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 all sittings
Page 98 of 126
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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Foreign Conflicts
Brendan Smith
223. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans, through Ireland's participation on the United Nations Human Rights Council, to seek accountability for potential war crimes committed by all participants in the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian factions in summer 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11000/15]
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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Overseas Development Aid
Brendan Smith
224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria used to decide on the recent reductions in Irish Aid funding for Irish non-governmental organisations; the criteria used in respect of the Irish Aid budget for the European Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11016/15]
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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Overseas Development Aid
Brendan Smith
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the greater demands on the Irish Aid budget for emergencies such as the Ebola crisis, the ongoing Syrian crisis and the growing number of natural disasters are impacting on the level of funding made to Irish NGOs; if there is a specific arrangement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the provision of additional funding when such crises happen and Irish Aid wishes to assist in the international response to such humanitarian disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11017/15]
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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School Funding
Brendan Smith
237. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grant aid is available for small-sized primary schools to provide assembly areas, general practitioner rooms and physical education facilities, where there are very limited or no sporting and recreational facilities available at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11002/15]
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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School Staff
Brendan Smith
238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure there will be no reduction of the staffing complement of a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; if she will further ensure that all the relevant issues outlined in recent correspondence from the school to her Department pertaining to the distance of this school to the next nearest primary school and the remote location of the school are taken into account in any decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11003/15]
Wed, 11 Mar 2015
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Public Sector Pensions
Brendan Smith
70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of staff at Waterways Ireland and the staff of other all-Ireland bodies regarding the proposal to impose an additional pension contribution on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/15]
Wed, 11 Mar 2015
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Road Projects Expenditure
Brendan Smith
158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide consideration to a motion adopted by the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney municipal district, County Monaghan, in respect of funding for road improvement works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10679/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Agriculture Scheme Eligibility
Brendan Smith
132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if milk recording systems and milk parlour feeding systems will be eligible for grant aid under the targeted agricultural management scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9814/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Organic Farming
Brendan Smith
133. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be provided for a fodder growing system in respect of farmers involved in organic farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Home Help Service Provision
Brendan Smith
228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if home support hours make provision for housekeeping tasks, as well as personal care, for patients in need of maximum support, particularly those with no immediate family support; if the criteria for the allocation of home support hours are consistent throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9871/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Library Services
Brendan Smith
258. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm there will be no change to the status of the County Cavan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Library Services
Brendan Smith
259. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of the County Monaghan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9817/15]
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
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Fuel Laundering
Brendan Smith
260. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he has put in place with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive, Oireachtas Members from counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth, and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in County Armagh, to meet in the Armagh/Louth/Monaghan area, to discuss the ongoing damage caused by the illegal trade in fuel, as requested by a number of Deputies during a Topical Issues debate on 21 January 2015; when this meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9818/15]
Wed, 4 Mar 2015
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Health Services Funding
Brendan Smith
128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided for the residential centres of the Camphill Community of Ireland to ensure the continuation of services at those centres throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9445/15]
Wed, 4 Mar 2015
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HSE Funding
Brendan Smith
176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided to ensure that there are no reductions in the level of service provided by North East Doctor on Call Ltd. in the north-east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9573/15]
Wed, 4 Mar 2015
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School Transport Eligibility
Brendan Smith
189. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if transport will be provided to a primary school in County Cavan from a location (details supplied); if she will ensure that families in that general area who wish to have their children attend a school under the patronage of their particular denomination will have school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9449/15]
Wed, 4 Mar 2015
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Road Projects
Brendan Smith
234. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be provided to a motion passed by Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District in relation to the need to provide funding towards the upgrading of the R179 - Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne road, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/15]
Wed, 4 Mar 2015
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International Agreements
Brendan Smith
239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will support the application submitted by the GAA for UNESCO heritage status in respect of hurling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9574/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
oral
Ukrainian Conflict
Brendan Smith
1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland’s position on the deteriorating situation in the Ukraine; if he has had contact with his Russian counterpart on this matter; if he will provide an update on the discussions he has had about the incursion into Irish airspace by Russian military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
oral
Northern Ireland Issues
Brendan Smith
4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8341/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Undocumented Irish in the USA
Brendan Smith
12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet with the Administration of the United States of America in relation to the urgent need to progress the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Electoral Reform
Brendan Smith
15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an outline of the discussions he has had with Irish emigrant groups in relation to their ongoing campaigns to participate in the Irish electoral process, such as elections to a reformed Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Northern Ireland
Brendan Smith
17. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to take any particular initiative in relation to the need to progress outstanding aspects of the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements including the establishment of a civic forum, the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the introduction of an Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8237/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Overseas Development Aid Provision
Brendan Smith
26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide, as a matter of urgency, additional overseas development aid for South Sudan, due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Human Rights
Brendan Smith
28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken to address the persecution of Christians in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8233/15]
Thu, 26 Feb 2015
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Haulage Industry Regulation
Brendan Smith
226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to the request of the Irish Road Haulage Association (details supplied), in view of the particular difficulties facing hauliers, particularly in the Border area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8559/15]
Wed, 25 Feb 2015
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Human Rights
Brendan Smith
154. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will bring to the attention of the Government in Yemen, the concerns of the Baha'i Community, in relation to a Yemeni national (details supplied) who has been imprisoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8470/15]
Wed, 25 Feb 2015
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Official Engagements
Brendan Smith
155. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of his recent visit to the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8471/15]
Wed, 25 Feb 2015
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Middle East Peace Process
Brendan Smith
156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific proposals he has put forward at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, in relation to the need for the European Union to initiate a new round of peace talks, concerning the Israeli-Palestine conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8472/15]
Wed, 25 Feb 2015
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Departmental Bodies
Brendan Smith
158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to appoint a representative of the Teachers' Union of Ireland to the Apprenticeship Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8347/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Foreign Conflicts
Brendan Smith
498. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to assist in the search for the kidnapped schoolgirls, abducted in Nigeria in April 2014; the actions he will take; if he has conveyed his concern, and that of the Irish people, at the abduction to the Nigerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7854/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
Brendan Smith
505. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide a full briefing to the Justice for the Forgotten Group, in relation to the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Northern Ireland
Brendan Smith
506. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the legislative measures that will require implementation by the Houses of the Oireachtas, following the Stormont House Agreement; the proposed time scale for the enactment of such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Human Rights
Brendan Smith
507. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the criticisms of the Global Island policy document, in relation to the diminished role of Irish foreign policy, pertaining to the promotion of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8252/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Overseas Development Aid
Brendan Smith
508. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the targets for overseas development aid provided for by his Department for the next five years, both as a monetary figure and as a percentage of gross national product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8253/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Consular Services Expenditure
Brendan Smith
509. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department’s policy with regard to refurbishing embassies and ambassadors’ residences; the cost of these works, by year, since 2011 to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8254/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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Overseas Development Aid Oversight
Brendan Smith
510. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a full audit has been conducted into the budget allocation to Irish Aid in 2014; if there were matters of concern, raised in this audit, to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/15]
Tue, 24 Feb 2015
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International Terrorism
Brendan Smith
511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Italian Foreign Minister in relation to the threats posed to Europe from the Islamic State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/15]
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
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Diplomatic Representation
Brendan Smith
167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Russian Ambassador, or the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the circumstances where two Russian military aircraft entered Irish-controlled airspace in January 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these aircraft were going to enter-Irish controlled airspace; the details he knew of this situation at the time; the details regarding the episode now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/15]
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
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Departmental Expenditure
Brendan Smith
168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost of producing the Global Island policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/15]
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
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Broadband Service Provision
Brendan Smith
207. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are large areas of County Cavan with inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure; his plans to bring this infrastructure up to modern standards, at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/15]
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
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Broadband Service Provision
Brendan Smith
208. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are large areas of County Monaghan with inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure; his plans to bring this infrastructure up to modern standards, at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/15]
Wed, 18 Feb 2015
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Science Foundation Ireland Expenditure
Brendan Smith
70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding provided on an annual basis to Science Foundation Ireland since its inception; the funding that was sourced from other Departments or State agencies or through EU programmes by Science Foundation Ireland on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7384/15]
Wed, 18 Feb 2015
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Leader Programmes Funding
Brendan Smith
219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total funding allocated to the Cavan-Monaghan Leader programme for 2009-14; the amount that this programme was subsequently reduced by; the total funding committed to date under that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/15]
Tue, 17 Feb 2015
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Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility
Brendan Smith
210. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to modify the requirements for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7007/15]
Tue, 17 Feb 2015
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EU Meetings
Brendan Smith
418. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/15]
Tue, 17 Feb 2015
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Sports Capital Programme Administration
Brendan Smith
542. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital programme will be open for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7058/15]
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
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Dairy Sector
Brendan Smith
135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he put forward at the recent European Union Agriculture Council meeting in relation to the need to extend the end-date of the private storage scheme to help offset the impact of the Russian ban on the export of food products from the European Union to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6471/15]
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
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Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
Brendan Smith
136. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid, and the total amount paid, under the 2014 rural environment protection scheme 4 and the agri-environment options schemes 1, 2 and 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6490/15]
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
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Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Brendan Smith
137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme; the total amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6491/15]