Results 101-120 of 3,817 for speaker:Brendan Smith in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: We are very fortunate that we have a great network of supermarkets and other food stores of varying sizes in our towns and villages. The stores are predominately very modern with high standards of hygiene and good service for customers. Those retailers are very concerned about the small business support scheme. They state very clearly that the measures proposed in the budget will not be of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: I very much welcome the major funding from the Government for the shared island initiative. This is funding projects in my constituency, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal, which will be very beneficial for a number of counties throughout Ulster. The Taoiseach may recall that I raised with him when he held the enterprise portfolio the importance of developing enterprise centres...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 12. To ask the Taoiseach his views on the recently published annual report of his Department. [47659/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: 3. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister. [47658/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (7 Nov 2023)

Brendan Smith: On 28 December last in Belturbet, County Cavan, we marked the 50th anniversary of the bombing in the town that caused the death of two young teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley. As the Taoiseach knows, next May will mark the 50th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, when 33 innocent people were murdered and hundreds were badly injured on that fatal day. That day,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I have for a considerable length of time been raising the unacceptable delays in getting driving tests in the Cavan test centre. These delays have caused real difficulties for people who need to travel for work or to study and impact adversely on rural communities, such as those throughout County Cavan. If a person were to book a test in the Cavan test centre today, he or she will not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: 72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date in finalising data on the sequestration of carbon by hedgerows to ensure the inclusion of hedgerows in the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46950/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: Some time ago I asked questions with regard to carbon sequestration and the national inventory. I was glad at that time to be told that Teagasc was carrying out research on the hedgerows to see how these could contribute to the carbon stock in agricultural landscapes. I also understood that by adding trees to the hedgerow, it would be possible to increase the output storage of carbon in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. It is very important, as mentioned by the Minister of State in her answer to me, that we take into account at all times in compiling our national inventory, but also in public commentary on carbon sequestration, how very important it is to our soils, trees and hedgerows. Sometimes that is missed out of the public debate and it also helps to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: Can the Minister of State give me an assurance - I believe I can take it from her reply already - that all small-scale planting and all small blocks of scrub are measured in the inventory? That aspect is very important. Are the Department, and the statutory agencies which work with it, engaged in research across the global community? I know that in my own time in the Department we had a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (19 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State. Again I want to put on the record that I have been very glad to work closely along with Cavan County Council, with Brendan Jennings and John Donohoe, with the Cavan County Board, Kieran Callaghan and Martin Cahill, along with the Royal School in Cavan, Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Padraic Corley and Canon Lidwill. They are really working together to ensure that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (19 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: The large-scale sports infrastructure fund is extremely important for the further development of all sports, for women and men. I was glad to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, reiterate his commitment to ensuring that the projects that have already received approval will proceed as soon as possible. Apart from the important sports events in our own country, we need to ensure we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (19 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I also welcome the Minister's engagement with me to date on the proposed Cavan sports complex. I assure the Minister of State, as I did previously, that the Cavan regional sports complex has advanced significantly since the original decision in 2020 to award funding. I compliment the Cavan county board of the GAA, Cavan County Council and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: 30. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with President Biden. [43824/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I am glad the Taoiseach referred to the terrible loss of Private Seán Rooney. At a time such as this, when there is so much turbulence, loss of life and suffering in the Middle East, we want to be conscious of the Irish people and peacekeepers, the members of our Permanent Defence Force who are in that area on United Nations peacekeeping missions at present. We must also think of NGOs...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I wish to again extend my sincere sympathy to the O'Farrell family on the extremely sad loss of their beloved son and brother, Shane. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam dílis. The O'Farrell family has campaigned and continues to campaign tirelessly and with the utmost grace and dignity, seeking justice for their son and brother. They have asked legitimate questions and those...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the budgetary decision to introduce again the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students. This has been introduced again as a part of the cost-of-living package. Last year, students studying outside our jurisdiction, be it in Northern Ireland, Britain or elsewhere, were wrongly denied this payment and, similarly, were denied the rent tax...

Financial Resolution No. 3: Tobacco Products Tax (10 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: Like Deputy McNamara, I speak with particular reference to the possible impact this increase will have on the levels of illicit trade and in parallel, the loss of revenue to the Exchequer. Probably no other Member of this House over the years has tabled as many parliamentary questions and adjournment debates as I have regarding the need to counteract the cross-Border trade in illicit...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (4 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Taoiseach's visits to Belfast in August and September. The launch of the PEACEPLUS programme is a great development. I know it has been worked on for a number of years by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Minister for Finance. The very substantive funding that is available from the European Commission, the British...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (4 Oct 2023)

Brendan Smith: 7. To ask the Taoiseach for a report on the National Risk Assessment 2023, and the top strategic risks facing Ireland. [37573/23]