Results 81-100 of 18,639 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (17 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: I thank our guests and witnesses for their presentations today. The clear message from all of them is that we need significant Government investment in accommodation. None of us disagree with that. As one of the witnesses said, unfortunately, that does not happen overnight. It takes some years to get those places and beds, literally, in place. All of us know of the pressures on students...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (17 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: Perhaps we could raise that with the Department. I am sure my colleague Deputy Feighan, who represents Sligo and Leitrim, is familiar with the situation in Sligo, but it is one that all of us would be glad to raise with the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the Mercosur trade deal; if he will ensure in all negotiations at EU level that food production in Europe is protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47550/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the issues outlined in detail in a publication (details supplied) is discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council and at the UN; whether measures have been introduced to counteract the persecution and displacement of Christian communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47227/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47335/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 82. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has put forward at EU level the urgent need to impose additional meaningful sanctions on Israel in view of the ongoing genocide being inflected on the people of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47336/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Sanctions (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the range of sanctions imposed by the United States on the European Union have been finalised for all sectors; the measures that will be introduced to assist businesses that will be adversely affected by these sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47458/25]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 88. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in replacing the legacy legislation enacted by the previous British Government; the likely timescale for agreement on new measures to deal with these very important issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47551/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in light of the impact of Storm Éowyn regarding the reduction of severe weather impacts on critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy supplies; if he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: United Nations (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 230. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position regarding the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47428/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 231. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in improving recruitment and retention of personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47429/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 449. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that will be introduced to assist in the recruitment and retention of lorry drivers for the haulage industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47329/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 450. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that will be implemented to reduce waiting times for applicants seeking driving tests for heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47330/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 679. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that will be implemented to increase tourism business through direct investment or the introduction of specific incentives to a sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45085/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Support Services (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 733. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position regarding the measures that will be implemented by his Department and by statutory agencies under the remit of his Department to protect employment and the rights of employees at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47284/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 978. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46648/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 1030. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give detailed consideration to the issues relating to primary and special education with specific reference to Budget 2026 and the pre-Budget submission by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47223/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 1032. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that have been put in place by her Department to ensure strategic emergency management responses to future storm and severe weather events taking into account the experiences and learnings of winter 2024/2025 and the review into the response by the State and State agencies to the impact of storm Éowyn; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Weather Events (8 Sep 2025)

Brendan Smith: 1060. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made in view of the impact of storm Éowyn regarding the reduction of severe weather impacts on critical infrastructure and essential services including the telecommunications networks; if he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; and if he will make a...