Results 101-120 of 3,560 for speaker:Duncan Smith

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I thank the Minister for facilitating this important debate tonight and for his opening statement. I listened to it and I read it and it gave me a sense that the gravity of the situation affecting the aviation sector is not lost on the Minister. I welcome the setting up of a task force. It is a welcome and much-needed move. Will the Minister commit to the House tonight that the trade...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I welcome that assurance and I am sure the trade union movement and the workers will as well. Regarding connectivity, will the Minister give any commitment tonight to act, even to write a letter to the CEOs of the airport groups and the companies, to ensure that important routes such as Knock to Gatwick and Cork to Heathrow and the transatlantic routes involving Shannon, to name but a...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: I ask also that the Minister write to senior management in the two major airlines, for two separate reasons. The way in which Aer Lingus communicates with its staff and their unions has been very poor. The method of rather dour, foreboding video messages to staff - I am not sure whether the Minister has seen them - has just added to the overall sense of uncertainty, unease and despair in...

Covid-19 (Transport, Tourism and Sport): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: The balance has well and truly been in his favour during the past two decades. It has tiptoed the opposite way and I think it is now appropriate for the Minister and his office to respond. The Minister has said he will not do it. He is entitled to take that position but I believe the balance has tipped the other way and those comments are absolutely disgraceful.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 92. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department will instruct businesses to base the benefit-in-kind company vehicle calculation on the previous year's mileage, that is 2019, as opposed to January 2020 for overall 2020 calculation in view of the fact that January is a month in which regular business operations are slowed due to a number of factors; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Children's Hospital (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 121. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has communicated with National Paediatric Hospital Development Board since 1 March 2020 on the cost projections for the national children’s hospital caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8769/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Children's Hospital (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 122. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has communicated with the National Procurement Board since 1 March 2020 on the increased cost projections for the national children’s hospital caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8770/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Children's Hospital (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 123. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the communications that have taken place between his Department and the Department of Health regarding the potential for increased costs in the development of the national children’s hospital in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8772/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 500. To ask the Minister for Health if he has communicated with the national procurement board since 1 March 2020 about the increased cost projections of the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital in Portrane, County Dublin, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8897/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 501. To ask the Minister for Health the communications that have taken place between his Department and the Minister for Finance regarding the potential for increased costs in the development of the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital in Portrane, County Dublin, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8899/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 599. To ask the Minister for Health the latest costings of the development of the national children’s hospital since the outbreak of Covid-19; the date those costings relate to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8771/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 627. To ask the Minister for Health the latest costings of the development of the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital in Portrane, County Dublin, since the outbreak of Covid-19; the date those costings relate to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8898/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 886. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a grant is being considered for sports clubs struggling with finances and repayments in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8560/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Services Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 1081. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if assistance is available for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in addition to the person's disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8559/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 1082. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is due illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8561/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 1177. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a grant for the replacement of old septic tanks; if so, if it is available to all households; if a review of previous grants is being prepared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8558/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 1178. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans drawn down by each local authority; if all local authorities have allocated the funding provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8562/20]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment (3 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 1194. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a landlord agreed a rent increase on the housing assistance payment scheme with both the tenant and the local authority prior to the three-month freeze, can the local authority deny the increase due to the freeze. [8813/20]

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: The best asset the Garda has is the community policing and community garda unit. As we are all aware, it has been a difficult decade for the Garda. Trust has been damaged by a number of incidents and issues which have been well debated in the House down through the years. As have many other public representatives, I have witnessed the benefits of good community gardaí when they come...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (9 Jun 2020)

Duncan Smith: 122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if English as a foreign language courses will be permitted to return to operation sooner than regular primary and secondary school operations in view of the fact that these settings involve the education of adults that may seek to join the workforce and need this qualification as a requirement to work in certain jobs; and if he will make a...