Brendan Smith

231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste 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]

449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport 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]

450. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport 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]

679. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism 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]

733. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism 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]

978. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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]

1030. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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]

1032. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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 statement on the matter. [47243/25]

1060. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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 statement on the matter. [47236/25]

1061. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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 network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47272/25]

1299. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the review into the response of the State and State agencies to the impact of storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47233/25]

1300. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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 the review into the response by the State and State agencies to the impact of storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47249/25]

1314. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing will be increased for applicants in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47499/25]

1833. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made regarding the reduction of severe weather impacts on critical infrastructure and essential services through the introduction of tree corridors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47234/25]

1834. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals that he will outline at the EU Agricultural Council in relation to the need to protect food production in Europe in discussions on the proposed Mercosur Trade Deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47295/25]

1839. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals that will be finalised in respect of the provision of financial support for farmers who have incurred serious financial losses due to damage to forestry caused by storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47337/25]

1846. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to-date position at EU level regarding the need to retain the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47398/25]

1847. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to-date position at EU level in relation to the need to ringfence funding for CAP post 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47399/25]

1921. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the terms of the Statement of Purpose for counties Cavan and Monaghan currently excludes adults with mild intellectual disabilities, including autism, from respite supports and services; and if Cavan and Monaghan is the only area where this exclusion currently exists. [45389/25]

1922. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to clarify if respite supports and services in counties Cavan and Monaghan are reserved for adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities only, thereby excluding adults with mild intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45390/25]

2649. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health 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 statement on the matter. [47248/25]

22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the engagement he has had with the British Prime Minister in relation to legacy legislation, especially in view of reported pushback against the Prime Minister’s plan to repeal such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42670/25]

31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the level of funding under the national development plan provided under the shared island Initiative; if it is proposed to extend the range of projects eligible for consideration; and if he will ensure that the needs of Border communities North and South which were most disadvantaged over the years by the ongoing troubles will be given particular consideration for investment under the different schemes of this important Initiative. [43945/25]

94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any engagement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with regard to legacy legislation, especially in view of reported pushback against the UK Government’s plan to repeal such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42669/25]

134. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be a recruitment process for additional staff for the EU Presidency; if persons outside the public service will be eligible for consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43844/25]