Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for all sittings
Page 47 of 58
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic
Gerald Nash
978. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the concerns that led to the HSE and RCSI hospital group taking over operational control of a facility (details supplied) in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 at the facility on 17 April 2020; if the HSE will establish the precise criteria that were applied to prompt such a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18393/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
written
Departmental Correspondence
Gerald Nash
979. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the correspondence received from the owner and managers of a facility (details supplied) dated 12 April 2020; the response issued to that correspondence; if he will provide a copy of a report on the Covid-19 outbreak at the facility which was created by officials in his Department on 11 April 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18394/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
written
Medical Cards
Gerald Nash
1030. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when the revised income threshold for medical card applicants aged over 70 will be enacted following the abandonment of previous legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/20]
Thu, 23 Jul 2020
written
Driver Test
Ged Nash
81. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress in relation to the development of a driver test centre in Drogheda, County Louth; the location of the new facility; when it is planned to open the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17750/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
oral
Public Sector Pay
Ged Nash
21. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to engage with public sector trade unions on a successor to the public sector agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16819/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Public Procurement Contracts
Ged Nash
32. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the payment of a living wage and recognition of the industrial relations infrastructure of the State will be included as part of social policy objectives pertaining to public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16822/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Ministerial Advisers
Ged Nash
33. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of special advisers to be engaged by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport; the estimated annual level of funding to be allocated to each Department in terms of the engagement of such advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16818/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Public Procurement Contracts
Ged Nash
35. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of procurement leakage; his plans to develop and implement a procurement sourcing strategy across Government that would reduce the high level of procurement leakage to the EU average; his further plans to increase the proportion of tenders divided into lots to support SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16820/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Public Procurement Contracts
Ged Nash
41. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure public procurement supply chains do not include instances of labour exploitation such as breaches of employment regulation orders, cases of child labour and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ged Nash
105. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering compensation and or refunds for those persons who have booked flights and holidays and have now chosen not to travel in view of the continued public health advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16480/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ged Nash
199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of employees on the temporary wage subsidy scheme receiving a top-up amount between €1 to €100 at intervals of €10, in tabular form; if he plans to introduce compulsory top-up payments similar to comparative EU wage subsidy schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16868/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ged Nash
200. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the compliance programme introduced last month to ensure correct operation of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; the number of firms audited to date as a percentage of those currently availing of the scheme; the number of breaches found to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16869/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Banking Sector
Ged Nash
201. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of his latest meeting with individual banks; the details of his discussions with the banks on the charging of interest to customers on Covid-19 mortgage payment breaks; if he directed the banks to cease charging interest on mortgage payment breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16870/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ged Nash
202. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to follow other EU countries in prohibiting firms availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme from dismissals on economic grounds; if he will seek the full repayment of the compensation per each employee in the case of dismissal on economic grounds; if he will oblige employers to reach an agreement with trade unions or other worker representatives in the case of large-scale dismissals, that is, of 20-plus employees, on economic grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16871/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ged Nash
203. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will oblige firms availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme to include a compulsory retraining or reskilling plan for their employees as with comparative schemes in other EU countries; if he will consider introducing an in-work training subsidy to support such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16872/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
EU Investigations
Ged Nash
204. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the judgment of the General Court of the European Union on the appeal by Ireland and a company (details supplied) against the €13 billion tax ruling by the European Commission; the legal expenses on the case to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16873/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
written
Tax Avoidance
Ged Nash
205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on reported plans of the European Commission to reduce multinational tax avoidance using Article 116 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; his further views on such measures to clamp down on multinational tax avoidance in his new role as President of the Eurogroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16874/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
oral
Credit Unions
Ged Nash
5. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a new credit unions Act; his views on the recommendations from a recent report (details supplied) by an organisation; if he will amend the Credit Unions Acts 1997-2012 to allow additional financing for credit unions for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16291/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
written
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ged Nash
19. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reform the temporary wage subsidy scheme into a short-term work and training scheme akin to the German Kurzarbeit model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16292/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
written
Economic Policy
Ged Nash
29. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the projected deficit figure of €23 billion to €30 billion for 2020 based on the stability programme update in April 2020 in view of recent positive corporation tax and income tax revenue receipts; the breakdown of the projected deficit figure for 2020 based on updated figures for general government expenditure and general government revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16293/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
written
Mortgage Interest Rates
Ged Nash
34. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the action he plans to take to address the accrual of interest on mortgage payment breaks; his views on the Central Bank and European Banking Authority advice relating to the charging of interest on mortgage payment breaks; if he plans to pass legislation to prevent the charging of interest during mortgage payment breaks in line with other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16289/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
written
Ministerial Priorities
Ged Nash
38. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to use his new position as Eurogroup President to seek a mutualisation of debt and the creation of perpetual bonds to fund the post-Covid-19 EU recovery; if he will seek an expansion of the European recovery fund; the current EU funding streams available for draw down; the amount drawn down to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Fire Service
Ged Nash
399. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a site has been identified for a new fire service facility in Dunleer, County Louth; when work will commence; the planned completion date for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15022/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Job Losses
Ged Nash
686. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of businesses that have notified her Department regarding their intention to consider collective redundancies in June 2020; the number of jobs involved by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14817/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Legislative Process
Ged Nash
1073. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the status of the outcome of the 2019 public consultation in respect of regulations to be made under sections 12 and 13 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14964/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Medicinal Products
Ged Nash
1096. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason 12 children with SMA are still waiting to be treated with Spinraza one year after the drug was approved; the reason for the delay; when the matter will finally be addressed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15076/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Assisted Human Reproduction
Ged Nash
1097. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the process for the passage of urgent legislation to provide a clear legal framework in respect of assisted human reproduction will be expedited; the timeframe for the passage of this legislation and its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15078/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
written
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ged Nash
1302. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent UK report (details supplied) relating to women who have suffered injury as a result of pelvic mesh; his views on its recommendations for improving the ability of the healthcare system to respond in circumstances in which concerns have been raised regarding the safety of particular clinical interventions; if he will consider transposing recommendations from the report into the healthcare system here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15965/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Banking Sector Staff
Ged Nash
175. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of agency staff employed by a bank (details supplied) in which the State is a majority shareholder;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14204/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Fiscal Policy
Ged Nash
191. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase general spending as a percentage of GDP in view of the low rate here when compared to the European Union 27; if general spending will be increased and sustained in line with the eurozone average during the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14587/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Fiscal Policy
Ged Nash
192. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of his plans to manage the public finances to ensure necessary investment in infrastructure and skills required to enhance competitiveness as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Value Added Tax
Ged Nash
193. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a lower VAT rate for the tourism sector; his views on the findings from the 2018 OECD economic survey of Ireland report which recommended that preferential VAT rates be eliminated and lower rates for discretionary categories of expenditure, for example, hotel and restaurants are regressive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14589/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Value Added Tax
Ged Nash
194. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a lower VAT rate for the tourism sector in view of the July 2018 report of his Department stating the regressive nature of the reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Wage Subsidy Scheme
Ged Nash
195. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the temporary wage subsidy scheme beyond the scheduled deadline; if he plans a comprehensive audit of companies receiving the scheme to ensure they have met the stated criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14591/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
196. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to move to a more sustainable tax environment as stated in the programme for Government in view of potential international corporation and digital tax changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14592/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
197. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase purely domestic activity as indicated by GNI as part of a more sustainable tax environment outlined in the programme for Government in view of identified external market risks such as Brexit and increased trade tensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14593/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
198. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the timeline for the establishment of a commission on welfare and taxation as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14594/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Property Tax
Ged Nash
199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to bring forward legislation for the local property tax on the basis of fairness as outlined in the programme for Government; his plans to increase the local property tax yield on the basis of fairness in view of the comparative low local property tax yield as cited in the 2019 report (details supplied) by his Department; if he plans to bring the yield of the tax in line with the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14595/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Credit Unions
Ged Nash
200. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to enable and support the credit union movement to grow as outlined in the programme for Government; the way in which he plans to help credit unions deliver an expanded range of community banking services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14596/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
201. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a national recovery fund; if he plans to use windfall gains as identified in the programme for Government to reduce borrowing requirements; his views on whether such windfall gains would be more appropriately utilised as part of a national recovery fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14597/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
202. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the way in which he plans to utilise taxation measures to close the deficit as outlined in the programme for Government; if he plans to predominantly use progressive or regressive taxation measures to achieve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14598/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
203. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to focus tax rises on behavioural taxes with negative externalities such as carbon tax, sugar tax and plastics as outlined in the programme for Government; his views on whether the cited behavioural taxes are not a sustainable source of revenue in view of the fact the stated objective of the tax is to reduce consumption of the good producing the negative externality; his further views on whether these taxation measures match the broader aim to achieve a sustainable tax environment as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14599/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Tax Code
Ged Nash
204. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review capital gains tax in each budget over the next five years; his views on the matter (details supplied) by the tax strategy group 2020 relating to the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14600/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the self-employed earned income tax credit with the employee tax credit as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Tax Code
Ged Nash
206. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the rate and threshold of capital acquisition taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14602/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
207. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to ameliorate the USC surcharge applied to self-employed income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14603/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
208. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans for income tax credits and bands to be indexed linked to earnings as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14604/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the programme for Government plan for no income tax or USC rates over the lifetime of the Government; if he is committed to no increase in income tax or USC rates for the top 5% of earners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14605/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
210. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent European Commission report (details supplied); his views on whether the programme for Government reflects the recommendation of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14606/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
written
Programme for Government
Ged Nash
211. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase the home carer tax credit as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14607/20]