Results 8,301-8,320 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I am glad that the Minister of State has given us a firm assurance that the Taoiseach and other members of the Government who will be in the United States will take every opportunity to raise at political and official level the need to have this immigration reform passed by the House of Representatives. We must try to ensure this is the year of immigration reform. We all encounter families...

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I am glad to be given the opportunity to raise this very important issue at this time. In June 2013, the US Senate passed the most monumental overhaul of US immigration laws in a generation which would clear the way for millions of undocumented residents to have a chance at citizenship, attract workers from all over the world and devote unprecedented resources for security along the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Support: Special Olympics Ireland (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: Ulster in its proper context.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Support: Special Olympics Ireland (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. English and his colleagues and thank them for their detailed presentation. They outlined a vision - which is not just confined to sport, although that is obviously very important - of the wider benefits that accrue from participation in Special Olympics. When we think of the Special Olympics, all of us think of the iconic event in Croke Park in 2003 and the huge buy-in and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Northern Ireland - Time to Deal with the Past: Amnesty International (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the representatives of Amnesty International here today. I will not delay the meeting as I have had the opportunity to engage directly with the guests, but I welcome the research, the report and the proposals it contains. I understand the HET has been practically stood down. From its research and engagement with different stakeholders, would Amnesty International think a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the discussions at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in relation to the difficulties in Ukraine; the proposals he put forward for discussion and for follow up by the EU in relation to this continuing political instability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11425/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has conveyed to the Ugandan Government his condemnation of the introduction of new anti-gay laws; if he proposes to raise the issue of these new draconian laws with other Foreign Ministers of the European Union; if it is proposed that the European Union will convey its concerns in relation to the denial of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total funding allocation and the likely percentage of GNP he plans for overseas development aid for 2014 to 2016, inclusive, in view of the commitment in the programme for Government to provide 0.7% of GNP by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11449/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 175. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be provided to Cavan County Council in 2014 in respect of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11445/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 267. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a medical card holder who had their application approved in September 2013 with expiry date August 2015 has now received correspondence from the Health Service Executive stating that a review form will have to be submitted prior to the end of March 2014; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the necessity to go through the application...

Protection of Residential Mortgage Account Holders Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: This Bill is an example of a party in opposition contributing positively to political debate by putting forward positive, sensible and viable proposals. Most importantly, it proposes to deal urgently with a major potential problem and avoid putting many hard-pressed families and individuals across the country in a more vulnerable position in dealing with mortgage forbearance and resolution...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Ukraine: Ukrainian Ambassador (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the ambassador and empathise sincerely with him on the difficulties facing his country. He may be aware that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade came before the joint committee yesterday to discuss a post-European Council meeting report. The meeting dealt at length with various issues. In his concluding remarks the ambassador referred to successive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Recent and Forthcoming Foreign Affairs Councils: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his detailed statement. He correctly stated that Russia is completely disregarding its international obligations and international laws are being blatantly violated. Media coverage suggests there are currently 16,000 pro-Russian troops in control of the Crimean region's security and administration infrastructure. President Putin stated that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the need to establish, without further delay, the civic forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10969/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 295. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider the request of Clones Town Council that the extra charges applicable to a motorist taxing a vehicle for a three month period as opposed to a 12 month period should be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10968/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pork Exports (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 369. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent meeting of chief veterinary officers of the European Union in relation to the ban by Russia on all imports of pigmeat from the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10986/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pork Exports (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has had with the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and with the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy in relation to the decision by Russia to ban all imports of pigmeat from the EU; if his attention has been drawn to the serious financial pressures on pig producers at...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pork Exports (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 371. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had any discussions with the Russian authorities in relation to the need to re-open their market for the import of pigmeat from Ireland as this country is free of the disease that gave rise to the implementation of the ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10988/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 372. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will implement to deal with the serious problems facing beef producers due to the reduction in prices and changes to carcass specification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10990/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I concur with the remarks of the Chairman and Deputy Durkan.