Results 7,481-7,500 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I want to refer again to the establishment of the historical investigations unit. By definition, it will deal with issues that are decades old. Many of the families affected by murders that were never properly investigated are getting to an age at which they are concerned that they will never see a thorough investigation into the murders of, and in many cases the injuries inflicted on,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 172. 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. [15329/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: The Fianna Fáil Party warmly welcomed the Stormont House Agreement towards the end of last December. It is an important mechanism to advance a number of outstanding issues, including identity, the need for welfare reform to meet the needs of the less well-off, and making Government finance in Northern Ireland more sustainable. Many of the issues are ones we do not have the luxury of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response. Is it assumed that no progress will be made on these issues due to the fact that the Westminster elections are taking place on 7 May? Has the Minister asked the Sinn Féin Party why it decided to backtrack on the initial agreement about welfare reform to which it signed up on 23 December? With regard to the devolution of responsibility for parades...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister sincerely for his interest. I keep raising this issue because we want to assure the families of the victims, and victims themselves, that we are determined, as a Parliament, to ensure proper and full investigations are carried out. Before the 41st anniversary of these awful deeds, a new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will probably have been appointed by a new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: The Minister acknowledged the engagement Deputy Micheál Martin and myself have had with the Secretary of State. We also engaged with the Labour Party spokesperson for Northern Ireland, Mr. Lewis MP. As the Minister knows, the Barron report is extremely important. Mr. Justice Henry Barron found grounds for suspecting that the bombers may have had help from members of the British...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise again with the British Government the need to release the files and papers pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15328/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: In May 1974 the single greatest act of carnage in the period known as the Troubles on our island resulted in the deaths of 44 innocent people from Dublin city and Monaghan town. The Dáil, in 2008 and 2011, unanimously passed a motion requesting the British Government to give an international eminent legal person access to papers and files relating to those bombings. Unfortunately, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: North-South Interconnector: EirGrid (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: I will be brief as I must attend another committee meeting. I welcome the chief executive's clear statement in response to my party colleague, Deputy Michael Moynihan, that it is feasible to underground the North-South interconnector project. I suggest that in advancing the project, EirGrid should consult the local community about undergrounding options. Another issue that has not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 185. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further progress that has been made on regularising the status of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15264/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 201. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken at European Union level to raise his concern at recent pronouncements by the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, that a two state solution will not occur under his premiership; the Government’s position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15262/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 207. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has conducted an assessment of the impact of a possible exit by the United Kingdom from the European Union; if his Department will take an active role in the debate on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15261/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Voting Rights (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 212. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason no voting proposals for Irish citizens abroad were contained in the global Irish Diaspora policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15263/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 550. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to ensure that an Irish citizen (details supplied) receives a fair trial in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15348/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Advice (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 551. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries, which his Department currently advise caution on, when travelling to; the way his Department promotes this advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15349/15]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (21 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 680. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to implement the Irish Postmasters' Union six point action plan to sustain the post office network and support local communities which was published recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15648/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Laundering (16 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 88. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional measures he proposes to implement to deal with the issue of illegal trading in diesel and petrol products, which is impacting severely on small legitimate businesses and on many motorists due to damage to vehicle engines, particularly in the Border areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15107/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 174. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of any recent discussions he has had with the authorities in the United States of America in relation to the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next meeting of the Implementation Group on the Stormont House Agreement will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15078/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Apr 2015)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and adjoining areas will be discussed at the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15079/15]