Results 1-20 of 18,685 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (6 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in developing a national maritime security strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60409/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the present enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force; the proposals to increase recruitment and improve retention levels in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60410/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (6 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that will be implemented in 2026 to strengthen critical infrastructure including energy supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60440/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (6 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 137. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures implemented to date to strengthen critical infrastructure including energy supplies in view of the severe difficulties caused by power outages resulting from storms in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60439/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 8. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of co-operation on a cross-Border basis in relation to flooding and drainage issues; if there are specific proposals to deal with flooding difficulties in County Cavan caused by the River Erne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60153/25]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 22. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date with the Cavan town flood relief scheme; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60152/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 63. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 18 September 2025, the progress to date in preparing legislation to enhance ESB Network's powers to manage vegetation and have the dimensions of forestry corridors put on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60431/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 92. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the proposed sale of Permanent TSB, if he will ensure that employment is protected in this bank and also the retention of the branch network, which is much needed and provides essential financial services in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan, where a range of banking services were lost over the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Weather Events (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 117. 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 for 2026 to strengthen such networks; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Weather Events (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment given the reference in the National Risk Assessment 2024 in relation to disruptions to the availability of critical infrastructure including the telecommunications networks due to the occurrence of extreme weather events, if he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; if it is proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (5 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: 127. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures that have been put in place by his 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 following the review into the response by the State and State agencies to the impact of storm...

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: Like the Cathaoirleach and my colleagues, I welcome Mr. Maloney and his colleagues. Any building that is 90 years old needs substantial upgrading. I have just a few questions. Was there any major investment over the years in the individual flats?

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: It goes without saying that housing stock should be up to a proper standard. It is not acceptable. I read the background note Mr. Maloney provided. It is clear there is a long-standing need to have this regeneration done. In the original regeneration proposal, Mr. Maloney said that in the first phase, 36 existing flats would be lost.

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: The note states there are 345 dwellings at present. If the original proposal went ahead, would the figure reduce to 170 apartments, or by roughly half?

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: I can understand that at times, in terms of buildings, the protection is great but it can be extremely expensive to get jobs done and it slows up some projects. There is a balance to be struck. Mr. Maloney's point that the site remains in public ownership is important. Mr. Maloney mentioned planning for 600 hostel beds. Presumably, Dublin City Council granted that planning.

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: That is Dublin City Council.

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: There should be proper standards for people.

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: In Mr. Maloney's view, and in the view of his group, that would have been satisfactory.

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen: Petition on Pearse House Regeneration (4 Nov 2025)

Brendan Smith: It is the council that made that decision, not the Government as such. I am not clear from the answers to Deputy Hayes and Senator McCarthy. Dublin City Council and Mr. Maloney's organisation are not exactly on the same wavelength in regard to the regeneration proposal, are they?