Results 6,141-6,160 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

North-South Interconnector: Motion [Private Members] (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: The chief executive of EirGrid said in an Oireachtas committee meeting in April 2015 that it was technically feasible to underground the project.

North-South Interconnector: Motion [Private Members] (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: -----and that we do not agree with a national grid. Nothing could be further from the truth. I received correspondence today from a business group. I say to that business group that Fianna Fáil is as interested in upgrading the national grid as any other interested party on this island. As a party that is firmly attached to the workings of the Good Friday Agreement, many of us in...

North-South Interconnector: Motion [Private Members] (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I am very glad to have the opportunity to support this extremely important motion. As Deputy Dooley, our party spokesperson on communications, environment and natural resources, said, it is a comprehensive, thorough and well thought-out motion. It reflects the concerns of communities and families throughout the affected areas in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath very well. It correctly...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 129. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 2 February 2017, if consideration is being given to a constitutional amendment pertaining to ground rents; if there are proposals to amend the existing statutory framework regarding ground rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7418/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to expand the mortgage to rent scheme and improve the conditions for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7369/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 325. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the capital programme with a view to increasing investment in infrastructure, such as the road network, in the Border region because of the particular challenges that will arise due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7367/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 326. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if State sponsored bodies can extend employment by one year for long-serving employees on reaching 65 years of age, who on retirement at 65 years of age would have to seek jobseeker's benefit for one year prior to being eligible for pension payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7368/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Measures (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 615. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission on the dissemination of abusive material on social media sites and online abuse; if he proposes to appoint a digital safety commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7417/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (14 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 715. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve pay levels for new recruits to the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7456/17]

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I was indeed.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I would appreciate if the Minister would bring it up again.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will direct the State's industrial promotion agencies to place a particular focus on the needs of the Border region, given the particular challenges that will arise for that region due to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6175/17]

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, there are particular challenges facing business and commerce in the Border region due to Brexit. We need a particular focus by the State's industrial promotion agencies on assisting companies to maintain and, hopefully, to grow employment. There is a particular need to assist those companies to remain competitive. Many of the companies in the Border region, mainly...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her reply. As she is aware, for historic reasons during the awful period of the Troubles, it was extremely difficult to attract inward investment to the Border region, to places like Monaghan, Donegal and Cavan. We had to depend on indigenous industry. By and large the industries in the counties of the Border region, including my own constituency, are small and...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for her response. I would like to record my appreciation of the work that InterTradeIreland has done since its establishment following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It is an all-Ireland body that does exceptionally good work. I hope it is adequately resourced to do the very important work that will be required over the next few years. I have another issue, on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK Referendum Result (Resumed): Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his presentation. He referred to the expenditure of €3.5 billion through the PEACE and INTERREG programmes over the past number of years. This has been a very welcome investment in the Border communities. The funding has been drawn down by statutory agencies and local community and voluntary groups. In many instances, the funding that became available...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK Referendum Result (Resumed): Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I am moving slightly away from today's specific topic, but there has already been a huge downer for business and communities in the Border region. I know of businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, that are very heavily reliant or totally dependent on the British market and the Northern Ireland market. They have put on hold plans to develop, expand jobs and create...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Reserve: Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: In the first part of today's meeting we will meet with representatives of the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association, including Mr. Neil Richardson, general secretary, Mr. Eugene Gargan, chairperson, and Mr. John Leahy, member of the national executive committee. I welcome the witnesses to this morning's meeting. The format of the meeting is that we will hear the witnesses'...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Reserve: Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr. Richardson very much. He clearly outlined many matters of concern to us, including poor administrative practices and a Reserve Defence Force which is declining in numbers. He even pointed out the threat to its very existence within the next ten years. I have represented two of the southern Ulster counties, Cavan and Monaghan, for a considerable number of years. I grew up in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces Reserve: Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (9 Feb 2017)

Brendan Smith: I ask the witnesses to respond before we take questions from three other members.