Results 6,741-6,760 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Before we move on to programme B, I remind members that we are way beyond our time limit so all of us must be more succinct in our questioning and comments. Will the Minister give a brief outline regarding programme B?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: One issue that arose over the course of our work during the term of the previous Dáil was the possible establishment of an interdepartmental committee to improve coherence of human rights protection and promotion. The Minister might let us know if that has been established. What organisations does the Department's stability fund support?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We will have to stick with the Estimates now. I stated earlier to colleagues that we would hold a special joint committee meeting on the migration crisis-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: -----and the Minister has said he would like to speak to us about the Middle East. I ask the Minister to make very brief remarks but not to go into detailed debate at this time because of time constraints.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I am not taking away from the importance of the issue.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We will now move to programme C. I invite the Minister to make his introductory remarks.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Perhaps the Minister could outline if there are any other high-profile trade visits planned for the remainder of 2016? It is more than five years since certain trade functions were transferred to his Department with the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Will the Minister indicate whether his Department ensures that its work and goals are aligned with those of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We now move to programme D, on which I invite the Minister to comment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Reference was made earlier to the British referendum today. Has the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade made preparations in case of a British decision to leave the European Union, which I sincerely hope will not arise? Do we have an embassy in each EU member state? If so, I presume we will continue to retain them. Also, over the years we have been very fortunate as a country in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Is the Department recruiting any staff, or will it this year or in 2017? Has the Department lost significant international expertise and corporate knowledge through retirements?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. We will move to programme F, appropriations-in-aid.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: Can the Minister give good news to the consumers and the public at large and say that he is proposing to reduce fees?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: We will not ask the Minister to expand on that reply. Any other questions? No. That concludes the select committee's consideration of Vote 28. I know the Minister has other commitments and has to leave and that the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, will remain with us. Does the Minister wish to make any concluding remarks?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I invite the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, to give some brief opening remarks.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his introduction. We can take the individual Votes together because it is one programme. Pope Francis recently said that arms can get to places in very deprived countries where food cannot. That comment shows the failure of the international community to get aid, food and nutrition to many displaced people living in the most horrific circumstances. The...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: It is a very important issue. I stated earlier that the displacement of 65 million people is a huge indictment of the global community. Deputy Darragh O'Brien referred to the deficiencies in the EU-Turkey agreement. We all share that particular view. We do not give enough recognition to those small states, including Jordan and others, in the immediate vicinity of Syria which have taken in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. That completes the select committee's consideration of the Revised Estimates for 2016 in respect of Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. A message to that effect will be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil. On behalf of the committee I thank the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Message to Dáil (23 Jun 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 Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2016: Vote 27 - International Co-operation; and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Implementation (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 43. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to exempt household fuel products from carbon tax in view of the difficulties for fuel merchants and small businesses in the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17517/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Yield (23 Jun 2016)

Brendan Smith: 58. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious concern of fuel merchants in the Border counties following the imposition of a carbon tax on household fuel products; that the viability of many of these businesses is under threat; that revenue is being lost to the State; his plans to reduce the level of carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/16]