Results 5,001-5,020 of 18,319 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: In today's meeting, we will meet Mr. Jamie Drummond, executive director of ONE. I welcome Mr. Drummond to our meeting. We have, over the past weeks, heard from a wide variety of members of society regarding the role of Irish Aid and its potential in assisting to alleviate poverty, particularly following the historic agreement of the sustainable development goals. The format of the meeting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Drummond for his important address and for covering issues such as the potential for us to expand the activities of Irish Aid and improve considerably the lives of the most disadvantaged people in so many parts of the world. Senator Bacik has another commitment at 11.15 a.m. Would she like to make a short contribution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: Does Mr. Drummond want to say anything in particular on Senator Bacik's contribution before she has to leave for the Seanad?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Seán Barrett is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: In the past few weeks we have had several meetings to review the level of Irish aid. Some of the stakeholders we have met have expressed concern about the rising allocations of ODA to the multilateral organisations and, similarly, the climbing amounts being spent bilaterally and the resourcing of NGOs. Does Mr. Drummond have a view on this issue? Does he have concerns about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: As our colleague, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, said, we were in northern Mozambique and Malawi recently where the work of Irish Aid and Irish missionaries was very impressive. Unfortunately, there is now only a small number of Irish missionaries there, but the work of Irish Aid in funding particular programmes and the work of individual members of Irish NGOs was very impressive. We met people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Drummond. I do not think it does anything similar now, but some years ago RTÉ produced a programme with Rodney Rice which was very informative. It covered different countries in Africa where Irish Aid worked. I thank Mr. Drummond most sincerely for his presentation and his exchange with members which will be very valuable when the committee is drafting its work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Aid Programme Review: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a healthy, fruitful and successful 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53909/17]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Prime Minister Netanyahu met the EU Foreign Affairs Council; if so, the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53910/17]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 41. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the EU-British agreement on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53915/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 62. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to improve the criteria in respect of the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53947/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provision is made in his Department's Estimate for 2018 for a minor works grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54062/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the details of the 2018-2019 higher education grant scheme will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54119/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to exclude students' part-time earnings in the assessment of means for the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54120/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service Provision (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 317. To ask the Minister for Health if additional funding will be provided in 2018 home help, home support and home care packages; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties caused to persons and families when delays occur in providing such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53946/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 347. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of new health facilities (details supplied); when these projects will proceed to the next stage; if specific funding will be provided in 2018 for these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53710/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Directives (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 447. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to the HSE cross-border directive under which patients accepted onto the scheme who cannot afford the cost of surgery up-front are ineligible for treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53914/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 576. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to invest in facilities for public use; if such investment will be made in 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54060/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2017)

Brendan Smith: 577. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to upgrade or provide new facilities in 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54061/17]