Results 561-580 of 18,296 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Health: Insurance Coverage (28 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 451. To ask the Minister for Health if the reason private health insurance companies only cover the cost of a stay in psychiatric hospitals for maximum 100 days with unwell and vulnerable patients in the middle of a treatment plan having to be discharged on the 100th day will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23750/24]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Minister Rabbitte's recent announcement about a waiting list initiative for assessments of need and the procurement of private assessments. I sincerely hope those assessments can be carried out as quickly as possible. We are all well aware that there have been totally unacceptable delays for many years in children getting assessments of need and follow-up therapies. We must...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. I again acknowledge the efforts he and his ministerial colleagues have made in getting the message out that this money is available and there is a simple and speedy application process. Quite rightly, the areas of retail and hospitality were identified for particular assistance. I have recently been engaging considerably with small-scale...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. I repeat my request that he make a particular appeal to the finance houses to support small and medium sized enterprises, because they are not doing so adequately at the moment. I am very glad that the Minister mentioned workspaces and enterprise centres. For years, I have been tabling parliamentary questions to the Minister’s predecessors in regard to the need...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in each of Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Galway and Mayo that registered for the increased cost of business grant before 1 May 2024; how many more in each county have registered since the application process reopened last week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23086/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on their appointments and wish them, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, every success in their work in the Department. I welcome the Government’s decision to reopen the increased cost of business scheme. I heard the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, in different...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the major capital projects that will be progressed this year in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23273/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in his new role. I very much welcome the emphasis that has been placed on the development of further education since the Government took office in June 2020. I spoke to the Minister's predecessor on many occasions about the opportunities that exist to develop the further education sector on an all-Ireland, cross-Border basis....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. He would be very welcome to visit Cavan Institute, which has been a very successful institute since its establishment. I was very much involved with Cavan Institute as I was the chair of the first board of management of the college. I was involved in having the initial buildings and accommodation provided. It was actually the first dedicated PLC college...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I can assure the Minister that Cavan and Monaghan ETB will work very diligently on this. It has put together a very strong business case to advance this accommodation proposal. I do not think that we in this House can emphasise enough the importance of the further education sector. Over the years I have seen many young people who may have come from communities where there was not a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the proposed building project at Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23272/24]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 121. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to help small-scale manufacturing, retail and hospitality businesses meet the challenge of cost pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23087/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position regarding an application submitted by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23482/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: 241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if assistance will be given to farmers who do not have a forest plantation or are not availing of any forestry schemes to have ash dieback trees removed where such trees pose a danger to public safety due to their locations along public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23332/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I apologise for missing the earlier part of the contributions because I was in the Chamber for questions to the Minister of further and higher education. I welcome the contribution of the witnesses here today. They question a lot of the IIEA report and it is good to have the varied opinions and the questioning. It is extremely important. In Professor Doyle's statement, I notice he refers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: On the differential in the figures Professor Doyle has just quote, I have often heard from people, particularly those living in Britain who may be home on holidays, talking about the good social protection systems here in comparison to what they are in receipt of in London, for example. I presume Northern Ireland is not better than London regarding state pensions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: Is there no equalisation within pension recipients?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: Professor Doyle is saying there are different levels of payment depending on when someone entered into a pension scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: I recall meeting an Irish lady who was a young widow and she told me she was getting a widow's pension in London that was half of what her sister, who lived here in this State, was getting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Brendan Smith: Right. Our system, for all its deficits, is much better than that.