Results 7,401-7,420 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (26 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 128. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has held meetings with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice arising from the need for greater co-operation on combatting cross-Border criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19281/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (26 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 129. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has discussed the review arising from a case (details supplied) with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19279/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 772. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify statements made to Dáil Éireann on 14 May 2015 by An Taoiseach, in relation to the case of a person (details supplied), specifically regarding the charges against that person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20121/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 773. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied), in view of the Taoiseach's statements to Dáil Éireann on 14 May 2015, specifically regarding the charges against the person and the scheduled hearings on the case; if he has discussed this specific matter with his Egyptian counterpart; and if he will make a...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister and wish him well in his continuing work on this very important issue. We are all aware of families, and often elderly parents, who are concerned that sons or daughters may not be able to travel home from the United States for family occasions. It is raised constantly at our constituency clinics, in particular with those of us who represent counties with a significant...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: Does the Minister have any indication of when the legal process in regard to President Obama’s executive proposal is likely to be determined and when the court process will be complete? Are any efforts being made by Republicans and Democrats in the House of Congress to go back to a proposal that would meet with favour through the normal legislative route?

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his efforts on behalf of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19282/15]

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: As all of us in this House know, the difficulties encountered by so many Irish emigrants in the United States, who are commonly referred to as the "undocumented Irish", represent an issue of grave concern to the individual emigrants themselves, their families in the US and their families here in Ireland. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by those emigrants when they need to travel...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister is aware, it is very important that the appropriate mechanisms be put in place to deal with the legacy of the past and that we try in some way to ease the suffering and burden that has been placed on so many families through the needless loss of life and the murder of so many innocent people over the period known as the Troubles. On 17 May we marked the 41st anniversary of...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19280/15]

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: Before Christmas the Stormont House Agreement averted the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive and legislative assembly, and impending financial suspension. At that time, Sinn Féin agreed to Tory welfare cuts, while the DUP agreed to progress on the proposals previously put forward during the failed Haass talks. At this stage, is the Minister satisfied with the implementation of...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his detailed response and welcome the ongoing work on the matter. It is important that the historical investigations unit be established as soon as possible as we are all aware of different cases - murders, bombings, loss of life and terrible injuries that have been caused to people - which have not been properly investigated. We hope the establishment of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: Would the Minister agree the lacuna or lack of clarity that will exist for some time will probably be detrimental to attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland? Such investment benefits the entire island. I hope a clear message can be sent, namely, that trade and investment are very important from the point of view of Britain's continued membership of the EU, from which we also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to discuss Britain's continued membership of the European Union with the British Foreign Secretary and with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in view of the British Government's proposal to hold a referendum on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: It is just over two weeks since the British general election. It appears the referendum in regard to the continued British membership of the European Union could be held in 2016 and the latest reports from Westminster suggest the parliamentary Bill which will pave the way for the vote will be published next week. We are all conscious that each sovereign country makes its own decisions. At...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he take the opportunity this evening, in his meeting with the Secretary of State, to outline very clearly to her that a very strong pro-European Union view is held throughout Northern Ireland? In fact, as the Minister mentioned in his reply, all of us recognise the very valuable contribution the EU has made to the political advances and the major...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Even though the British programme for government has not yet been published, in view of the commitment in the Conservative Party manifesto to scrap the Human Rights Act, it is incumbent on the Minister and his colleagues in government to give a clear message to the Secretary of State that they cannot renege on the provisions of an international treaty. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his comments. The Human Rights Act, as the Minister implied, is particularly important in regard to dealing with sensitive and contentious legacy issues. As we approach the marching season, we should take note of the fact that all Parades Commission determinations are subject to the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted in the Human Rights Act. A repeal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the Good Friday Agreement of the British Government repealing its Human Rights Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19497/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: The Good Friday Agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed on this island in referendums, North and South, and through parliamentary ratification in Britain. It is an international treaty which has been lodged with the United Nations. The British Government, in the Agreement, committed to guaranteeing the rights of minorities, and the Irish and British Governments are its co-guarantors. If the...