Results 8,741-8,760 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the appointment of Ambassador Haass and Dr. O'Sullivan and I wish them well in their work. We have been critical of the fact that, over the past 18 months or two years, the political establishment in Northern Ireland has fallen back on the politics of parades and protest when it suits. We must get away from that. This initiative is important in building the next stage of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: It is essential that we avoid the very unwelcome and unacceptable behaviour of last December and January on the parades and flags issue. We cannot have people accepting the determinations of the Parades Commission when it suits them. That message should be made clear to all political leaders in Northern Ireland. Does the Tánaiste know if Dr. Haass proposes to meet with groups from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement he has had at European Union level and at United Nations level in relation to the urgent need to bring an end to the ongoing conflict and loss of life in Syria; the efforts being made to ensure that the international community meets its obligations to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to Syria and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. It is welcome, as he has stated, rightly, that the Syrian crisis was the main topic of discussion at the UN Security Council last week. Once again, however, the Council has been, as it is has been for so long, ineffective in dealing with this issue. As the Tánaiste said, the European Union is playing its part in providing humanitarian aid....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: The most recent figure I saw from the United States indicates that every 15 seconds a Syrian person flees his or her country, which is frightening. Does the Tánaiste yet know the countries which have agreed to participate in the Geneva II talks to be held in November? Does he foresee a situation where the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attack in Syria will be brought before the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 78. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date of the immigration reform bill in the US Congress; the plans he has to advance this initiative with the United States authorities in regard to the position of the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41481/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (1 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 119. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with the Dublin Bus unions and management; if he will provide an update on the current impasse in industrial relations at the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40836/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACE IV Programme: Discussion with Special EU Programmes Body (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: Mr. Henry spoke about trying to assist youth work in particular. I had the opportunity to visit Lurgan GAA club along with Ms Dolores Kelly, MLA. In addition to the traditional games of football, hurling and handball, a very active youth club is based there and uses those facilities. There has been considerable difficulty in the area over the years. The model that was developed between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACE IV Programme: Discussion with Special EU Programmes Body (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. Colgan and his colleagues and compliment them on the work and success of the three PEACE programmes to date. As a representative of two southern Ulster counties, I am familiar with a number of worthwhile initiatives in those communities that have been funded by the programmes and INTERREG. As representatives of the Border counties, we have been concerned about an issue since...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Application Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 25. To ask the Minister for Health the numbers awaiting placement through the nursing homes support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40006/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 66. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure profile for his Department up to the end of August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40321/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide additional overseas development assistance for Syria and that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40322/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 113. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Peace IV Programme will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grants Funding (26 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council in respect of housing adaptation grant for people with a disability, mobility aids housing grant and housing aid for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40320/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation of Baha'i Faith in Iran: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Mr. McNamara and his colleagues. When I have engaged with the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Ireland, I have found its members to be fair and reasonable. What Mr. McNamara has outlined to us is very disturbing. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has assured us in replies to parliamentary questions and briefings that it takes the opportunity to raise the...

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his response. His commitment to using every opportunity to highlight the huge humanitarian disaster that has taken place over the past two years is obvious. He will be aware that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade had a detailed discussion on this issue with the Tánaiste last week. Many non-governmental organisations and sister...

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: I appreciate the fact that significant funding from our overseas development aid budget has been allocated for this worthy humanitarian effort. In fairness to Europe, it has been the best contributor to the humanitarian effort. As I have said to the Tánaiste during previous debates on this matter during Question Time and Topical Issues, Europe needs to keep reminding the rest of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise once again in this House the very important issue of the very desperate situation in Syria. I have raised the matter in Topical Issue debates on a number of occasions. This is the first opportunity I have had in this House to congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Donohoe, on his appointment and wish him...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to support the suckler cow sector as part of the Common Agricultural Policy reform 2013 implementation; the proposals he is considering to finance such support from CAP and national finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39539/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Brendan Smith: 78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken on foot of the horsemeat crisis to ensure that the issues raised at the time are dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39542/13]