Parliamentary questions

Passport Services

James Lawless

126. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22582/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22609/24]

Humanitarian Aid

Paul Murphy

128. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the catastrophic flooding, due to never-seen-before levels of rain, that has been devastating the south Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul (details supplied); and the actions the Government is taking to provide support to those affected by this crisis. [22644/24]

Passport Services

Paul McAuliffe

129. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) can be expedited. [22649/24]

Passport Services

Pa Daly

130. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application can be expedited (details supplied). [22651/24]

Consular Services

Paul Murphy

131. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); if he will ensure their safe return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22660/24]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the findings of the 2024 UNFPA State of World Population Report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22665/24]

Departmental Policies

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the outcome of the 57th UN Commission on Population and Development, including details of statements made by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22736/24]

Human Rights

Neasa Hourigan

134. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the context of the Summit of the Future; how Ireland will ensure global goals, commitments and obligations under international human rights standards in relation to SRHR are fully incorporated into the Pact for the Future, which will be negotiated by states in the lead-up to the summit in September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22737/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Niamh Smyth

135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is possible to get an update for the following foreign birth application (details supplied). [22778/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

136. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22814/24]

Foreign Policy

Jim O'Callaghan

137. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has drawn up assessments of the potential impact on Ireland of the withdrawal of the United States from international multilateral organisations, in view of the growing isolationism in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22848/24]

White Papers

Jim O'Callaghan

138. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when his Department last published a White Paper on foreign policy; if he plans an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22849/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

139. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22857/24]

Passport Services

Catherine Murphy

140. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applicants that had to resubmit photographs in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22898/24]

European Council

Catherine Murphy

141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the current situation in Georgia was discussed at the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [22899/24]

Departmental Meetings

Catherine Murphy

142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken with the First Minister of Wales since his appointment. [22900/24]

Departmental Meetings

Pauline Tully

143. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he met with the UK shadow foreign secretary during his recent visit to London (details supplied). [22946/24]

Passport Services

Joe Flaherty

144. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update regarding a delay in issuing a business passport (details supplied). [22969/24]

Middle East

Ivana Bacik

145. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on the statement of Ireland in the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Israeli Practice and Policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 22 February 2024; and if he will comment on the statement of the Attorney General at [37], and its relation to the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. [23010/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of BER assessors assigned to each county, by year, from 2019 to date, in tabular form. [22433/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of people currently waiting on a BER assessment and the length of time each has been waiting, by local area, in tabular form. [22434/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of time individuals are expected to wait before receiving a BER assessment; if his attention has been drawn towards instances of excessively long waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

149. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his officials in the inland fisheries division fully support the ongoing legislative conservation of invasive roach in the Lough Melvin catchment and special area of conservation under the Conservation of Coarse Fish By-Law No. 806 (2006) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22473/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it was his intention to increase the overall brown trout daily bag limit per angler to six fish for the entire Lough Corrib SAC under two separate harvesting regimes, with four trout being harvested from the lake and two trout being harvested from the Clare river catchment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person will be facilitated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/24]

Departmental Bodies

Holly Cairns

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail which companies are contracted to carry out works by the SEAI for each of its grant schemes; the work being conducted by each company; and the value of each contract. [22500/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current waiting times for a BER assessment, by scheme and local area, in tabular form. [22501/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

154. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the employment arrangements for BER assessors who work with the SEAI; whether BER assessors are obliged to work alongside companies subcontracted by the SEAI to carry out works in relation to grant schemes; and if his attention has been drawn to assessors' concerns in regard to these arrangements. [22502/24]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Carol Nolan

155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on proposals under the consultation on private wires to extend compulsory purchase order powers to commercial entities; if he has engaged with farming representative bodies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of the CRU in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22560/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of Gas Networks Ireland in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22561/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of EirGrid in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/24]

Electricity Supply Board

Darren O'Rourke

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of ESB Networks in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22563/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Darren O'Rourke

160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a timeline for when the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan will be finalised and adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to implement an enhanced emissions reporting framework and price incentivisation for large energy users to encourage them to participate in flexible demand initiatives designed to shift electricity consumption to times when emissions are low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22565/24]

Grant Payments

Niamh Smyth

162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the SEAI application of a person (details supplied); if he will address the points raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22632/24]

International Agreements

Catherine Connolly

163. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the legal provisions in place to ensure the State is in compliance with Article 3(8) of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; and if he would make a statement on the issue. [22672/24]

Recycling Policy

Catherine Murphy

164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of take-back exemptions, by category type, that have been granted in the context of the deposit return scheme. [22715/24]

Just Transition

Barry Cowen

165. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much of the just transition fund under the 2021-27 allocation has been drawn down to date. [22838/24]

Just Transition

Barry Cowen

166. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocated to projects under the Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 to date, in tabular form. [22839/24]

Recycling Policy

Aindrias Moynihan

167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a response will issue to questions and concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) on the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22864/24]

Departmental Budgets

Catherine Murphy

168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the 2023 and 2024 budget allocation for his Department's anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness grant scheme; and the percentage of the 2023 funding that was actually spent. [22890/24]

National Broadband Plan

Matt Shanahan

169. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason An Rinn in County Waterford is not included in the national broadband plan; the steps that can be taken by families and businesses in An Rinn that wish to access high-speed data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/24]

National Broadband Plan

Matt Shanahan

170. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in view of the lack of national broadband access in An Rinn, County Waterford, if he will advise alternative providers that can possibly provide a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22927/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Michael Creed

171. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the quantity of renewable wind energy generated between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/24]

Military Aircraft

Catherine Murphy

172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Casement Aerodrome has the necessary capability to secure-park a Hercules C-17 military aircraft; and, if not, the funding required in order to be able to secure-park a military aircraft of that size. [22364/24]

Naval Service

Catherine Murphy

173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence If Haulbowline Naval Base has the capability to dock a military naval ship of 609 m in length; and, if not, the funding required in order to be able to securely dock a military naval ship of that size. [22365/24]

Defence Forces

Catherine Murphy

174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the breakdown of personnel, by rank, for the Naval Service and Air Corps in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [22895/24]

Cycling Policy

Ivana Bacik

175. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on progress to require each local authority to appoint a cycling officer. [22850/24]