Parliamentary questions

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Bernard Durkan

46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the steps which can be taken to encourage lenders, directly or through the medium of the Central Bank, when dealing with borrowers in arrears to take into account the willingness of the borrowers to make reasonable repayments in line with their circumstances rather than liquidation, particularly in circumstances in which the family home or small business is concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17798/19]

Pension Provisions

Aindrias Moynihan

47. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to deal with the issue of private pension schemes which are not paying cost of living increases in circumstances in which the recipient is entitled to same; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many policies may be affected like this in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17823/19]

Insurance Industry

Michael McGrath

49. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who had latent defect insurance with a company (details supplied) who have obtained alternative insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17768/19]

Insurance Industry

Aindrias Moynihan

62. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to introduce legislation to ensure motor insurance policyholders who have claims made against them are informed of claims against them before a settlement is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the undocumented Irish at his meetings in the United States of America; and, if so, the response he received. [13892/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

2. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the meeting he had with the Vice President of the United States of America, Mr. Mike Pence; the issues that were discussed; and if they included climate change. [13894/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joan Burton

3. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his St. Patrick's Day visit to the United States of America. [13946/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the United States of America and his meeting with President Donald Trump and representatives of Congress; and the other meetings he held. [13954/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

5. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he discussed climate change with President Trump when they met in the United States of America. [14015/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

6. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to the United States of America. [15013/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

7. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E, health, last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [15014/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E, health, last met. [15023/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E, health, last met. [16348/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

10. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E, health, last met. [16669/19]

European Parliament Elections

Niall Collins

48. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken at EU level to address potential interference from outside actors in the upcoming European Parliament elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17781/19]

Good Friday Agreement

Seán Crowe

49. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing difficulties being faced by Irish citizens in Northern Ireland in asserting their Irish citizenship and that in certain cases Irish citizens are being forced to renounce British citizenship even though they are not and have not claimed to be British citizens; the steps he is taking to ensure that the British Government fully upholds the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including those relating to citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17697/19]

Brexit Negotiations

Lisa Chambers

50. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of Brexit in view of the granting of a flextension to 31 October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17782/19]

Passport Services

Michael Healy-Rae

51. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if airlines will be contacted to request the passport details of persons when they book flights (details supplied); and if a printing service will be provided in the Cork passport office. [17821/19]

Middle East Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

52. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the plans announced by the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing to move settlers into the illegally occupied Golan Heights; his further views on whether continued flouting of international law should be condemned more robustly by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17593/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

53. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent anti-Government protests in Sudan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17562/19]

Passport Applications Data

Martin Heydon

54. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the increased take-up of the online passport service; his plans to extend the online service for more applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17588/19]

Religious Persecution

Thomas Byrne

55. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic steps Ireland is taking to highlight and end the persecution of Christians worldwide. [17616/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Eamon Ryan

56. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland's position on the situation in Libya in the context of the recent advance of a person (details supplied) on Tripoli. [17627/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

57. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the most recent discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 8 April 2019 on recent developments in Libya; the stance taken by representatives of Ireland at those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/19]

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

60. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Israeli Prime Minister that if he wins re-election he will annex illegal Israeli colonial settlements in the occupied West Bank; if he will condemn these comments; and the response he will take if Israel moves towards annexing illegal Israeli colonial settlements in Palestine. [17558/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

66. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to renewed fighting in Libya and the fact that the UN is reporting significant civilian casualties and that thousands are fleeing fighting around Tripoli; and the steps Ireland is taking to ensure a new ceasefire is negotiated. [17560/19]

Middle East Issues

Niall Collins

69. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent developments at EU and or international level to try and halt the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17586/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Niall Collins

91. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to the way in which the recent conflict in Libya could affect migrants who are already being kept in appalling conditions in detention centres there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17584/19]

Middle East Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

94. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic response of Ireland to the policy of Israeli Prime Minister to promise to break international law and annex occupied Palestinian land; the way in which he will respond to a far right Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17598/19]

Middle East Issues

Eamon Ryan

95. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position of Ireland on the recent announcement from the Israeli Prime Minister regarding plans to annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [17626/19]

Defence Forces Personnel

Jack Chambers

1. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the 8.1% turnover or churn in the Defence Forces is crippling the service; if the Defence Forces are struggling to fill command positions for a rotation of troops attached to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17125/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

2. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the Public Service Pay Commission's meeting with management parties following the joint submission from military authorities and his Department; if he or a representative from his Department was at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16981/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Jack Chambers

3. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of former officers who previously left the Defence Forces and have returned to service; when a scheme for former enlisted members to return will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17126/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Paul Murphy

4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his engagement with the Public Service Pay Commission on the pay, allowances and conditions of members of the Defence Forces; his views on the need for improvements to pay and conditions in view of the low pay and poor conditions faced by members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16982/19]

European Defence Capabilities

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the remit of the European peace facility, EPF; the way in which it will be financed; and the way in which it will contribute to conflict prevention and peace building. [16964/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Clare Daly

6. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the fact that the Defence Forces had a net gain of just three members in 2017 despite a recruitment and training campaign costing in the region of €15 million. [16804/19]

Cybersecurity Policy

Jack Chambers

7. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the work of the Defence Forces computer incident response team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16839/19]

UN Missions

Clare Daly

8. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a decision will be taken on whether to deploy the Army Ranger Wing to the MINUSMA mission in Mali. [16806/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bobby Aylward

9. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure better pay and working conditions for members of the Defence Forces; the further steps being taken to ensure appropriate supports are available to both current and former members of the Defence Forces who may be experiencing financial difficulties; if he is satisfied that recruitment methods are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16655/19]

Defence Forces Strength

Bernard Durkan

10. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the strength of the Defence Forces throughout the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps continues to be augmented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16924/19]

UN Missions

Jack Chambers

11. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason 150 members of the Defence Forces had their return from Lebanon delayed and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16838/19]

UN Missions

Clare Daly

15. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason 130 members of the Defence Forces were unable to leave the Golan Heights on their scheduled departure date of 4 April 2019 and the steps he will take to ensure accountability for this failure in view of the fact that it is the second time in a year that members of the Defence Forces have been unable to return home on time. [16803/19]

UN Missions

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

19. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason for the recent problems with flights for members of Defence Forces returning from Syria and the measures that will be taken to avoid such instances in the future. [16970/19]

Historic Towns Initiative

Niamh Smyth

1. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if specific consideration will be given to the protection and restoration of market towns and their centres in the context of a future historic towns initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16781/19]

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

2. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019 a fhoilsiú. [16780/19]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Aindrias Moynihan

3. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta nuashonrú a dhéanamh ar aon phlé a bhí aici féin nó ag oifigí na Roinne leis an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, leis an bhForas Pátrúnachta, le Gaeloideachas Teoranta, nó leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga maidir leis an gcaoi ar féidir roghanna tuismitheoirí i leith na Gaelscolaíochta a léiriú tuilleadh i bpróisis phátrúnachta as seo amach. [16797/19]

City of Culture Initiative

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

4. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether an imaginative programme can be rolled out by Galway 2020 as the city celebrates the title of European City of Culture; and her further views on whether it was the right decision not to have an open call for additional projects for the 2020 programme. [16485/19]

Museum Projects

Joan Burton

5. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to secure a permanent home for a museum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16769/19]

Wild Fires

Willie Penrose

7. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to carry out an evaluation of the damage and cost incurred as a consequence of fires that resulted from her extension of the most recent burning season in respect of gorse; her further plans to carry out an evaluation of the destruction of habitats of flora, fauna and wildlife as a consequence of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16718/19]

Performing Arts

Catherine Connolly

8. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement she has had with a theatre (details supplied) in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16599/19]