Results 61-80 of 317 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (1 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: 124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide greater detail regarding the evacuation of 15 Irish citizens from Israel, specifically the role of Austria in the evacuation, and the reasoning behind the Defence Forces not performing the evacuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35442/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Jul 2025)

Duncan Smith: 199. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Defence Force Regulations made by him under the Defence Acts 1954 to 2015 are not laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas or included in the electronic Irish Statute Book or made public, whether pursuant to section 3 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1947 or otherwise; if the Defence Force Regulations have been expressed to be...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: That is all eating into all of our time. It eats into the time of all of us who are coming behind. I intend to use only one minute of my time. Public transport is under huge pressure in our city and surrounding areas. BusConnects, where we desperately need it in north County Dublin, in Donabate and Portrane, has been delayed yet again until autumn 2026. A service there, the 33B, is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: People have previously been rushed towards the end of their contributions.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Cathaoirleach. There is no doubt the UN is in a weakened position and the UN Security Council is paralysed. For those of us who want to see the UN restrengthened, commit to it and value Ireland's history and tradition with the United Nations, I will posit a theory. I will direct the question to Mr. Murphy first. Setting aside operational practicalities, at least in theory, if...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I understand that. We are talking about the direction of travel in the EU, which I do not dispute, that Kaja Kallas and others want to bring EU nations towards. I have huge worries about that direction, the militarisation of Europe and Ireland being caught up in that. I have a massive concern about us simply removing the triple lock without at least examining other methods for a potential...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I have a question for Professor Tonra. Does the triple lock stop us investing in our Defence Forces' capacity, protecting our undersea cables, engaging with PESCO, Partnership for Peace and similar which we have already done? Does it generally stop us increasing our capacity for national security?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank Professor Tonra.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 212. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issues with the reliability of the 33B bus service from Portrane to Swords which is operated by the bus company Go-Ahead Ireland, that in May 2025 busses were cancelled on 18 days of the 31 days’ services operated, leaving commuters stranded, with many having to take taxis to their destination at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm if there is capacity in any of the existing primary schools in Donabate to add extra classes on a temporary basis given the shortage of places which is set to worsen with the rapidly growing population in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35034/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 278. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in the roll out of the hot school meals scheme in a school (details supplied) and to confirm that the roll out of this scheme in this school will be prioritised and delivered at the earliest possible time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35150/25]

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: School Accommodation (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. I sit on school boards, as the Minister of State probably does or has done. I am aware of the matter of duplication. This is why we have presented the data in its baldest form. Duplication is not an issue. I know it sometimes is an issue in other towns but it is not an issue in Portmarnock. The development and provision of a large new school building...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: School Accommodation (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. I represent Dublin Fingal East in north County Dublin, which has a very young and fast-growing population. There is a lack of primary school places in the village of Portmarnock, which is an issue I have been raising for a number of months. I have tabled parliamentary questions to the Minister. Unfortunately the responses have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artists' Remuneration (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the basic income for the arts (BIA) scheme will be continued in Budget 2026; if he plans to make the BIA scheme permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Insurance Coverage (25 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: 193. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify whether it is a legal requirement for all private medical insurance to include maternity, newborn and fertility sections on all policies, regardless of the age of the policyholder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34693/25]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Since the latest meeting of the Business Committee, we have seen the new rules from the US on J1 and other visas. The Taoiseach has described them as excessive, but does he have any words of comfort for the thousands of young Irish people who have to give over five years' worth of social media usernames? This is having a chilling impact on our young people and other applicants for visas....

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Regarding our air domain, what is our current aircraft capacity? Where do we need to get to with numbers of aircraft in order to provide the optimum level of protection for our air domain?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Where does unmanned drone technology fit in with our overall capability in this space?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: Was there a procurement process last year for drone technology?

Committee on Defence and National Security: Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion (24 Jun 2025)

Duncan Smith: We have none of those but they would be in the plan?