Results 8,741-8,760 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plant Licences (10 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application will be finalised in respect of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42920/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Impact of Conflict in Syria: Discussion. (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the guests and, through them as representatives of their organisations, I compliment the staff and colleagues working in difficult circumstances. The witnesses' contributions have outlined the serious and frightening humanitarian disaster in Syria and the adjoining regions. Mr. Ros O'Sullivan mentioned that we want to get away from the emphasis on chemical weapons and the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (9 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 41. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if progress is being made on ensuring that public service procurement contracts are secured by Irish firms in a manner that is within EU guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42505/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: 85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to regulate the admission of children to primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42255/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion (Resumed) with the Irish Farmers Association (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: My question relates to the fact that Great Britain is our largest trading partner and our neighbour. In the IFA's discussions with its sister organisations in Britain, has it encountered any nervousness in regard to a possible referendum on British membership of the European Union? We can lay the best of plans for trade and exports but we depend on exchange rate stability. Sterling...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion (Resumed) with the Irish Farmers Association (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Chairman and join him in welcoming the IFA president and his colleagues to the meeting. I compliment Mr. Bryan on his positive and wide-ranging contribution on the importance of the agrifood industry to our economy overall. In his concluding comments the IFA president remarked that Europe demands very high standards. We have those standards in this country and that is the...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. This is clearly a very trying and difficult time for the Halawa family and all of us in the House would commiserate with them on the very difficult position of the four siblings. It is totally unacceptable that expected access during the time in which these people faced the prosecutor was denied to the Department's consular officials. Is it...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (2 Oct 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome the fact that Ireland has provided almost €11 million in aid. Is the Minister of State satisfied that such humanitarian aid is getting to the most distressed and needy because we are aware earlier this year of the Assad regime placing obstacles in the way of aid being provided to those he termed to be in the opposition groups? I take...

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

Brendan Smith: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the engagement he has had to date with the Haass talks about flags, parades and legacy issues arising from the Troubles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41480/13]

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]