Results 8,361-8,380 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion with Commissioner for Victims and Survivors (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I am grateful to Ms Stone for briefing me shortly after her appointment and her subsequent engagement. Her presentation was excellent and dealt comprehensively with the different aspects of victims' needs and other legacies of the past. In the aftermath of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Kenneth Bloomfield was appointed as victims commissioner in the North and the former...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: North-South Co-operation on Health and EU Directive on Patients' Rights: Department of Health (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the delegation from the Department and I thank Ms Nic Aongusa and Mr. Barron for their presentations. I agree with Deputy Conlan in regard to the need to improve practical co-operation on a daily basis. Over the years there has been the provision of services by Omagh hospital for Monaghan and a dialysis service from Daisy Hill Hospital for patients in County Louth in particular....

Other Questions: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 6. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the use of unmanned drones in military operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1482/14]

Other Questions: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: As a country we should clearly outline our total opposition to the use in combat of unmanned drones, also known as unmanned combat aerial vehicles or UCAVs. The EU must take steps, through the UN, to bring a halt to unlawful UCAV attacks. It should promote the agreement of an international treaty on UCAVs and the extension of the scope of the arms trade treaty to include UCAVs. The UN...

Other Questions: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. When I said we should be opposed to the use of drones, I was of course referring to their use in combat rather than their use in surveillance work. Does the Minister recall whether the comments of the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism were discussed at EU level? The rapporteur, Mr. Emmerson, is engaged in an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 80. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is proposed to carry out actuarial estimates for the cost of public sector pensions; if it is proposed to carry out such estimates on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6116/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ulster Canal Restoration Project (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 111. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up to date position in regard to the proposed restoration of the Ulster Canal; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughtering Data (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has to assist farmers who wish to dispose of horses in view of the poor market returns for such animals at present; if he proposes to introduce a scheme for the depopulation of horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6120/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 260. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to provide additional grant aid to Cavan County Council for its non-national roadworks programme for 2014 in view of the recent deterioration in road conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (6 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to provide additional grant aid to Monaghan County Council for its non-national roadworks programme for 2014 in view of the recent deterioration in road conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/14]

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: That is not correct. Absolutely incorrect.

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: The Good Friday Agreement is a powerful and lasting achievement, marking an historic breakthrough in relations on this island, as well as in relations between Ireland and Britain. All of us must be conscious of the significant benefits that have derived from the Agreement but we must be diligent in our work to ensure the peace process is not just about the absence of violence. That is not...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons who have travelled from Ireland to fight in the Syrian civil war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1506/14]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: This question refers to the greatest humanitarian crisis of modern times. Up to 2.3 million Syrian people are refugees in neighbouring countries, half of whom are children. Up to 6.5 million people have been displaced internally with upwards of 130,000 murdered. Foreign fighters began arriving in earnest in Syria in early 2012, a year after peaceful protests against the al-Assad regime...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: Has the issue of Europeans taking part in this conflict been discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council?

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. The number of individuals from western Europe who have travelled to participate in the conflict in Syria has trebled to almost 2,000. According to a study by King’s College, London, this figure includes up to 366 from Britain. Have we an estimate of how many Irish people have travelled to Syria to participate in the conflict?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peer Review of Ireland's Development Co-operation Programme: OECD (4 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: Does the EU take the best of the practices of member states and convert them into a policy in its programmes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peer Review of Ireland's Development Co-operation Programme: OECD (4 Feb 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the delegation, which is carrying out important work. The Chairman referred to the need for public support for the programme. In challenging economic times, this country continues to provide a very substantial aid programme. The taxpayers and the public at large need to know that money is being put to good use. Syria is the humanitarian crisis of this generation and it was most...

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

Brendan Smith: 150. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to discuss further with the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive the need to establish a civic forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4953/14]

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

Brendan Smith: 489. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that no additional penalties are imposed on owners of old tractors where their registration is now being regularised; if due account will be taken of the inevitable delays that occur in preparing all documentation for processing; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a considerable additional...