Results 6,341-6,360 of 18,320 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: We should always remind ourselves that the Nice treaty included provisions affirming that Ireland could not take part in a common defence without further amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann. I sincerely hope that possibility will never arise. We also have the Seville Declaration of 2002 in which we obtained agreement among our EU partners on Ireland's position on military neutrality....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: There is an onus on us all to amplify the provisions in the Seville Declaration which is very clear about what we can and cannot participate in. We should all give that more currency when debates on this arise. Maintenance of our neutrality is a strong issue for us going back many decades. That cannot be diluted in any way whatsoever. That is the overwhelming view of the people of this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: At the recent parliamentary meeting on the Common Foreign and Security Policy held in Bratislava in conjunction with the Presidency, I took the opportunity in any discussions to reaffirm very strongly the Irish position. Officials have told me that predecessors of mine and other people who participated in those parliamentary meetings took the opportunity to outline exactly the Irish...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: European Defence Agency: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending and Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Maureen O’Sullivan and Lisa Chambers for their participation in the debate.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Message to Dail (3 Nov 2016)

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 motion:That Dáil Eireann approves Ireland’s participation in two European Defence Agency projects:(1) MARSUR Networking - Adaptive Phase (MARSUR II) and (2) Cooperation on Cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: 71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that a person who returns here and attends college, following the ending of an apprenticeship in football abroad, will be eligible for the maintenance grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33236/16]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organised Crime (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: 101. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or with members of the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the provision of funding to address paramilitarism and tackle organised crime as provided for in the Fresh Start Agreement; if agreement has been reached on the level of funding; the source of such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: 102. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has signed the Council of Europe treaty on the banning of organ trafficking in view of the widespread concerns regarding human rights violations due to organ harvesting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33137/16]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (2 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: 430. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if increased funding will be provided to Cavan and Monaghan county councils for the non-national road network programme for 2017 in view of the deterioration of the condition of this road network and the need for increased investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32681/16]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (2 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: 431. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide specific funding to Monaghan and Cavan county councils for the local improvement scheme for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32682/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (27 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: 91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the level of funding provided for programmes undertaken by men's sheds in 2016; the level of funding to be provided in 2017; if this funding will enable additional programmes to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32403/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (26 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: 75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to exclude a student's part-time earnings from the family's income assessment for higher education grant eligibility; his views on whether the inclusion of a student's part-time earnings is a disincentive to work, particularly where family incomes are under pressure; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such earnings have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (25 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: 27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council will be held and the issues to be discussed. [22470/16]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (25 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: 552. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2017 to enable Transport Infrastructure Ireland to progress a proposed road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31480/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the presence of Mr. Sheridan and Dr. Soares. I compliment them and their colleagues in both organisations who have done exceptionally good work over the years, much of it under the radar. During the previous Dáil, they had the opportunity to make a presentation to this committee as well, which was worthwhile. I am very glad that both these witnesses are with us today to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Business of Committee (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: I welcome members to this meeting, the first in the Dáil Chamber. Draft minutes of the meeting of 6 October 2016 have been circulated. Are the minutes of that meeting agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising from these minutes? No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: We meet today with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan. I extend a warm welcome to the Minister and his officials to the meeting, which is timely as a number of the issues to be discussed will have been considered at recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and, I am sure, formed the central part of proceedings at the Council meeting held on Monday last....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his detailed presentation, which reflects the huge number of serious issues on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. The continuing senseless loss of life, relentless bombing and inhumane attacks on civilians in Syria demand that the international community, through the UN and other international bodies, bring the horrific five-year war in that country to an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: One second, please. Deputy O'Brien must allow the Minister to conclude. He will get another opportunity to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs and Trade Issues: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (20 Oct 2016)

Brendan Smith: I will bring the Deputy in later.