Results 6,461-6,480 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank Mr Carson. Could I ask him whether he knows if any of his colleagues in other states had an opportunity to make a presentation to the foreign affairs committee of their national parliaments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: It might be a suggestion that the more opportunities there are to present to foreign affairs committees of various parliaments the better.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: I propose that we write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the concerns of the members who contributed today and also those of the delegation regarding the very serious issues in Turkey. We could also ask the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, if he would raise at the EU Foreign Affairs Council the particular concerns about human rights issues for journalists and others in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: No. We can discuss that after the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: I presume the proposal is agreeable. It can be an addendum to my proposal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: We have referred to follow-up action. There is a time constraint on the delegation as it has another commitment. It is slightly after 12.30 p.m. now. I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Deputy O'Brien asked me to facilitate a meeting when he got the request, and we did that within a very short timeframe. It is important, as the witnesses said, to create an awareness. We will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Statement of Strategy: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: The second item is a motion submitted by Senator Mark Daly that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's statement of strategy 2015 to 2017 would include Ireland's position of neutrality as a strong core value of the State and of the Irish people. Does the Senator wish to make a statement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Statement of Strategy: Motion (3 Nov 2016)

Brendan Smith: Thank you, Senator Bacik. Is that agreed? Agreed.

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

Brendan Smith: All mobile phones should be switched off as they cause interference, even if left in silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following motion which was referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on 18 October 2016:That Dáil Éireann approves the participation by Ireland in two European Defence...

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]