Results 621-640 of 17,766 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives of Truth Recovery Process (4 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I extend a warm welcome, as the Cathaoirleach did, to Ms Liz McManus and her colleagues today. I thank them for their work in this regard. We all participated in committees with Ms McManus when she was a distinguished Member of the Dáil over many years. It is good to see her in the committee room again. I welcome any engagement on the issue of reconciliation legacy. On many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives of Truth Recovery Process (4 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I mentioned earlier my great admiration for the different advocacy groups and representative organisations that work on behalf of victims and work towards reconciliation. There are quite a number of bodies. Reference was made to the WAVE Trauma Centre earlier. It does exceptionally good work. I visited the centre in Belfast on a number of occasions and I know some of the families on whose...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives of Truth Recovery Process (4 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank Cathaoirleach. Has there been any opportunity to engage with people at a political level in Britain or with some of the human rights advocacy groups there? Thankfully, Mr. Starmer, the leader of the British Labour Party, has come out against the present legacy legislation. This was a change from the initial position adopted by some of his party colleagues and this is a welcome...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the working of the shared island unit in his Department. [20374/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the success of the shared island initiative to date. I welcome the funding for a project in my constituency, namely the Ulster Canal, which will bring economic benefits to many counties in Ulster. As the Taoiseach may recall from his days at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have continually raised the value of developing enterprise centres and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Good Friday Agreement (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the Queen's University Belfast conference to mark 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement. [19259/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Good Friday Agreement (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Taoiseach for his answer and his contribution at the conference. I was privileged to be present for most of the conference, which was excellent. It was inspiring to listen to those people who brought peace to our island by reaching the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. I was struck by many of the comments, particularly the contribution of former Senator George Mitchell. Two or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the schemes of grants and eligibility conditions for improving energy efficiency in private homes, including upgrading work such as insulation and installation or replacement of boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20698/23]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if persons who need to carry out energy efficiency works in their private homes can avail of grant aid under existing schemes where some years ago small-scale grant aid was availed of by homeowners to carry out improvement works and further additional improvement works are now needed; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 98. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when additional electric vehicle charging points will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the locations that will have such charging points provided in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grant aid available for primary schools to develop play areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20787/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 May 2023)

Brendan Smith: 460. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that appropriate treatment is made available for children suffering with ailments (details supplied) as is provided in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20653/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Tánaiste is aware, there is a shortage of bus drivers and drivers for heavy goods vehicles. This impacts on the operation of school transport services at times. Bus Éireann will not employ qualified drivers aged 70 or over. In instances where a school bus driver is off sick, Bus Éireann finds it extremely difficult to recruit a temporary replacement. There is no...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy has got in twice.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 83. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in view of the inadequacy of the review of the proposed North-South interconnector carried out in 2018, given that it did not take into account the concerns of householders, farmers and communities in relation to a number of aspects of this proposed project, if he will ensure that the concerns of local communities will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is well aware, there is outright opposition in communities in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath to the proposal to put overground the transmission cables for the proposed North-South interconnector. Over the years the Minister has heard me state that if the project is to go ahead those transmission cables should be put underground. The communities affected and the landowners have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I vehemently disagree with him that the views of communities, farmers and households have been taken into account in preparation for this project. This has not been the case. As the Minister knows better than I do, since this project was first initiated 16 years ago there have been great advances in technology which have enabled more undergrounding of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: In every engagement I have with individuals living in our counties, on a person-to-person basis or at public meetings, they all state they fully understand this is critical infrastructure. They say they are not against the project but they are against the project going ahead in the form of having overground transmission cables. In other countries in Europe, similar projects can be put...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had recent discussions with the British government in relation to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill; if he has outlined again that it is unacceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Brendan Smith: 59. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly, Northern Ireland Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council restored without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/23]