Results 5,881-5,900 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: We will now take some questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. McCaughey. Deputies Crowe and Senator Bacik are next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: We are running into time constraints so I will group members and then go to the witnesses to answer all together.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: In the next session we will deal specifically with those particular countries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: That is the second session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: This is just Brexit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: Before the witnesses respond, the Brexit committee of the House of Commons chaired by Hilary Benn MP, met us, and even though our meeting that day was very focused on relations between Ireland and Britain on this island, the Good Friday Agreement and the unique position of Northern Ireland, I also mentioned overseas development aid. We are aware of Mr. Benn's contribution in the past as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Potential Impact of UK Withdrawal from the European Union: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. McCaughey and the other witnesses for their presentations and for highlighting issues that have to be of huge concern to all of us. I assure them that we will discuss those issues as we work on the formulation of our report on Brexit. I do not doubt that we will have further dialogue with the witnesses in the near future. They can be assured that this committee will be very...

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: In the next part of the meeting, we will hear from representatives of Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam and Concern about the terrible famine that is currently happening across large parts of Africa and in Yemen. The witnesses are all very welcome. The members of the joint committee look forward to hearing their first-hand accounts of the developing crisis. I welcome Mr. Henry...

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 thank Ms Conway. She has outlined the horrendous circumstances facing so many people. People like her and her colleagues in their own and sister organisations, and elsewhere in the world, deserve enormous credit for working in the most difficult circumstances and with the most deprived and disadvantaged people in such circumstances. I say that on behalf of this committee.

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]