Results 61-80 of 422 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the witnesses for coming in this morning, for their submission and for the material update that was provided at the start of the meeting. In relation to the regeneration and development plan and the initial success of its implementation in terms of recruitment, were there targets within that plan as to what were the expected levels of recruitment? There was a 300% increase and 270...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: I know there are not final figures for this year but is there a sense that it will be a similar trajectory this year?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: It will be a substantial number again, showing success in attracting new members into the RDF. I will use a word and it may not be the correct one but it would seem from his statement that the Department was caught off guard by this and the move to cut pay or reduce allowances was a correction being applied versus the success of the recruitment, which is again paradoxical. As Mr. Richardson...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: That is really helpful for us to know as a scale of what we should be looking at. Obviously, it would be great if in two weeks' time when the budget comes out we are at that upper limit. It probably will not be, given the 12 year spread we have seen in terms of Mr. Richardson's statement. I have a question about the military service allowance and duties a PDF member would do compared with...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: But the RDF does the same duties?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: Paid for the work that is done, basically.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: That is a very fair, basic principle of work. My final question is not one I planned but it is a result of one of the earlier responses. Cyber defence and cyber security is an area I am trying to get my head around further. Mr. Richardson mentioned that some RDF members would have duties in that space. How are RDF members selected or put forward for those duties? Would they have had...

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: It is really encouraging to hear that the RDF is looking and seeking whatever expertise it has in this area of such new challenge. That is brilliant to hear.

Committee on Defence and National Security: Update on Issues in the Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: It will likely be more than that anyway.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 320. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to examine the case for accommodation transfer for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50992/25]

Child Poverty and Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: There are swathes of people raising families in a rental system that was never designed for long-term living, with the inflationary impact of increased rental costs. The average industrial wage in this country is just over €50,000, but the average rental price in Dublin is over half the industrial wage. If we take into account all the cost-of-living increases, particularly relating...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 100. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland’s strategic response to Russia’s incursion into Polish airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49021/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 281. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills is she aware of the increase in referrals of youths to youth services in Swords from the fast growing Donabate area (details supplied); and the means by which she intends to address this matter as a priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49781/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 456. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is he aware of the increase in referrals of youths to youth services in Swords from the Donabate area from the Garda juvenile liaison officer given the increasing population, which is set to continue to increase; to provide details of the numbers of referrals and an outline of the reasons for same; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 457. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a couple (details supplied) are still waiting on their visas to be approved despite applying for them in January 2025, so they can re-enter the state and be reunited with their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49787/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 472. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide Garda numbers in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North since 2010, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49927/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (23 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 636. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify if CAR T-cell therapy is available in Ireland (details supplied); if so in which hospitals; and if not, if she plans to introduce it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50005/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste. I will not delve too much further into the details of this. I look forward to his more detailed response and anything the Department of Social Protection can do. I will come back through him if I believe there are any further avenues we can pursue.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: 2. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if pension entitlements will be transferred to the widow of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49022/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pension Provisions (18 Sep 2025)

Duncan Smith: It was not my initial intention to raise this as a priority question this morning but I am glad of the opportunity. It relates to the pension entitlements of deceased Defence Forces officer Peter Flood and transferring those to entitlements to his widow.