Results 5,461-5,480 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: The pay budget is subventing the capital-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: The sum of €28 million is being taken from the pay budget. It is needed for pay. The personnel are needed and they obviously need to be remunerated adequately and to have adequate conditions. We need the numbers. Is the current strength of the Permanent Defence Force 9,000? The Department and successive Ministers always stated they did not want the number to decrease below 9,500....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: On the numbers and the recruitment campaign, is there a similar retention campaign? Years ago specific efforts were made by the Department to retain Air Corps personnel.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: Are there no particular incentives to retain highly skilled, well trained personnel?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I refer to skill sets. In some areas of the public service staff with knowledge of financial services are lost, for example. There are more people available for recruitment than pilots or specialist engineers. The force has a small pool to pick from or to retain. We cannot let services be disrupted. We all have an interest in ensuring the public service is able to deliver the services we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: If successful, is there a timescale for completion of the next round?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I appreciate that. To what is the Department working?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: It is not the Department's fault but the way the Government operates. Could it be 12 months?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2017 to 2020: Department of Defence (5 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Quinn. We have gone way over time but appreciate the engagement. I ask him and his colleagues to review their notes and the issues raised. If there are issues they did not respond to, we would appreciate if they would respond to the clerk and we will circulate replies to all members. We appreciate the attendance of the witnesses today and we will appreciate any follow-up...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (4 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing concerns in relation to poor mobile telephone coverage in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he has discussed with the communications Regulator the need for the telecommunications companies to make the necessary investments to ensure that all areas have adequate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (4 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the outcome of discussions he has had with the telecommunications Regulator and with the telecoms providers in relation to inadequate mobile telephone coverage in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41853/17]

Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I hope the Minister can give us an assurance that all of Government will back him fully in identifying the need to increase funding for CAP post-2020 and that whatever Council of Ministers is identified by members of the Government will be totally supportive of the need to increase funding for CAP in the next round.

Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 44. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has had with the EU Agriculture Commissioner and the EU Budget Commissioner in regard to the need to protect CAP funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41645/17]

Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: A very strong, clear message needs to go out from all of Government and the Minister to our European partners that there is a need for an increase in CAP funding post-2020. CAP has been very successful in ensuring a secure supply of safe food for the citizens of Europe. It is essential to support rural communities. As the Minister knows, it is essential to support primary producers and...

Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: I do not think we can highlight enough the importance of direct payments which account for two thirds of farm income, as the Minister knows. It is extremely important not just for the farming community but the entire economy, in particular the economy of rural Ireland. Again, the importance of CAP cannot be over-estimated or highlighted enough from the point of view of sustainable food for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Review (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has put forward at EU level in relation to the need to protect the CAP budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41644/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 332. To ask the Minister for Health if persons with haemochromatosis (details supplied) who have to attend hospital on a regular basis will continue to have their attendance at hospitals regarded as outpatients rather than having day charge status applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41412/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 435. To ask the Minister for Health if persons currently using respreeza will not be denied access to this medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41869/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (3 Oct 2017)

Brendan Smith: 436. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he plans to implement to ensure the retention of newly qualified doctors in the health system in view of shortages at general practitioner level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41870/17]