Results 5,941-5,960 of 18,320 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (2 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 376. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures that have been introduced to assist sectors that are heavily or totally dependent on the sterling area for their export markets and that have been impacted negatively since the British referendum on EU membership and the fall in the value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11110/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (1 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the school transport review; the measures he plans to implement to deal with difficulties which arose for many families prior to the commencement of the 2016-17 school year, with particular reference to the availability of concessionary tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (1 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the criteria for school transport eligibility, in view of many difficulties that have arisen in recent years particularly for some families in more rural and isolated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10126/17]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (1 Mar 2017)

Brendan Smith: 217. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if all the social insurance contributions paid by a person (details supplied) in two countries can be aggregated for consideration for State contributory pension purposes on the person reaching pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/17]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Imports and Exports Data (28 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 89. To ask the Taoiseach if particular trends have emerged in respect of exports in the preliminary data available for 2016; the details of the trends in respect of exports to and imports from Britain; and if there are particular indicators in respect of exports from the different regions of the country. [9771/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Investor Compensation Company Limited (28 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 215. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the delays in having claims for compensation finalised and submitted to a body (details supplied) for persons that lost investments with a company (details supplied); the measures he proposes to implement to eliminate these delays and have compensation payments made at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Investor Compensation Company Limited (28 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 216. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the very serious concerns regarding the level of compensation being paid by the a body (details supplied) to persons who lost major investments through a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9970/17]

Topical Issues Debate: Road Projects (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. In the context of the review of the capital plan, I appeal to him again to use his influence with colleagues in Government to put a Brexit focus on the re-prioritisation of capital expenditure. It is the one competence we have in addressing Brexit. We will not find it until the next capital plan post-2020 and I appeal to the Minister to try to ensure...

Topical Issues Debate: Road Projects (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this matter. I am glad the Minister is here to respond. In my observation of the proceedings of the House, he is very amenable to taking Topical Issue debates that relate to his portfolio. That is commendable, particularly as it is not a practice that is always followed. The Minister and I discussed this subject during a previous...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: Could the Minister give us an assurance that they will be reviewed without further delay? I recently brought a young couple to my local authority. The young man is an apprentice while his partner is, unfortunately, out of work and receiving a jobseeker's payment. The couple have a child. They are not eligible for a council house. We are talking about being prudent and fair. Is it...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: But there are zones. Cavan-Monaghan is a different-----

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: The band in Cavan-Monaghan is extremely low. That is what I am concerned about. I know there must be a comparable increase as well but it needs to be reviewed based on my experience in my constituency.

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 13. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase eligibility income limits for social housing, particularly in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8826/17]

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I have been raising with the Minister for some time the need to raise the income eligibility limits for social housing. In too many instances we hear from constituents who were on the housing list but who were taken off it when they went back to work. The eligibility band for the Cavan-Monaghan area is the lowest in the country and it needs to be improved. We are penalising people who are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: We have a quorum and will now commence in public session. Deputy Darragh O'Brien has proposed a motion of support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and its integration into the European Union. I ask the Deputy to move the motion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I also support the motion, which has unanimous backing in this committee. When the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner Frans Timmermans, was here on Tuesday, I took the opportunity to mention the huge progress that Georgia had made. It has made significant strides on the path to EU accession. As Mr. Timmermans said, the current mandate of the Commission does not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: The motion will be reported to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. I propose that a copy of the text of the agreed motion be forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and to the Oireachtas permanent representative in Brussels for the information of other EU member states. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: Before we go into private session, I wish to comment on an incident at Trinity College the other night. The organisers of an event and the Provost of the college quite rightly condemned the fact that the Israeli ambassador was denied an opportunity to speak. People should always be given the opportunity to speak and engage in dialogue, regardless of what views we may hold on the content of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: On behalf of the committee, I will communicate the views expressed here to the ambassador.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I know that Deputy Grealish had to rearrange his diary in order to get here to support the motion, and I appreciate that. It is important that the Georgian representatives should know that. We will now go into private session.