Results 8,961-8,980 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: 17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with advocacy groups on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the United States in regard to proposed immigration reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23180/13]

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: As we have mentioned previously, this is an extremely important issue because many families in this country want to be able to see family members return from the US. Many undocumented Irish are in a difficult position because they do not have papers. I urge the Tánaiste, his Department and the embassy in the US to continue to lobby at every political and official level to ensure this...

Other Questions: Irish Heritage Certificate (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. It is a welcome development. As the Tánaiste stated in his reply, it was an issue that arose following the study in 2009 of the Irish-United States relationship and also an issue that was discussed at the first Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh. Deputy Martin, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke in 2010 about the idea of harnessing...

Other Questions: EU Diplomatic Service (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: From my limited experience of dealing with European matters in the past, there is great value in having more and more Irish officials working in the different institutions of the EU and whatever can be done to expand that whenever possible would be beneficial for the country in the long term.

Other Questions: European Union Accession (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: May I ask the Tánaiste about another issue that has been brought to my attention by the Bosnian community, that is, the major difficulty for Bosnian farmers when Croatia accedes to the European Union on 1 July? Apparently, it is very dependent on that particular market to sell its products. The Bosnian community here will argue that in the partnership agreement to date with the...

Other Questions: EU Diplomatic Service (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I welcome the fact that officials from his Department are working in the European External Action Service. It is always important that there are Irish people working in the various institutions of the European Union. On a slightly different issue, following the accession of the ten countries in May 2004, recruitment to the EU institutions was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: 4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the Northern Secretary of State, the Northern Executive, Parades Commission and the PSNI in relation to the upcoming marching season in view of the flag protests over the past number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23489/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Parades and flags are major divisive issues in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, in 2013 parading remains a major risk to civic stability in the North. I live near the Border and have contacts in the North. I speak to people every weekend from County Fermanagh and elsewhere. There is a lot of nervousness about the upcoming parading season. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I agree entirely with An Tánaiste that the Parades Commission has to be supported by both Governments and every member of the community in Northern Ireland. A clear message must go out to everybody in Northern Ireland that the Parades Commission can only continue in its vitally important work if it is not second-guessed, especially by public representatives who have a responsibility to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Tánaiste's reply. We have discussed this issue on Question Time and at meetings of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade in recent months. As the Tánaiste stated, the situation in Syria is frightening. This is a massive humanitarian issue, with possibly 100,000 people dead. There are 6.8 million people in need of aid, more than 50% of whom are children....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: Will the Tánaiste continue to raise at the Foreign Affairs Council the concern that exists in respect of the investigation into the use of chemical weapons by the UN? That investigation has been blocked because Assad's Government has refused to grant an international inspection team unfettered access to the country. I understand the Assad regime wanted certain regions to be excluded...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress he has made in conjunction with his EU colleagues in relation to building a UN consensus for a negotiated peace settlement in Syria; the steps he has taken to ensure that all States meet their committed financial obligations for humanitarian assistance to the region; and if he will make a statement on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Domestic Violence: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: Am I correct in thinking that the residential element of the facility is in place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Domestic Violence: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: Is it the case that the family justice centre will provide services rather than-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Domestic Violence: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: The overall project should not, therefore, be as daunting a prospect. I had thought that both residential and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Domestic Violence: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: So it is not as daunting a prospect as I would initially have believed. I thank Ms Brown for the further elaboration she has provided because it brings great clarity in respect of the need for the development of the centre in order that it might provide services to those who need them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Domestic Violence: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: Like the Chairman, I welcome Ms Brown and Ms Corcoran and compliment them on their work in their local communities. Their presence today has helped to create a greater awareness of very difficult issues among public representatives and, hopefully, the wider society. Ms Brown mentioned issues that confront many individuals and families. She also mentioned that "hidden" violence is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Narrow Water Bridge: Discussion (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: I welcome our guests and thank them for the presentation. This project must go ahead. Almost 90% of the funding is in place, sourced from the European Union and our own Government, and the case has been well made. There is huge potential in the Carlingford Lough area, north and south of the Border, for the tourism industry. It is on the east coast and is a short distance from both Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Imports (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: 72. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the preparatory work carried out to date in relation to the introduction of labelling requirements and boycotting of products from illegal Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Imports (16 May 2013)

Brendan Smith: 73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the most recent discussions at European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the labelling and boycotting of products from illegal Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23500/13]