is not being realised to any significant extent. As the Minister is aware, feasibility studies have been carried out into the possibility of making that stretch of water navigable. The Minister indicated to me in reply to a previous...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 114. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to undertake studies on the feasibility of extending navigation on the River Erne from Belturbet to Killykeen and Killeshandra, County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39798/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmaceutical Sector (2 Oct 2018)

Brendan Smith: 407. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of pharmaceutical assistants regarding a proposal by an organisation (details supplied) to restrict the work practices of pharmaceutical assistants; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the implementation of such restrictions would cause extreme difficulty for smaller pharmacies throughout...