Written Answers Nos. 1-9
1. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach if all sections of all Acts passed in the past ten years have been commenced; the number of sections that are outstanding; the number of Acts that have review periods; if the reviews have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63389/22]
View answerNo legislation relating to this Department has been passed in the period specified.
2. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if, for the purposes of calculating general expenditure on research and development, the private sector research must be conducted in Ireland to be included and-or if it is only necessary for the company carrying out the research to be based in Ireland. [63606/22]
View answerExpenditure on research and development (R&D) within the private sector is measured in the Business Expenditure on Research and Development (BERD) survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The BERD survey follows an agreed international methodology on the compilation of R&D expenditure for private enterprises.
In accordance with agreed EU methodology, R&D expenditure abroad is not included when calculating in-house R&D expenditure. The calculation of in-house R&D expenditure only includes activities conducted in Ireland. It does not include R&D conducted outside of the State, even if the enterprise is based in Ireland. This applies to in-house R&D conducted using funds from any source (i.e. internal funding, government funding, educational institution funding, or other private funding).
External R&D is defined as R&D performed on the enterprise's behalf and is calculated separately from in-house R&D. This expenditure is measured and calculated both for external R&D activities within the State and outside of the State. The CSO publishes a biennial report on R&D expenditure, which includes only figures for in-house R&D. Estimates on external R&D expenditure are available from the CSO upon request.
3. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if he will list all State boards, commissions or other such bodies to which a person (details supplied) has been appointed by his Department from 1 January 2011 to date. [1428/23]
View answerThe person (details supplied) was appointed to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in March 2015 following nomination by ICTU.
The NESC is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Council analyses and reports on strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic, social, environmental and sustainable development.
4. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the specific delegated functions that have been transferred to Ministers of State appointed in December 2022, in tabular form; and the date of transfer. [1478/23]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table.
|
Minister of State |
Functions Delegated |
Date of Transfer |
|
Minister of State Naughton |
The powers and duties of the Taoiseach conferred on him by or under: (a) the Statistics Act 1993 (No. 21 of 1993), and (b) the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (No. 33 of 2004), in so far as those Acts relate to the Central Statistics Office |
11 January 2023 |
5. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the name of the company, organisation or persons contracted to provide media training to him from 1 January 2021 to date; and the costs incurred. [1515/23]
View answerThe Department has incurred no costs in relation to media training for the Taoiseach for the period 1 January 2021 to date.
6. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when he will publish his diary for quarter 4 of 2022 on the website of his Department. [1631/23]
View answerThe Taoiseach's diary for quarter 4 of 2022 has been published and is available on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e0fb8-taoiseachs-diary/
7. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the priorities of his Department during his term in office. [1659/23]
View answerAs I outlined in my speech to the House on 17 December, there are a number of pressing challenges that will define the rest of our term in office.
On housing, we must do whatever it takes to solve this social crisis and reverse the trend of rising homelessness and falling home ownership. Housing for All is a comprehensive plan and, working with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I will do all I can to drive it forward.
In the months ahead, we will assess the cost of living challenges facing our citizens, whether to do with the cost of energy, childcare, education, rent or healthcare.
We must ensure the best start in life for every child. Our focus must be on reducing child poverty and improving well-being. I will put in place a new unit in the Department of the Taoiseach to co-ordinate this approach, working closely with the Ministers, Deputies O'Gorman, Foley, Humphreys, Harris and Stephen Donnelly, among others.
We will work to become energy independent by harnessing our untapped renewable energy resources. I will work very closely with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to do what needs to be done, including the timeframe, the resources needed to make it happen and developing the capacity of the Department of the Taoiseach on climate action.
Another ambition is to build safer communities and safer streets and improve our national security. We will build on the work under way to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. We will provide additional resources to the Garda and the Defence Forces, as well as passing new laws to ensure we apprehend criminals and deal with them appropriately.
Working with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, we will work to re-establish the Good Friday Agreement institutions in the North.
We will ensure balanced regional development, whether through the national broadband plan, the regeneration of our rural communities or ensuring a better future for those involved in farming and fishing. We will continue to adopt a town-and-village-first approach.
Cross Government work will continue to deliver the accommodation and other requirements for the high numbers of people seeking protection from the war in Ukraine.
We will continue to invest in our health service to deliver better outcomes for all.
A new Statement of Strategy for the Department, taking these priorities into account, will be finalised over the coming months.
8. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of all persons and groups invited to the 11 January housing summit; if he will list all of those who attended; and if he will publish the minutes or any record of the meeting, in particular the outcome of the workshops and open discussion session. [1871/23]
View answerOn Tuesday, 10th January, in partnership with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning, I hosted a Housing for All Stakeholder Conference.
The objective of the conference was to consult with a diverse range of stakeholders to consider possible further actions which might accelerate or enhance the delivery of Housing for All.
The conference was one of a range of engagements with stakeholders in the housing sector which I have undertaken since becoming Taoiseach. It was a collaborative session during which a broad range of topics were discussed across the four pathways in Housing for All.
Suggestions and policy ideas generated from the Conference and other ongoing stakeholder engagements will be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Housing in the coming weeks.
The organisations from which representatives participated in the Conference are listed below.
|
Representatives |
|
|
Peter McVerry Trust |
Irish Congress of Trade Unions |
|
DePaul |
Local Government Management Agency |
|
Tuath Housing |
Land Development Agency |
|
Respond |
Housing Agency |
|
Irish Council for Social Housing |
Housing Finance Agency |
|
Housing Commission |
National Treasury Management Agency |
|
Focus Ireland |
Office of Public Works |
|
Threshold |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
|
Circle Voluntary Housing Association |
Mayo County Council |
|
Cluid Housing |
Residential Tenancies Board |
|
Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive |
Irish Planning Institute |
|
Simon Community |
Society of Chartered Surveyors |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute |
Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland |
|
Technological University Dublin |
UCD School of Architecture |
|
Housing Building Finance Agency |
Irish Property Owners Association |
|
Davy |
Sherry Fitzgerald |
|
Irish Home Builders Association |
CIF |
|
Property Industry Ireland |
D/Taoiseach |
|
Irish Institutional Property |
D/Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
|
Activate Capital |
D/Finance |
|
Cairn Homes |
D/Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Glenveagh Properties |
D/Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Society of Chartered Surveyors |
D/Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
|
Banking & Payments Federation Ireland |
9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet committees that are in place; and if he will provide a list of the persons who attend each committee. [2122/23]
View answerThe Government has established 10 Cabinet Committees as set out in the table below. The membership of each Committee is also listed. Cabinet Committees are established by the Government to assist it in carrying out the responsibilities of Government in the areas indicated by their titles. They meet as appropriate according to their work schedules. Other Ministers or Ministers of State may attend meetings as required.
|
Cabinet Committee |
Membership |
|
Brexit and Northern Ireland |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Justice Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Finance Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Children and Education |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Health Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister for Education Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Finance Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Economy and Investment |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Finance Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
|
Environment and Climate Change |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Finance Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development Minister of State Hackett is invited to the Cabinet Committee |
|
EU and International Affairs |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Finance Minister of State Burke is invited to the Cabinet Committee |
|
Government Co-ordination |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport |
|
Health |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Health Minister for Finance Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth |
|
Housing |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister for Finance Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development |
|
Humanitarian Response to Ukraine |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Justice |
|
Social Affairs and Public Services |
Taoiseach Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Finance Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister for Health Minister for Justice |
