Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Foreign Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made or will make representations to the United States authorities on the continued unjust incarceration of three of the Cuban five, in view of revelations regarding the undercover construction of a mobile phone message system by the United States with the goal of overthrowing the Cuban Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23288/14]

Workplace Safety

Maureen O'Sullivan

9. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at European level the International Labour Organization's Decent Work campaign and Turkey's refusal to sign the ILO convention, in view of the recent mining accident which saw the deaths of 301 persons and in view of the fact that many are still unaccounted for; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that mining accidents account for 10% of workplace accidents in Turkey, which is higher than death rates for miners in China; if he will address at European level the questionable privatisation policies of resource industries in Turkey and the shortfall in investment in maintaining work safety in privatised mines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/14]

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

11. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the conclusions in the 2014 annual report to the European Council on EU development aid targets at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 19 May 2014, his views on another significant shortfall in the EU's collective overseas development aid, ODA, which, despite an increase from €55.3 billion in 2012 to €56.5 billion in 2013, remains at 0.43% of EU GNI; his views on the way Ireland will contribute to the EU's goal of 0.7% of GNI by 2015; the preparation the Government is making in advance of a possible failure to meet the 2015 goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23178/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Maureen O'Sullivan

108. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on a Russian bilateral agreement in relation to adoption, an update he indicated would likely be due at the end of April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21009/14]

Bord na gCon Remit

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 90% of the Irish Coursing Club's funding is provided by dog registration fees; if he will propose a complete transfer of the function of greyhound registration from the ICC to Bord na gCon; if he will amend existing legislation governing the greyhound industry to include this transfer of powers; his views that the hard-pressed track racing industry would benefit greatly if Bord na gCon were to become a registering body for greyhounds here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20572/14]

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that a survey by three structural engineers concluded that 18 Moore Street is pre-1916, if he will commit to seeking independent expert advice on the status of the structure of 18 Moore Street and all 1916 buildings in the GPO-Moore Street area, described as the most important site in modern Irish history by the National Museum of Ireland. [18132/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

10. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the increasing difficulties in which tenants on rent allowance are finding themselves when having to negotiate rent with their landlords after rent has risen; if her attention has been further drawn to the discrimination by landlords against tenants on rent allowance and the difficulties tenants are having in finding alternative accommodation as a result of same; if there are exceptional circumstances where her Department can assist tenants financially or otherwise when they are having difficulties negotiating rent with landlords; if it is a fair situation that a tenant on rent allowance should be left to negotiate rent when rent has risen and rent allowance has been cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17647/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

9. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of his recent engagements with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice and the British Secretary of State in Northern Ireland over security and prisoner issues in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15372/14]

Youth Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund; the funding to date; the range of facilities and services that benefitted; the employment achieved; her plans for the future of this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14273/14]

School Guidance Counsellors

Maureen O'Sullivan

107. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the national audit of guidance and counselling practice in second level schools in Ireland 2011-2013; the implications of the national audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8918/14]

Diplomatic Representation

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reasons his Department did not consider reopening the embassy in Iran as part of the further openings announced; the criteria used to prioritise a country for a new embassy or reopening of an embassy previously closed; the costs, including expenses for having an honorary consul as opposed to a small embassy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8240/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Maureen O'Sullivan

7. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that the EU Foreign Ministers in May 2012 strongly criticised the marked acceleration of settlement construction and called for full application of existing EU legislation regarding products from settlements, the action he is prepared to take on these issues. [8049/14]

Ports Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

93. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the key issues for Dublin Port; his further views on the ports package and the port services directive; if he will protect union involvement and support worker protection; and his views on the need for stability for those companies who have invested in the port. [7994/14]

Drug Treatment Programmes Places

Maureen O'Sullivan

107. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding drug community employment schemes; the numbers on the scheme; the vacancies; the reasons for the vacancies; the age profile of the participants; the numbers availing of extensions on the schemes; and if she will identify areas of concern for the scheme. [3958/14]

Severe Weather Events Response

Maureen O'Sullivan

486. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a small grants scheme for those communities adversely affected by the recent storms, that is, those communities that will not qualify for the larger grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3804/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason behind the failure of the recent Northern Ireland talks; the extent of the role the Irish Government played in the talks; the positive aspects that came as a result of the Irish Government's involvement; if any progress can be attributed to Ireland's role in the talks; where the progress is on the issue of flags and parades, including legacy issues; and the extent to which the prisoner issue and revoking of licences was addressed. [1504/14]

Substance Misuse

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind having those in addiction put into mental health services as opposed to general health services; the resources that are being considered for persons who will be impacted by the possible reduction of tablets when related new legislation is implemented, as there are concerns among front-line workers of increased risks to those currently misusing tablets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54126/13]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on supported temporary accommodation; if he will further provide details of matters outstanding on the pathways to home programme; if he has had any discussion with the Department with responsibility for addiction on the need for distinct drug-free accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52069/13]

Biofuel Obligation Scheme Targets

Maureen O'Sullivan

83. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following the Minister of State with responsibility for development's statement supporting a 5% EU cap on food based biofuels because of its implications for land and food security in Africa, the reason the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources has reneged on this by supporting a new 7% cap which has potentially devastating effects in the developing world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49072/13]

National Transport Authority

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Dublin city centre study being undertaken by the National Transport Authority in relation to the development of the Royal Canal-CIE lifting bridge on the North Strand, Dublin 1, and the Scherzer Bridge, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47410/13]

Defence Forces Reserve Review

Maureen O'Sullivan

9. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the current arrangements for staff and resources of the FCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46642/13]

Biofuel Obligation Scheme Targets

Maureen O'Sullivan

7. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will campaign for the strengthening and tightening of the cap on bio-fuels competing for land and crops with food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45030/13]

Biofuel Obligation Scheme Targets

Maureen O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will include binding indirect land use change factors to ensure all climate impacts of bio-fuels are taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/13]

Human Rights Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

67. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of his engagement with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and England on the human rights of prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, particularly in relation to those imprisoned and where due process is not being followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41053/13]

Prison Drug Treatment Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the institutions that have drug-free units currently operating; the number of spaces in each drug-free unit; the number of prisoners currently in each drug-free unit; the number of vacancies in each drug-free unit; the type of treatment and programmes available to those in addiction in prison; the number entering prison drug-free that leave addicted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39935/13]

Youth Services Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the cuts in the previous budgets to youth services; if her attention has been drawn to the impact of these cuts on the youth communities where these services are based; and the way she intends to prevent further cuts in budget 2014. [38915/13]

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

38. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the category and status of the national monument at 17 to 21 Moore Street, Dublin 1, on the Office of Public Works listing of national monuments; and the responsibility and role of his Department in this matter. [27977/13]

Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects

Maureen O'Sullivan

57. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers availing of community employment drug rehabilitation schemes in the Dublin areas; if there is an increase or decrease from previous years; and if she will outline the progress that has been made in ensuring the sustainability and development of these programmes. [33426/13]

School Curriculum

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the serious concerns regarding the subject of history in the proposed reform of the junior certificate, if he will consider including history as a compulsory subject. [32343/13]

State Examinations Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

8. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the basis on which he decided teachers would correct the junior certificate examination work of their own students and schools would provide their own individual certification. [32005/13]

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

78. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in response to the recent statistics on the physical implications of alcohol abuse, including liver disease, as published by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, "Reducing Alcohol Health Harm", the strategies he intends to take to tackle the abuse and misuse of alcohol particularly in the young population where alcohol-drug abuse and misuse also leads to anti-social behaviour, violence and poor relationships. [22735/13]

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of fact that the State undertook the preservation of the National Monument 14-17 Moore Street, if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating condition of the monument; his plans to prevent further dereliction and dilapidation; and if he will support an immediate independent assessment of the condition of these historic buildings. [19567/13]

EU Directives

Maureen O'Sullivan

90. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he recognises the importance of the EU accounting directive as a game changer for the entire relationship between Europe and Africa; if he will push for the best possible standards of chapter 9 of the directive under the Irish EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15825/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the European Commission's proposal to limit the use of crop based biofuels in transport by 2020 to 5%; if he will include this issue on the agenda of the upcoming Hunger Summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15510/13]

Human Rights Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to the British authorities on the location of the royal pardon which was granted to Marian Price and the late Dolours Price; his views on whether the granting of the pardon is being disregarded as Marian Price continues to be detained in prison and is in very poor health. [9030/13]

Mental Health Services Report

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown in relation to the 477 posts allocated for mental health in the Health Service Executive's 2013 national service plan; the number of staff of each discipline that will be appointed; to which service, old age, intellectual disability, forensics and so on; to which geographical areas they will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7765/13]

Magdalen Laundries

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in progressing the issues relating to the Magdalen laundries, he is considering an apology and a redress and restorative justice scheme; and if he will establish a dedicated helpline and outreach service to provide much needed assistance for the ladies of the laundries. [6093/13]

Prison Visiting Committees Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the disparities between the Inspector of Prisons' report on St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin and the Visiting Committee Report of 2010; the location at which it is planned to accommodate 18 to 21 year olds, who would currently be residing in St. Patrick's Institution (detail supplied), after 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54640/12]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of Ireland's very positive reputation in relation to Development Aid, if he sees a role for Ireland, or for Ireland through the EU, in ensuring there is no financial loss to developing countries through tax evasion or tax avoidance on the part of businesses working in developing countries in view of the fact that there have been reports of very significant losses to developing countries. [50251/12]

Hare Coursing

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, in view of the report from the Ranger on the coursing meeting at Kilflynn, County Kerry, during last season stating that the very wet weather made it difficult for the hares to run and resulted in twelve hares being caught, he will make it a condition of the licence that no coursing should take place in wet weather when ground conditions are heavy and soggy thus making it difficult, if not impossible, for the hares to run from the greyhounds and that the Ranger will have the power to ensure that coursing will not take place in those conditions. [42239/12]

Private Rented Accommodation Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

39. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the legal obligations for landlords in Dublin City to maintain a high standard quality of their rental accommodation, to prevent overcrowding in their properties, to prevent the dereliction of their rented accommodation internally and externally, to replace and maintain appliances in their properties for their tenants and to manage waste and dumping; the legal avenues that exist for communities and residents in Dublin Central that are having difficulties with landlords who are not addressing these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39327/12]