Results 7,441-7,460 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Developing Growth Markets: IDA Ireland (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: In regard to languages, there was an initiative for developing an additional language at primary school level, spearheaded by the Kildare education centre. This was a pilot scheme, but despite results from it being positive the initiative ceased. Has the IDA advised the Government or its parent Department, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, of the need for more proficiency...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Developing Growth Markets: IDA Ireland (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: That is unfair.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 122. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person, who is a participant on a JobBridge Scheme in a voluntary secondary school, may subsequently participate on the JobsPlus scheme in the same school; if the JobsPlus scheme is confined to fee-paying schools only; if State-funded schools are excluded from this particular scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17869/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Carbon Tax Implementation (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 175. 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 carbon tax on household fuel products; that the viability of many of these businesses is under threat; and that revenue is being lost to the State; his proposals to reduce the level of carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/15]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 187. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a non-established long-serving civil servant in the Office of Public Works is eligible for a transfer to another Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17868/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, for counties Cavan and Monaghan, over the period 2010 to 2014, the total number of participants in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme; the total grant payments made in each county on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 226. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the duties and/or responsibilities that have been delegated to the Minister of State (details supplied) in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17833/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Services (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 420. To ask the Minister for Health when respite beds will reopen in a nursing unit for the elderly (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17873/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Courses Availability (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 509. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that there will be no reduction in courses or resources available in University College Cork, pertaining to the study of language and culture in east Asia, which is particularly important in the context of Irish trade promotion in expanding and emerging markets in Asia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17813/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 569. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the duties and-or responsibilities that have been delegated to the Minister of State (details supplied) in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17832/15]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 575. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will give urgent consideration to the contents of the motion passed by Monaghan County Council on the proposed North-South interconnector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17736/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 May 2015)

Brendan Smith: 602. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the duties and responsibilities that have been delegated to the Minister of State (details supplied) in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17831/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the allocation from the overseas development aid budget. If further assistance can be given, it would be very welcome. I heard an appeal by GOAL this morning from one of its personnel out there. Again, we should commend and support the work of our non-governmental organisations. I am sure they are working with their sister organisations. I hope the Department will be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: He said in his e-mail to his cousin that there was absolute chaos locally. He hopes to get to the airport to get a flight on Friday to Thailand. Hopefully, other people who are missing will be found and contact made with their families. Will the Minister and Minister of State give further assistance from their budget to assist Nepal at this very difficult time and get the assistance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: Just on that point, Mr. Drumm’s cousin made the point that not everybody has immediate access to e-mail or other communications. Hopefully, those who have not made contact yet are safe and well and will make contact soon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the contributions by Mr. Kelly and Mr. Nevin. Mention is made in the briefing provided that product exports to the ASEAN countries has decreased by 4% since 2011 while service exports have risen by 22%. Perhaps we could get a breakdown in regard to the product and service exports, including financial, ICT and insurance services. It was also stated that there is an opportunity to...

Other Questions: Mobile Telephony (28 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: When someone rings a public utility company the process is frustrating. They are asked to press button X, Y or Z but they cannot get through to anybody and they hang up. The genuine grievances of customers, therefore, are not being recorded because of the frustration in trying to speak to a member of staff of, say, ComReg or the telephone companies. Telephone companies are in the...

Other Questions: Mobile Telephony (28 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 446 of 15 July 2014 and 579 of 7 October 2014, if he is aware that there has been no improvement in mobile telephone coverage in areas such as County Cavan and County Monaghan; if, as requested previously, he and the Commission for Communications Regulator will convey to the...

Other Questions: Mobile Telephony (28 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: For almost two years, mobile phone coverage has been appalling in the Cavan-Monaghan area. It is constantly deteriorating and is a cause of utter frustration and concern to those using mobile phones both for social and commercial purposes. There is an obvious need for investment in mobile telephony infrastructure.