Results 8,561-8,580 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations Human Rights Council: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: No, it is not switched on. As Mr. Wrafter noted, the promotion and protection of human rights has for many decades been a central and core part of Irish Government foreign policy, and membership of the Human Rights Council provides an opportunity to maximise Ireland's influence in that respect. On Syria, Mr. Wrafter's notes refer to a special session on Syria being held on 2 December 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the proposed Geneva II conference on the Syrian crisis was discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; if the participants in the Conference have yet been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47361/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (6 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the humanitarian crisis in Syria and that region was discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; if an update was given on the level of humanitarian aid provided by the international community compared to the pledges made some time ago; if the EU proposes to raise with other countries the need for humanitarian...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Minister's very clear statement and he summed up very well the significant grief and anguish felt by so many families. As he noted, the request of these families is very small, and with courage and dignity they have outlined very clearly that they want a final resting place for loved ones where they can lay flowers and say a prayer. We should all recognise that these are...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: I appreciate that the Minister is present to deal with this very important matter. Last night we witnessed a harrowing programme which chronicled the bleak tale of the disappeared, the silent witnesses to some of the grimmest and most cynical crimes in that troubled time. Sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and mothers were ruthlessly taken from their families in the dark of night on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Surveillance in EU Institutions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in response to the alleged surveillance of government and civilian communications in Europe by US authorities; if he has established if any such surveillance took place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47025/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Surveillance in EU Institutions (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 127. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 2 October 2013, if he will provide any subsequent information relating to and arising from his response and the Topical Issue raised on 2 July in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47026/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 132. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State the serious issues relating to collusion outlined in the recent publication, Lethal Allies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47095/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 352. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will examine the pension paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46048/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 406. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures that are provided for in the EU/Canada Trade Agreement to protect the Irish and European beef and pork sectors, in view of the major concessions on beef and pork ceded by the EU to Canada in the Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46486/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Maintenance (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 597. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate the current stage of the proposed restoration of the Ulster Canal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46485/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 745. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the British Government’s decision to rule out a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing by the Real IRA in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41185/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Brendan Smith: 747. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress he has made in advancing the Irish role in EU judicial and home affairs co-operation as set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41213/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economic Development: Discussion with InterTradeIreland (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. Hunter McGowan and Mr. Gough and compliment them on their work. They say that InterTradeIreland is 14 years in existence. The Acumen programme was running in Ballyconnell more than 14 years ago, so it probably predated the political progress made at the end of the 1990s and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. I am glad the witnesses have highlighted the significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Border Region Road Links: Discussion with NRA (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: We want to amend the record of the committee not to say the "village of Belturbet". Deputy Joe O'Reilly and I would be very offended to think people would class Belturbet as a village.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Border Region Road Links: Discussion with NRA (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: Unfortunately, it is losing its town council, which it should not be, and my colleague and friend agrees with me on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Border Region Road Links: Discussion with NRA (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: It is the N2.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Border Region Road Links: Discussion with NRA (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. Barry and his colleague, Mr. Nolan. The landscape of our national routes has changed dramatically over the past decade. The establishment of the National Roads Authority was pivotal to the co-ordination of the work undertaken. Many people in our area of public life refer to every statutory and semi-State agency as a quango but the NRA is not a quango. It has been extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (24 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his position regarding the classification of the ESB's pension scheme; if he is satisfied that the ESB pension scheme meets the Pension Board's minimum funding standard [44962/13]

Older Citizens: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to make a short contribution on what is an important debate. I am one of the Members representing counties Cavan and Monaghan, an area commonly referred to as drumlin country. I have a particular concern in regard to the poor or, indeed, non-existent mobile telephone coverage in parts of the two counties. When one travels through that area, calls constantly drop....