Parliamentary questions

Workplace Discrimination

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to hold any review of the workings of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 or the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, specifically in relation to the rights of people with disabilities to take cases relating to workplace discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31465/23]

Passport Services

Bríd Smith

95. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to change the system in relation to the witnessing of signatures on passport applications by a member of An Garda Síochána at local Garda stations; if he is aware that the process includes the recording of witnessing gardaí’s details in a log, which is then called upon by the Passport Office for verification; if he is also aware that it is not uncommon for an omission or a mistake to happen at this point, resulting in an often significant delay for the passport applicant through no fault of their own; if he will acknowledge the archaic and inconsistent nature of this step in the process; if he will provide details of the number of passport applications that are held up as a result of omissions or mistakes in witnessing signatures by members of An Garda Síochána; if he will outline any plans to update and/or streamline the signature witness process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the status of the new school build for a school (details supplied) works for which you indicated in a previous Parliamentary Question reply to commence at the end of June 2023; the date for the commencement of this new build and the completion timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30946/23]

Data Protection

Bríd Smith

450. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person participating in the JobPath programme who declines to sign a consent form allowing Seetec to make contact with employers of perspective employers on their behalf, will be sanctioned or penalised in any way; how programme participants' personal data is stored, processed and shared; how this complies with Irish and EU data protection laws; if their data will be transferred out of Ireland to servers or software located in the UK or any other third-party entities; the safeguards that are in place to protect participants' data; what a participant is agreeing to when asked to sign the induction booklet; if this is mandatory under legislation; if it constitutes any form of a contract with Seetec that may affect their rights; if the participant will be sanctioned or penalised for refusing to sign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31298/23]

Prison Service

Bríd Smith

484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a prisoner is due for a release under the community return scheme as a result of a Ministerial order; if such an order can be delayed or stopped by the intervention of a third party as appears to have happened in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31154/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

520. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds named on the RCETS to date who were born in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31370/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

521. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born in 2021 who were exported un-named to the UK or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

522. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds who were microchipped and registered in the Irish stud book whose year of birth was 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31372/23]

Grant Payments

Bríd Smith

600. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the names and addresses of all successful and unsuccessful applicants, respectively in relation to the operation of the building block grant strand B for childcare providers; the number of unsuccessful applicants within Dublin broken down into postal code areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31146/23]

Dublin Airport Authority

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of and supports plans by the DAA to extend its operations; if his Department has had any discussion with the DAA about planned expansions and increases in aviation travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30117/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can detail the average number of passengers who have travelled on the new BusConnects route 60 since its introduction, per week or month; the passenger numbers for route 79 in the past three months of its operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30121/23]

Transport Policy

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined any proposals around the use and possible banning of SUV private vehicles in city and urban areas; if he would support such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30120/23]

Rail Network

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify the position of the Government in relation to investment in the western rail corridor; if he supports further investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30119/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the successful applicants from childcare facilities for the blocks grant strand B, by company name and geographical area, that is, either country or Dublin postal code, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30252/23]

Climate Action Plan

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report for the first quarter of 2023 of the climate action plan. [29546/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economy and investment will next meet. [29547/23]

Official Engagements

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the meeting of the European Political Community on 1 June 2023. [29548/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

50. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail what progress has been made on signing off on the promised pension increase for An Post workers; if he can further clarify the timeframe for same, given the length of time retired workers have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30007/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can detail the position in relation to the implementation of the security sector ERO, specifically, when the case will be heard in the High Court; the State's position on the current injunction against the ERO by some employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30008/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can clarify whether his officials will attend the next hearing of the High Court into the injunction taken by employers against the security sector ERO; if he has discussed this issue with his officials or legal team; if he has sought the advice of the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30124/23]