Results 8,421-8,440 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (Resumed) (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: To conclude, I would have thought greater effort would have been made to try to complete the Haass talks and to reach agreement coming up to St. Patrick's week. I commend the Alliance Party, the SDLP and Sinn Féin on the huge effort they put in to try to reach an agreement when Dr. Haass was here chairing and leading those talks. I said months ago and it is still my opinion that the...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (Resumed) (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I will deal with Government priorities as they should relate to Northern Ireland. While I believe the Government has wrongly allowed itself to increasingly be seen as more of a bystander than an active participant on issues concerning Northern Ireland, the Government is not to blame for the recent problems. Leaving the peace process in the hands of two parties focused on partisan interests...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Ukraine: Russian Federation Ambassador (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the ambassador and his colleagues to the committee. We are not here to demonise the Russian Federation. It was a term he used himself and he said that the Russian people are grieving for those who lost their lives in this conflict. The loss of life is a concern to all of us. Why was Russia not represented at the Budapest Memorandum talks last week? The US, EU and Ukraine were...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the up-to-date position regarding a new application submitted by Monaghan County Council in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if this application will be finalised and approved at an early date as this project has been under consideration for a considerable length of time; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if further consideration will be given to the detailed submission made in respect of the need to retain the present staffing complement at a school (details supplied); if he will ensure all of the issues outlined in the submission from the parents' association on the school's staffing needs and likely future enrolment will be taken into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the current stage of the project; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12154/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Development Projects (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 276. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if funding will be continued in respect of a project where valuable and much-needed employment has been created (details supplied); if urgent consideration will be given to the detailed appeal submitted to Pobal in respect of the need to continue financial assistance for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12150/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 290. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total funding paid to date by county under the turf compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12156/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 291. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current position regarding the proposed restoration of the Ulster Canal; when this project is likely to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12157/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 350. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will further consider a request by Monaghan County Council (details supplied) regarding the rural development programme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reports (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 582. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of the Cavan-Monaghan integrated service area in the delivery of health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12151/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reports (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 583. To ask the Minister for Health if a review of the integrated services area in the delivery of health services has been completed; when this report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12153/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 584. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been a reduction in the staffing complement at a hospital (details supplied); if so, if there are proposals to increase the staffing resources in this particular department of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12155/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Programme Expenditure (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Smith: 585. To ask the Minister for Health the present position regarding a capital development project (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12158/14]

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]