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 6 of 8
Tue, 8 Sep 2020
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General Practitioner Services
Joe O'Brien
1351. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when section 4 of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 is to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/20]
Tue, 8 Sep 2020
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Statutory Instruments
Joe O'Brien
1397. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when a statutory instrument will be issued under the Health Services (Drug Payment Scheme) Regulations 2017 to give effect to the planned reduction of the drugs payment scheme threshold to €114; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22566/20]
Tue, 8 Sep 2020
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Commencement of Legislation
Joe O'Brien
1398. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when section 2 of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 is to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22567/20]
Thu, 30 Jul 2020
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Health Services Staff
Joe O'Brien
1123. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to providing a monetary bonus to healthcare workers in view of their extraordinary and heroic efforts, often at great personal risk to themselves, to fight Covid-19 in hospitals and other care settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19850/20]
Wed, 29 Jul 2020
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Refugee Status
Joe O'Brien
266. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of the cost and number of refugees who have arrived here to date through the community sponsorship initiative. [19383/20]
Wed, 29 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
278. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to allowing partners to attend scans in maternity hospitals, particularly the first scan at 12 weeks and anomaly scans when they take place; and, if not, if maternity hospitals are being requested to make decisions on a case-by-case basis to allow partners to attend if the mother has had previously upsetting experience, such as a scan ultimately disclosing the loss of a pregnancy. [19246/20]
Wed, 29 Jul 2020
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Hospital Staff
Joe O'Brien
279. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of diabetic nurse specialists in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19248/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Human Rights
Joe O'Brien
372. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the use of the death penalty in Bahrain, in particular in cases (details supplied); if he will intervene in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18103/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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School Accommodation
Joe O'Brien
439. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the appropriate budget lines are being prepared for the necessary and planned works to a school (details supplied); the status of works planned for 2020; and if they will be completed for September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18149/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Tests
Joe O'Brien
933. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the turnaround time for Covid-19 tests relative to the recommended 48 hours for proper test and trace. [18155/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
934. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will be examined. [18156/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
935. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if verbal or written direction has been provided by the Director General of the HSE via the HSE to general practitioners relating to requests for letters to confirm the inability of a person to wear a mask on the basis of legitimate health grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18157/20]
Thu, 23 Jul 2020
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Extradition Arrangements
Joe O'Brien
199. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider reviewing the extradition agreement with Hong Kong in view of the control that Chinese authorities are now exerting on the territory and in the context of increasing human rights abuses by Chinese authorities. [17805/20]
Thu, 23 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
233. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the percentage of devices which have been used to download the Covid-19 tracker application that are able to use the contact tracing functionality of the application by device type in tabular form [17801/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
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Insurance Costs
Joe O'Brien
196. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the issue of rising insurance premiums, especially in the context of the risk they pose to the viability of many SMEs. [16761/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Joe O'Brien
435. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to the creation of a simple back-to-work Covid-19 scheme (details supplied). [16716/20]
Thu, 16 Jul 2020
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Naturalisation Applications
Joe O'Brien
158. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied). [16417/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Personal Injury Claims
Joe O'Brien
311. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to personal injuries claims being taken on the basis of persons claiming to have contracted Covid-19 in specific premises; if there is a clear plan to ensure business are not unfairly held liable in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15699/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Pension Provisions
Joe O'Brien
320. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position of retired members of An Garda Síochána in respect of pension entitlements following the FEMPI cuts from 1 March 2012; his plans to restore parity in pension entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15172/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Joe O'Brien
692. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 rent supplement scheme will be extended beyond August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15493/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Driver Test
Joe O'Brien
100. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the advice his Department is giving to driver schools in order to facilitate them reopening in a safe manner as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14020/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Roadworthiness Testing
Joe O'Brien
125. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process for getting a self-made mechanically propelled vehicle verified for roadworthiness. [14313/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Insurance Coverage
Joe O'Brien
159. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the practice that is carried out by insurance companies to impose a limit on the number of years a person cannot have insurance before they lose access to a no claims bonus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13901/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Wildlife Control
Joe O'Brien
245. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the impact of urban seagull colonies on communities will be reviewed; if so, if recommendations will be made; if the details including notes of the briefing to her predecessor in respect of reports (details supplied) by community representatives will be provided with regard to the consultative committee established. [14316/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Foreign Conflicts
Joe O'Brien
344. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the humanitarian and political situation in Yemen; if Ireland will donate humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14309/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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School Transport
Joe O'Brien
374. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that have been taken to ensure the school transport scheme will be able to operate at capacity when schools reopen in view of concerns raised by school bus operators and individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13810/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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School Transport
Joe O'Brien
413. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department has indicated that it is unable to provide school transport for the July provision of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14021/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Citizenship Ceremonies
Joe O'Brien
640. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of approved applications for naturalisation that are awaiting a citizenship ceremony; if there are plans in place to clear the backlog in a safe way in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14359/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Medical Cards
Joe O'Brien
763. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when the national medical card unit is to be advised that the new thresholds for medical card eligibility as announced in budget 2020 are to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14171/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
765. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct an inquiry into the rate of Covid-19 cases seen in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14176/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
767. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct an inquiry into the rate of Covid-19 cases seen in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14187/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
810. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the reason the national emergency co-ordination group was not used during Covid-19; the reason for the preference for the NPHET in view of the fact that when the National Emergency Coordination Group was formed pandemics were included in its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14279/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Heritage Sites
Joe O'Brien
84. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will facilitate the longer opening of heritage sites outside of the traditional season in order to benefit from a potential increase in staycations and domestic holidays and in order to accommodate visitors and to avoid overcrowding sites during seasonal weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13091/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Student Visas
Joe O'Brien
304. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to further visa extensions for students that are here to study English that have had classes cancelled as a result of the ongoing pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13155/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Student Visas
Joe O'Brien
305. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to reviewing the requirement for English language students to enrol in an online course in order to gain an extension to their student visa, in view of the fact contact learning in an English speaking environment is usually the express reason these students have chosen to travel here. [13156/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Joe O'Brien
342. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if exceptions are being made to businesses applying for the restart grant that are not tax compliant due to difficult financial circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13086/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Agriculture Schemes
Joe O'Brien
592. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to providing grants for farmers and growers that adopt hydroponic or vertical farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13153/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
704. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to extending the time period for taxi drivers to renew their licences in view of Covid-19 causing delays in NCT and suitability tests which in the contention of many taxi drivers, is forcing them off the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
705. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure greater passenger capacity on rail lines nationally in order to facilitate social distancing of passengers as phase 3 of the easing of lockdown restrictions approaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13157/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Joe O'Brien
776. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be published. [13430/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Joe O'Brien
837. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to providing income supports for taxi drivers that are returning to work as the lockdown comes to an end in the context of diminished demand for their services in the next few months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13154/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Joe O'Brien
883. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an extension to the three-month moratorium on evictions due to expire on 30 June 2020 has been considered particularly for persons with an underlying health condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Neuro-Rehabilitation Services
Joe O'Brien
422. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels nationally in terms of health specialists focused on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease; and his plans to expand access to neurologists, more nurse specialists and referrals of all patients to services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and dietetics. [11862/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Memoranda of Understanding
Joe O'Brien
684. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Port of Cork plans to renew the memorandum of understanding with a company (details supplied) when it expires at the end of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12162/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Taxi Licences
Joe O'Brien
720. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if provision will be made to provide an extension for cars due a taxi suitable test and NCT from June 12 2020 due to the backlog in NCT appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12440/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Aer Lingus
Joe O'Brien
721. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a union (details supplied) representing employees of a company was instructed by persons not to put the changed the terms and conditions of some of its members' contracts to a ballot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12441/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Joe O'Brien
225. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of the summer programme; if it will cover facilities that cater for the needs of children with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10920/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Health Screening Programmes
Joe O'Brien
553. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when BreastCheck and Cervical Check screenings will be returning; the steps that can be taken to expedite the safe return of the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10890/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Aviation Industry
Joe O'Brien
820. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ascertain the airlines that enter and leave Irish airports that use HEPA filters as standard in their aircraft and which do not (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10610/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Ports Development
Joe O'Brien
824. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the memorandum of understanding with companies (details supplied) as joint shareholders of the Port of Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10643/20]