Results 5,041-5,060 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: Local knowledge is important. It might be better than any Internet.

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the criteria for school transport eligibility commencing for the 2018-19 school year in view of the difficulties that have arisen in recent years, particularly for some families in the more rural and isolated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/18]

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: Through parliamentary questions and in a Topical Issue debate, I have raised the problems that have arisen due to the change in the criteria for school transport, especially since 2014. There have been instances in which younger children who were about to start secondary school were not able to avail of the transport services their older siblings had availed of. This has created serious...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I extend a warm welcome to Mr. Eoin O'Neill and Ms Katie Daughen from the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and look forward to engaging with them on their recently published paper, How to make Brexit work for all: Big Principles for a Strong Brexit Partnership. Today's meeting gives the committee the opportunity to hear the views of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce on the options for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. O'Neill for his comprehensive analysis of the current situation. Can I assume that the chamber's engagement with the EU Brexit negotiators was after the publication of its strategy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: How did the people in the EU Commission react to the proposals put forward by the chamber?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I compliment Mr. O'Neill on his work. I had the opportunity to listen to him speak in Liverpool when he made a presentation at a British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting. He gave a great outline to both members of the British Parliament and ourselves on the challenges. Ms Daughen has also participated at public meetings that I organised and took place in my own constituency. The work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: Plus British investment supports 200,000 jobs here. It is a two-way trade. It is very important for us to bear it in mind in any decisions that will be made in addition to the importance of the linkages on a business level between both countries. One theme that ran very strongly through Mr. O'Neill's presentation was the notion of an uncertain future. I represent two of the southern Ulster...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I will make one final comment before I bring in my colleagues, Deputy Darragh O'Brien and Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. What has been the Government's reaction to the proposals outlined in the strategy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: We can hear responses to those questions before going back to Deputies Barrett and Crowe and Senator Lawless.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: With regard to the comments on the British Labour Party, I heard Mr. Corbyn talk about a customs union. When Mr. Starmer visited Donegal and Derry on Monday, I understood from the commentary attributed to him that he spoke about membership of the customs union. I am not sure whether the commentary was accurate in regard to Mr. Starmer. It seems to be a move in a direction we would favour.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I will bring in Senator Ivana Bacik.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Bacik. I have a question that is likely to come up in the Chamber, so with the agreement of the committee I ask Deputy Darragh O'Brien to take the Chair, because Deputy O'Sullivan has a question at the same time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the criteria for school transport eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Property Portfolio (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 173. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when decisions are due to be made on the identification of suitable sites as locations for the establishment of data centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5078/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Property Portfolio (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 174. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if locations (details supplied) have been given further consideration as possible sites for the location of data centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5079/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans and the plans of the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in 2018 in the maintenance of existing employment and in job creation throughout County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5131/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 177. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans and the plans of the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in 2018 in the maintenance of existing employment and in job creation throughout County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5132/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (1 Feb 2018)

Brendan Smith: 234. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the outcome of recent discussions he had with the European Agriculture and Trade Commissioners on the need to protect the agrifood sector here in negotiations on a possible Mercosur trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5148/18]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (31 Jan 2018)

Brendan Smith: 39. To ask the Taoiseach if he discussed the need for continued EU financial support for cross border programmes at his recent meeting with the President of the European Commission. [3359/18]