Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of staff at Waterways Ireland and the staff of other all-Ireland bodies regarding the proposal to impose an additional pension contribution on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/15]

Road Projects Expenditure

Brendan Smith

158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide consideration to a motion adopted by the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney municipal district, County Monaghan, in respect of funding for road improvement works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10679/15]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Smith

132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if milk recording systems and milk parlour feeding systems will be eligible for grant aid under the targeted agricultural management scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9814/15]

Organic Farming

Brendan Smith

133. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be provided for a fodder growing system in respect of farmers involved in organic farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/15]

Home Help Service Provision

Brendan Smith

228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if home support hours make provision for housekeeping tasks, as well as personal care, for patients in need of maximum support, particularly those with no immediate family support; if the criteria for the allocation of home support hours are consistent throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9871/15]

Library Services

Brendan Smith

258. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm there will be no change to the status of the County Cavan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/15]

Library Services

Brendan Smith

259. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of the County Monaghan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9817/15]

Fuel Laundering

Brendan Smith

260. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he has put in place with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive, Oireachtas Members from counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth, and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in County Armagh, to meet in the Armagh/Louth/Monaghan area, to discuss the ongoing damage caused by the illegal trade in fuel, as requested by a number of Deputies during a Topical Issues debate on 21 January 2015; when this meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9818/15]

Health Services Funding

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided for the residential centres of the Camphill Community of Ireland to ensure the continuation of services at those centres throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9445/15]

HSE Funding

Brendan Smith

176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided to ensure that there are no reductions in the level of service provided by North East Doctor on Call Ltd. in the north-east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9573/15]

School Transport Eligibility

Brendan Smith

189. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if transport will be provided to a primary school in County Cavan from a location (details supplied); if she will ensure that families in that general area who wish to have their children attend a school under the patronage of their particular denomination will have school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9449/15]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

234. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be provided to a motion passed by Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District in relation to the need to provide funding towards the upgrading of the R179 - Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne road, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/15]

International Agreements

Brendan Smith

239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will support the application submitted by the GAA for UNESCO heritage status in respect of hurling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9574/15]

Ukrainian Conflict

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland’s position on the deteriorating situation in the Ukraine; if he has had contact with his Russian counterpart on this matter; if he will provide an update on the discussions he has had about the incursion into Irish airspace by Russian military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8341/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet with the Administration of the United States of America in relation to the urgent need to progress the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/15]

Electoral Reform

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an outline of the discussions he has had with Irish emigrant groups in relation to their ongoing campaigns to participate in the Irish electoral process, such as elections to a reformed Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/15]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

17. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to take any particular initiative in relation to the need to progress outstanding aspects of the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements including the establishment of a civic forum, the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the introduction of an Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8237/15]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide, as a matter of urgency, additional overseas development aid for South Sudan, due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/15]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken to address the persecution of Christians in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8233/15]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Brendan Smith

226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to the request of the Irish Road Haulage Association (details supplied), in view of the particular difficulties facing hauliers, particularly in the Border area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8559/15]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

154. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will bring to the attention of the Government in Yemen, the concerns of the Baha'i Community, in relation to a Yemeni national (details supplied) who has been imprisoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8470/15]

Official Engagements

Brendan Smith

155. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of his recent visit to the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8471/15]

Middle East Peace Process

Brendan Smith

156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific proposals he has put forward at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, in relation to the need for the European Union to initiate a new round of peace talks, concerning the Israeli-Palestine conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8472/15]

Departmental Bodies

Brendan Smith

158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to appoint a representative of the Teachers' Union of Ireland to the Apprenticeship Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8347/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Smith

498. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to assist in the search for the kidnapped schoolgirls, abducted in Nigeria in April 2014; the actions he will take; if he has conveyed his concern, and that of the Irish people, at the abduction to the Nigerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7854/15]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

505. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide a full briefing to the Justice for the Forgotten Group, in relation to the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/15]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

506. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the legislative measures that will require implementation by the Houses of the Oireachtas, following the Stormont House Agreement; the proposed time scale for the enactment of such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/15]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

507. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the criticisms of the Global Island policy document, in relation to the diminished role of Irish foreign policy, pertaining to the promotion of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8252/15]

Overseas Development Aid

Brendan Smith

508. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the targets for overseas development aid provided for by his Department for the next five years, both as a monetary figure and as a percentage of gross national product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8253/15]

Consular Services Expenditure

Brendan Smith

509. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department’s policy with regard to refurbishing embassies and ambassadors’ residences; the cost of these works, by year, since 2011 to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8254/15]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Brendan Smith

510. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a full audit has been conducted into the budget allocation to Irish Aid in 2014; if there were matters of concern, raised in this audit, to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/15]

International Terrorism

Brendan Smith

511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Italian Foreign Minister in relation to the threats posed to Europe from the Islamic State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/15]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Smith

167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Russian Ambassador, or the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the circumstances where two Russian military aircraft entered Irish-controlled airspace in January 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these aircraft were going to enter-Irish controlled airspace; the details he knew of this situation at the time; the details regarding the episode now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost of producing the Global Island policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Brendan Smith

207. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are large areas of County Cavan with inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure; his plans to bring this infrastructure up to modern standards, at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Brendan Smith

208. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are large areas of County Monaghan with inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure; his plans to bring this infrastructure up to modern standards, at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/15]

Science Foundation Ireland Expenditure

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding provided on an annual basis to Science Foundation Ireland since its inception; the funding that was sourced from other Departments or State agencies or through EU programmes by Science Foundation Ireland on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/15]

Leader Programmes Funding

Brendan Smith

219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total funding allocated to the Cavan-Monaghan Leader programme for 2009-14; the amount that this programme was subsequently reduced by; the total funding committed to date under that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/15]

Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility

Brendan Smith

210. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to modify the requirements for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7007/15]

EU Meetings

Brendan Smith

418. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Brendan Smith

542. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital programme will be open for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7058/15]

Dairy Sector

Brendan Smith

135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he put forward at the recent European Union Agriculture Council meeting in relation to the need to extend the end-date of the private storage scheme to help offset the impact of the Russian ban on the export of food products from the European Union to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6471/15]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments

Brendan Smith

136. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid, and the total amount paid, under the 2014 rural environment protection scheme 4 and the agri-environment options schemes 1, 2 and 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6490/15]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Brendan Smith

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme; the total amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6491/15]

Departmental Programmes

Brendan Smith

138. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in relation to the adoption of a new charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6492/15]

GLAS Applications

Brendan Smith

139. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria that will apply for applicants under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme in relation to commonages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6493/15]

GLAS Eligibility

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures of which a person who owns a private, non-designated mountain under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, can avail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/15]

GLAS Eligibility

Brendan Smith

141. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the shorthorn breed will be designated as a rare breed under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6495/15]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Brendan Smith

142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have applied for the national reserve and young farmer top-up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6496/15]