Results 5,801-5,820 of 18,319 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Other Questions: IDA Data (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is aware that I have put forward a proposal in regard to 29 acres of land owned by the State that is available for a business park at Killgarry in Cavan. I put forward a specific proposal in regard to the possibility of locating a new data centre there. It has the acreage and infrastructure from the point of view of telecommunications, water, sewerage and the road network. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Expressions of Sympathy (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: Unfortunately the president and vice-president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, AOH, are unable to attend due to their travel schedule. It is hoped that we can meet with them informally next week. Before we go into private session, I wish to express my sympathy and that of the committee to the family, friends and colleagues in the Sinn Féin Party and in the Northern Ireland...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: As we have a quorum, we will proceed. Deputy Lisa Chambers is substituting for Deputy Darragh O'Brien and Deputy Crowe sends his apologies. On 15 December 2016, the Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this committee for consideration - Vote 35, Army Pensions and Vote 36, Defence. In the first part of today's...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. Before we continue to discuss Vote 35 relating to pension benefits, I wish to extend the sincere sympathies of the committee to the families of those lost in the tragedy off the Mayo coast last week. People have partaken in exceptionally good work on behalf of this State. It is most regrettable that the accident took place. I hope the recovery can be...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: We are taking that first. I gather you have another commitment. I will take your questions on both topics, but I am not setting a precedent for the other members.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy McLoughlin. There were no questions on pensions, by the way.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will have to keep going for the sake of precedent.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: I refer to the RDF. A powerful presentation was made to the committee about this recently and I am sure the Minister has read the transcript. Many issues were raised but one was that if people are in receipt for a social welfare payment and do the training, the payment ceases but they are not paid for the duration of training, which is a considerable time. Losing a few weeks income when...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: What about the Air Corps aircraft?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Barrett. That is an issue to which Deputy Lisa Chambers referred as well.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: Yes, we will come to that in a moment. Perhaps we should have a specific committee meeting at which the Department could brief us at official level on its preparations in regard to Brexit.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: In response to the issue raised by Deputy Barrett, we will arrange a specific meeting with the Minister and his officials where we can discuss all issues pertaining to Brexit as they affect the work of the Department. It is a very important issue that has been raised. People where I come from are asking questions because, unfortunately, we will have a hard border again in this country. I...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy and I know that fisheries and quotas were complicated enough without Brexit.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: That completes the select committee's consideration of the Revised Estimates for 2017 in respect of Votes 35 and 36. I thank the Minister of State and the officials dealing with the Revised Estimates for their assistance in advance of the meeting. On behalf of all members of the committee and on my own behalf, I convey again our sincere sympathy and condolences to the families of the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: She was also a grand niece of a former Ceann Comhairle.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Message to Dáil (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with Standing Order 90, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2017: Vote 35 — Army Pensions; and Vote 36 — Defence.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015: Motion (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: The purpose of session B of today's meeting is to consider the motion referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on 14 February 2017 which proposes that Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015. I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, to make his...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015: Motion (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: On behalf of the committee I record our appreciation of the very significant role played by so many members of the Permanent Defence Force in overseas missions. We know they work in very difficult places under very difficult circumstances, which does our country proud. It is a tradition of which we should be truly proud and we should ensure it continues. People must be adequately resourced...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015: Motion (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: Our remit is to consider the report. We cannot make recommendations, but perhaps each of us might recommend to our party Whip that we have a debate on the report. There would be a clear message and recognition of the work done by so many during the years. I know some families, three generations of which have served on overseas missions. Three and four members of one family have served...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2015: Motion (23 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending, dealing comprehensively with the questions raised and giving us a very comprehensive report on the subject matter. I hope we will soon have an opportunity to discuss it in greater detail in the Dáil.