Results 5,761-5,780 of 18,319 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Famine in Africa and Yemen: Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam and Concern (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: Mr. Gray mentioned the lack of data preventing aid getting to some regions. Are there are also security and violence issues which prevent aid from reaching the most vulnerable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Famine in Africa and Yemen: Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam and Concern (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: We have to be born optimists in our job, too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Famine in Africa and Yemen: Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam and Concern (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I ask witnesses to address each issue raised by members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Famine in Africa and Yemen: Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam and Concern (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I sincerely thank the delegates for their presentations on what are awful circumstances. The message we must send to private donors and taxpayers who provide funding for overseas aid is that those areas that have been the focus of long-term resilience programmes have been able to mitigate the effects of drought and famine. It is important that the message get across that progress is being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Diplomatic Representation: Motion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I call Deputy Noel Grealish to move his motion regarding the Irish Embassy in Tehran.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Diplomatic Representation: Motion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: The motion will be reported to both Dáil and Seanad Éireann and I propose that a copy of the motion is forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 23. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the review of the criteria pertaining to the tenant purchase scheme has been concluded; his plans to deal with anomalies in the scheme as currently constituted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review the income eligibility limits for social housing with particular reference to the restrictive income limits for areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16803/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 203. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the proposed scheme to provide financial assistance to persons to relocate due to constant flooding at their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17171/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 208. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the additional €2.65 billion which will be available for capital expenditure and to be announced in budget 2018 will take particular account of the needs of the Border region (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17273/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 221. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 20 October 2016, the position regarding the proposed provision of a jetty by Waterways Ireland at Castlesaunderson, County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17183/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Initiatives (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 364. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will give consideration to the request of a local authority (details supplied) regarding the need to attract inward investment and create employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17271/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (5 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has completed the school transport review; if he will implement measures to alleviate the difficulties that arose for many families prior to the commencement of the 2016/2017 school year with particular reference to the availability of concessionary tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16712/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (5 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when decisions will be made on summer works scheme 2017 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16713/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (5 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give urgent consideration to the concerns outlined in correspondence (details supplied) to his Department regarding school admissions policy; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of schools under the patronage of Protestant churches and particularly the smaller schools in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on...

Defence Forces: Motion (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I compliment my party colleague, Deputy Lisa Chambers, on tabling this very important motion. It is a comprehensive motion, and those of us who participate in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, and Deputy Noel Grealish is a member, know Deputy Lisa Chambers has consistently highlighted the issues of concern to the Permanent Defence Force and to us as a...

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is aware that the change he could effect is to change the differential in the VAT rate between Northern Ireland and our State in respect of solid fuels as well as the application of carbon tax which is not applied on products in Northern Ireland. The differential is more than €2,000 on a 20 tonne truck of coal, meaning there is not a level playing field for many of our...

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: 42. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce further restrictions to the import of fuel products, both fuel for vehicles and household fuel products, from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16394/17]

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, the State is estimated to be losing €300 million per annum because of fuel smuggling across the Border. Numerous legitimate retailers and merchants are very seriously impacted and adversely affected. It is not confined to activities along the Border and I understand that illicit products are now also going to the southern part of our country, making it...

Other Questions: Excise Duties (4 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his answer. Because of time constraints I only referred to household fuel. In the last Dáil I brought forward legislation calling for the establishment of an all-Ireland cross-Border agency to deal with this type of crime and the illicit trade in fuel, tobacco and drugs. Some agreements were reached between the Northern Ireland authorities and our Department...