Results 8,361-8,380 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 389. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals to improve broadband telecommunications coverage in an area (details supplied) in County Cavan in view of the ongoing concerns of local residents and businesses in regard to the poor availability of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17623/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (15 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 424. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application submitted by Monaghan County Council in respect of a housing project (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17709/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (15 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 526. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there have been any further developments regarding the ban by Russia on all imports of pig meat from the EU; if he raised this issue at the most recent meeting of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers; if he has had any direct contact with the Russian authorities regarding the need to lift this ban; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 558. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to provide capital funding for community and not for profit child care services which have not availed of grant assistance to date; the timescale for the introduction of such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18068/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (10 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to reduce the costs for persons who have to upgrade their driving licence and renew same more frequently due to recent changes in regulations; who in many instances are one-person business operations with small delivery trucks and so on and who need to undertake a theory test and 12 driving lessons and achieve a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Ukraine: Former UN Co-ordinator in Ukraine (9 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. O'Donnell's detailed and clear presentation. I also welcome his endorsement of the Dáil motion which I supported strongly last week. It is unfortunate that we are back in a certain era. We have returned to Cold War politics. In January and February, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil party, I took the opportunity in the Dáil, during special debates, to criticise the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Retirements (9 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a Garda, who has reached the age of 50 years, is eligible to retire on a full pension even though they do not have full 30 years service, some nine months short of 30 years, by purchasing out the outstanding service or if there is any other option available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16833/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Missing Persons (8 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if further contact will be made with the French authorities in relation to a missing Irish person in France (details supplied); if this request will be given urgent consideration in view of the concerns of the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16610/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (8 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 733. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding has been allocated to Cavan County Council in respect of a project (details supplied); the level of funding provided for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16648/14]

Current Crisis in Ukraine: Motion (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I join you, a Cheann Comhairle, and the Minister of State in welcoming the Ukrainian ambassador. In the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade we had the opportunity to engage with the ambassador on these very important issues. I very much welcome your initiative, a Cheann Comhairle, in suggesting a common motion on the crisis developing in Ukraine and we welcome that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on Ireland’s position regarding the escalating crisis in Ukraine; if he has held discussions with the Ukrainian or Russian ambassador on this topic; if he is satisfied with the actions being taken at an European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15506/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: Russia's seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region has caused the deepest crisis in East-West relations since the Cold War, thereby leading the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on Moscow. They have stated they will strengthen these sanctions if Russia moves beyond Crimea into eastern Ukraine. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which I am a member, had...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have stated in this House previously, as has my party leader, Deputy Martin, that Fianna Fáil fully supports the Government's position in condemning the illegal actions by Russia. We believe the decision by the European Council to extend the list of persons subject to sanctions was a reasonable reaction. It is welcome that at least, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. One of the most recent comments I have heard in this regard was that approximately 40,000 Russian soldiers were deployed on the Ukrainian border, which could pose a particular threat to southern and eastern Ukraine. Further Russian intervention would be a historic mistake. We hope these difficult but important issues can be resolved without the need for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I want to reiterate my commendation of the work of the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Sinn Féin Party prior to the end of the year in making a genuine effort to reach agreement. It is most regrettable that the UUP has now withdrawn from those five-party talks. I believe that more urgency needs to be attached to this. If we have it in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding the actions he has taken to progress the completion of the Haass talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: It is most disappointing that there has not been a successful conclusion to the Haass talks, which concern issues of the utmost importance to the people of Northern Ireland and of all of this island. We need a satisfactory means of dealing with the contentious issues of parades, flags and contending with the past. Time is not on our side to reach a successful conclusion. The lack of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome the particular phraseology he used towards the end of his contribution when he said there is an expectation of delivery. We hope that can be achieved. My one concern, which I have reiterated in this House on numerous occasions, is that there does not seem to be the urgency attached to these talks that there needs to be. We missed the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Brendan Smith: 13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken alongside his EU counterparts regarding the deteriorating situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15383/14]

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

Brendan Smith: 16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned at the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea; if Irish Aid has any plans to support a response to this outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/14]