Results 8,121-8,140 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I referred to the loss of life and the intensification in the period January to March 2014 when Amnesty International estimated there were 1,500 deaths.

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Has he had the opportunity to discuss with other donor states the reasoning for their cutting off aid? Were they not conscious, as the Minister of State seems to be, of the message from civil society in Uganda? Is the Minister of State confident that the civil society representatives whom he meets are representative of society in general and...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider reviewing the allocation of Irish aid to countries which have oppressive anti-homosexual legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/14]

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Ugandan President signed a law last February that imposes very tough and unacceptable penalties on homosexual acts. This legislation threatens to usher in an era of very harsh treatment of offenders and could lead to widespread oppression of gay men and lesbians, which should be totally unacceptable to the international community. The denial of basic human rights is not tolerable. Has...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am glad he has conveyed our concerns to the Ugandan authorities in respect of this very oppressive legislation. Will he ensure that at political and official level every opportunity is taken to continue to highlight to the Ugandan authorities the unacceptable nature of this legislation and the measures contained therein? Does the Minister of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply and fully appreciate the effort he has made to date. It is welcome that he will be in Washington next month. There have been a number of developments which seem to give some optimism that progress will be made. The Speaker, Mr. Boehner, was recently quoted as stating progress could be made with the Democrats through building goodwill on several...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his remarks and fully agree with him that we all hope to see progress being made on these two issues. I hope that in the next five to six weeks progress can be made. As we have discussed in committee and the House on numerous occasions, much hardship is imposed on individuals and families owing to the current status of more than 50,000 Irish people. There is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made this year in securing a legislative compromise in the United States Congress to provide a way of securing the future of the undocumented Irish there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: As all of us in the House know, there are approximately 50,000 Irish people in the United States, commonly referred to as “the undocumented”, who need to have their status regularised. Their current status is extremely difficult for them as they go about their daily business. We must also bear in mind in many instances the hardship and heartbreak for their families at home....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he has made to try to progress the Haass talks to a successful conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23289/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I note that we have Foreign Affairs oral questions on 1 July and on that occasion we will have an opportunity to pay tribute to the Tánaiste and Minister and for Foreign Affairs and his current role in government. It is essential that both Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, take a hands-on approach in efforts to bring to a successful conclusion the Haass talks....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Unfortunately, a number of deadlines have been missed - the end of December, St. Patrick's week, Easter time and the election dates. I sincerely hope that what has been outlined by the Tánaiste in his concluding remarks can gain traction and that the issues can be dealt with. I note that comments attributed to Prime Minister, David Cameron,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: Can we hope that tomorrow, in the Tánaiste's talks with Theresa Villiers, he will give a clear indication that both Governments will take a hands-on approach in dealing with these issues? As I mentioned on numerous occasions, any time we made progress on the issues pertaining to this island on North-South development, the agenda was driven by two sovereign Governments. We had the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 18. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way Irish Aid allocated to the crisis in Syria has been spent over the past two years; if he will provide an update on the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department has received any complaints relating to the operation of Irish embassies or consulates abroad from Irish citizens or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contact he has had with the Egyptian authorities in order to secure the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied); if he has been in contact with this person's family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the EU's engagement in the Ukrainian crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Status (27 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 827. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed new national children's hospital; when this project is likely to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22773/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 May 2014)

Brendan Smith: 50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting of 12 May 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22030/14]