Results 8,021-8,040 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training Boards (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me an opportunity to raise this important matter on Topical Issues. As the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, will know, the Cavan and Monaghan education and training board has submitted a detailed proposal to the Department of Education and Skills in respect of the delivery of training in Cavan and Monaghan from 2015 onwards. The Dundalk training...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Support for Family Carers on the Island of Ireland: Carers' Cross-Border Consortium (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Chairman, welcome the witnesses and compliment them on their work. They have given a detailed presentation and we should all appreciate the outstanding work done throughout the island and abroad by carers. Ms Doonan and Mr. Caughey made clear that we must support carers in the difficult work they do. Their work is often unsung and unpaid. Along with giving proper recognition...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Co-operation in Communications Technology: ERNACT (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: Some of the contributions made gave the impression there is no broadband anywhere. We need to balance our comments. There is a very good broadband service available in some towns and villages, but the service is patchy. I did not have the opportunity to read the announcement made yesterday, but we have had numerous initiatives over the past ten or 12 years in regard to rolling out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Co-operation in Communications Technology: ERNACT (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: We have seen various initiatives, but there are still pockets of the country that have been left unprovided for. I know of some villages and towns in my county that have good broadband, but there is poor coverage just half a mile out the road from them. Some houses fall between one broadband-enabled exchange and another exchange that is not broadband-enabled. Small villages near towns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Co-operation in Communications Technology: ERNACT (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Chairman. I apologise for missing the presentation. I was attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. I welcome the witnesses. I have known Ms Rena Donaghey for many years. I met some of the other delegates more recently. Their project is very interesting. When I flicked through the briefing we were given, I did not see any mention of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if humanitarian assistance will be provided to persons in need in Iraq in view of the very difficult circumstances that have arisen due to the security situation in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if further humanitarian aid will be provided for Syria and that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28819/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the long-standing policy of neutrality remains a central element of foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any further actions will be taken to make Ireland a hub for humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28898/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (3 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline in tabular form the budget of Irish development aid as a percentage of GNP in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28899/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Relations Between Ireland and Great Britain: Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: The role of the GAA in Britain is very important for our young emigrants. We have spoken about the societies that do excellent work for older age cohorts, which is important, and reference was made to facilitating people who wish to return to Ireland. In my county of Cavan we did work some years ago making housing available for people who wished to relocate. It is not straightforward and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Relations Between Ireland and Great Britain: Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I compliment Ambassador Mulhall on his presentation today and his work over the years in different postings. Most of us will recall that the former President, Mary McAleese, had as the theme of her first presidential campaign the notion of building bridges. While we understood that as being about North-South co-operation, we were all delighted to see it being expanded to include the...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the EU’s engagement in the Iraqi crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28223/14]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: Yesterday marked another very difficult day in Iraq when Sunnis and Kurds walked out of the first session of the Iraqi Parliament, which impeded the formation of a new government. I understand that following a recess there were not enough lawmakers present in the parliament to form a quorum and there has been charge and counter-charge. Is it likely that High Representative Ashton, on behalf...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome also the announcement in recent days by the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, of humanitarian assistance, which is badly needed. I hope the European Union can provide additional assistance, as well as the Government. It is frightening that the United Nations announced that June had been the deadliest month in Iraq for many years....

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I hope resolution of the nuclear issue can be advanced in the context of the Vienna talks. I am sure the new Iranian ambassador to this country has spoken to all political parties. He is very anxious that we move on and give added impetus to the diplomatic and the trade relations between both countries. I understand the Ceann Comhairle has an...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: From High Representative Ashton's presentations to the Foreign Affairs Council, is there any belief that conditions are improving in Iran and that it is making the effort to enable the European Union to reduce sanctions and to improve the trading relationship between both blocs and obviously deal with other issues as well as trade?

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider re-opening the Irish embassy in Iran; if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form by year of the savings made by the decision to close the Iranian embassy; if he still supports EU sanctions against Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/14]

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: When the Tánaiste announced the opening of some consulates in January, there was an expectation that the embassy in Tehran would be re-opened. It is an important trading partner. I think the trade is worth €51.5 million on an annual basis. I know that on a successful visit by some members of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to Iran, they got a very clear...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Brendan Smith: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on immigration reform law following his recent visit to Washington D.C.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28366/14]