Results 8,701-8,720 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 51. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the projected reduction in funding for the RAPID and LCDP programmes in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44877/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 72. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent World Bank report in relation to the costs to the Palestinian Economy of €3.4 billion a year due to Israeli restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45005/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update in relation to the Immigration Reform Bill in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45006/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a building project (details supplied) in County Cavan will progress to the next stage in view of the fact that there is an urgent need to provide additional permanent accommodation at this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45004/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for additional permanent accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; if this application will be processed as soon as possible as the school has outlined in detail to his Department the need for this building project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45273/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 116. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the impact the €14.1 million reduction in the Irish Aid programme budget will have on its programmes, projects and services; the programmes, projects or services that will be cancelled as a result of this reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44589/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is still committed to the 0.7% of GNP target for overseas development aid; if he will seek to achieve this target by 2015 as set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44590/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to appoint a resident ambassador to the Holy See; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44884/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to extend the Irish diplomatic and consular representation in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44885/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 123. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of ambassadors assigned on a full-time basis and on a part-time basis to international organisations; the names of such organisations; the status of our representation at each one; the proposals he has to review such assignments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44886/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan participating in the vocational training opportunities scheme in the college years 2012/13 and 2013/14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44892/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (22 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 475. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans regarding the future use of a premises (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [44887/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Payments (17 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 132. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of weeks per year the fuel allowance is paid; the amount paid; those who qualify for this allowance; if an extension of this scheme by one week for recipients in 2012-13 will be included in the 2013-14 scheme; if she proposes any other changes to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44037/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals to have further discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the establishment of the Civic Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44073/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (17 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the issue regarding catchment areas in relation to national schools; if he will clarify who establishes the catchment areas in the Dublin area; if the catchment areas are laid down by his Department or if they are negotiated locally by school authorities/patrons; the way in which parents can currently gain admission for their...