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 Dáil or Seanad term
Page 5 of 15
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Data
Joe Higgins
354. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of public sector workers who are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30400/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Data
Joe Higgins
367. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the number of public sector workers that are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30398/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Data
Joe Higgins
388. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public sector workers who are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30394/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Data
Joe Higgins
409. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of public sector workers on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in her Department. [30404/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Contracts
Joe Higgins
449. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of public sector workers that are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30402/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Data
Joe Higgins
476. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public sector workers that are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30406/14]
Wed, 9 Jul 2014
written
Departmental Staff Recruitment
Joe Higgins
488. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of public sector workers that are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in his Department. [30396/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Joe Higgins
3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Mr. Bill Clinton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19932/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Joe Higgins
6. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet sub-committees held in February and March 2014. [19931/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
written
Bank Branch Closures
Joe Higgins
207. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views regarding the announcement by Ulster Bank of the closure of a further ten branches here; his plans to meet senior executives in Ulster Bank or Royal Bank of Scotland and if any such meetings are planned; his views on a possible merger with other institutions to form a third force in banking; his views on the call by the Irish Bank Officials Association that there should be no compulsory redundancies in Ulster Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29741/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
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Health Professions Admission Test
Joe Higgins
251. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the number of private colleges offering tuition courses in the health professions admission test; and if his Department has made any assessment on the impact this private tuition may be having on the final student cohort entering medicine in universities. [29360/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
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Freedom of Information Remit
Joe Higgins
333. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider extending the freedom of information legislation to cover records that are kept by religious institutions. [29774/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
written
Trade Agreements
Joe Higgins
353. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the talks related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trade in Services Agreement; if he will outline the Government's position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28241/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
written
Housing Assistance Payments Administration
Joe Higgins
517. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the duration of the pilot housing assistant payment schemes in the six chosen local authority areas; and when his Department will extend it to all local authority areas. [29409/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
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Disability Services Funding
Joe Higgins
544. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reverse the budget cut to the National Deaf Advocacy Service of the Irish Deaf Society; if his attention has been drawn to the levels of social exclusion and difficulties in accessing essential public services that the deaf community face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29776/14]
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
written
Data Protection
Joe Higgins
618. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider extending data protection legislation to cover records that are kept by religious institutions. [29774/14]
Wed, 2 Jul 2014
oral
Human Rights Issues
Joe Higgins
3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the Kazakh Government on the imprisonment of leading human rights lawyer Vadim Kuramshin; and if he will demand the ending of state persecution of Mr. Kuramshin, who has highlighted brutal civil rights transgressions in Kazakhstan. [28359/14]
Wed, 2 Jul 2014
written
Human Rights Issues
Joe Higgins
12. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the increase in State security and the workers and human rights abuses that accompany many international sporting events such as the World Cup. [28240/14]
Wed, 2 Jul 2014
written
Iraqi Conflict
Joe Higgins
17. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the political and military situation in Iraq. [28242/14]
Wed, 2 Jul 2014
written
Foreign Conflicts
Joe Higgins
26. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the Government's position on the political and military situation in the Central African Republic; and his views on further intervention by foreign powers in that State. [28243/14]
Wed, 2 Jul 2014
written
Middle East Issues
Joe Higgins
37. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to the Israeli Government on the matter of the Israeli Defence Forces operation in the occupied Palestinian territories following the abduction of three young settlers near Hebron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28239/14]
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Joe Higgins
2. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on economic infrastructure has met since the winter recess. [14916/14]
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
oral
Ministerial Meetings
Joe Higgins
4. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he has had with church leaders. [14917/14]
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Joe Higgins
8. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht last met; and the date on which the next meeting is scheduled. [14918/14]
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
written
Child Care Services Provision
Joe Higgins
73. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will guarantee that a child care service (details supplied) in Dublin will remain open and fully funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27989/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Joe Higgins
3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy last met since the Christmas recess. [10470/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
oral
Garda Deployment
Joe Higgins
67. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the presence of a large number of gardaí at a peaceful community protest by residents against the installation of water meters at Tonlegee Drive, Edenmore, Dublin 5 on 12 June 2014; and if, in view of this and the presence of gardaí at other similar peaceful protests around the country, she believes it is a proper use of Garda resources to be deployed in this way. [26911/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
oral
Direct Provision System
Joe Higgins
72. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will end the system of direct provision for asylum seekers; and her views on the number of children in the system, the length of time spent by asylum seekers in direct provision centres, the living conditions and standards, and the absence of independent inspection or complaints procedure. [26757/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
written
Garda Investigations
Joe Higgins
75. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a Garda investigation has been launched into the treatment, death and burial of children at the Bon Secours mother and baby home, Tuam, County Galway, between 1925 and 1961. [26755/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
written
Garda Operations
Joe Higgins
81. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish a public inquiry into the policing of protests related to the Shell-Corrib gas project at Rossport, County Mayo. [26754/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
written
Deportation Orders
Joe Higgins
91. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will examine the process for the issuing of deportation orders in the case of persons who have abided by their visa conditions and left the State having deportation orders issued against them and, thereby, causing difficulty when wishing to re-enter the State. [26758/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
written
Proposed Legislation
Joe Higgins
92. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reform family law prior to any future referendum on marriage equality to give same-sex civil partners the same legal entitlements and rights as married couples. [26756/14]
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
written
EU Issues
Joe Higgins
434. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there has been a discontinuation of the supply of free EU intervention surplus cheese; and the alternative means by which the families who previously benefited from this scheme via community based organisations who disbursed it on behalf of his Department can continue to avail of same. [27201/14]
Tue, 17 Jun 2014
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Joe Higgins
6. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the OECD meeting in Paris in early February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10469/14]
Tue, 17 Jun 2014
written
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Joe Higgins
317. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an increase in rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16. [25385/14]
Tue, 10 Jun 2014
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Joe Higgins
15. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with President Obama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14914/14]
Tue, 10 Jun 2014
oral
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Joe Higgins
16. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with political leaders in Washington in March. [14915/14]
Tue, 10 Jun 2014
written
Middle East Issues
Joe Higgins
144. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the use of administrative detention by the Israeli state in the occupied Palestinian territories and the reported abuse of human rights such as torture, solitary confinement, denial of visits from family and legal representatives, allegations of deliberate medical negligence, transportation of detainees to Israel and the detainment of children; the Irish Government's position on the matter; and the progress of any representations made to the Israeli state on the matter. [24687/14]
Thu, 5 Jun 2014
written
Free Travel Scheme Review
Joe Higgins
67. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on her Department's review of the free travel scheme; her proposals to alter the current scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24002/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
oral
Tax Code
Joe Higgins
3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance how he reconciles the view that the income tax burden is too high on low and middle-income workers with the Government's policy of imposing new tax burdens on the same cohort, with the property tax on workers' homes and water charges; and if he will report on the income tax increases that would be equivalent to these new burdens for average workers. [23226/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
written
Home Repossession Rate
Joe Higgins
164. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he has a projection from the principal banks in the State on the number of homes they will attempt to repossess in 2014 to 2015 due to mortgage distress by owner-occupied mortgage holders. [23243/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
written
Homeless Accommodation Provision
Joe Higgins
165. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the National Asset Management Agency has been required to take any urgent, special steps to make suitable accommodation available to deal with the crisis of homelessness. [23244/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
written
National Debt
Joe Higgins
166. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of interest payments on the national debt for 2012, 2013 and projected for 2014; if he will break down the major entities in receipt of the interest by amount per entity. [23245/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
written
National Debt
Joe Higgins
167. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the amount of interest on the national debt that is accounted for by the bailout of the banks in 2012, 2013 and projected for 2014. [23246/14]
Tue, 27 May 2014
written
National Debt
Joe Higgins
168. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the total of the national debt; and the amount of the total debt accounted for by loans from the troika agencies. [23247/14]
Tue, 13 May 2014
oral
Ministerial Meetings
Joe Higgins
12. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach when the next debate on Northern Ireland will be held in Dáil Éireann. [10468/14]
Tue, 13 May 2014
oral
Ministerial Meetings
Joe Higgins
35. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with UK political leaders during the state visit of President Michael D. Higgins. [19933/14]
Tue, 6 May 2014
oral
World Economic Forum
Joe Higgins
8. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he met President Barroso in Davos and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/14]
Tue, 6 May 2014
oral
World Economic Forum
Joe Higgins
9. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he had while attending the World Economic Forum at Davos. [7491/14]
Thu, 1 May 2014
written
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
Joe Higgins
73. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons this year to date who have had their jobseeker's benefit or allowance reduced or suspended for refusing to engage with labour activation schemes. [19740/14]