Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Kevin Humphreys

741. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff that availed of the special civil service incentive career break scheme 2009; the cost of the scheme since its introduction; the savings on the pay bill in that time period; the estimated full year cost for the return of all the new civil servants in 2013; the number of staff members that applied for a further extension of their leave; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45617/12]

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Kevin Humphreys

742. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff across the public service that are currently on a career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers on career leave by Department and agency; the estimated cost of this scheme per year; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; the reforms that have taken place in this general area in the past year; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45632/12]

National Debt

Kevin Humphreys

132. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the annual interest payments on the national debt from 2007 to 2011; the projected annual interest payments on the national debt for 2012; the projected annual payments from 2013 to 2016; if these are inclusive of the promissory note payments, sinking fund contributions and debt management expenses; if not, if he will provide the annual projected costs for these for 2012 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41575/12]

Departmental Properties

Kevin Humphreys

217. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all the parking spaces at Dublin Castle are under the management of the Office of Public Works; the number of parking spaces provided for public servants in the various agencies of the State located there; the cost to staff of using these parking spaces; the number of parking spaces allocated specifically in the great courtyard and lower castleyard; if any consideration has been given to removing parking spaces from these two historic courtyards at Dublin Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41477/12]

Flood Prevention Measures

Kevin Humphreys

368. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the funding that can be provided to Dublin City Council for an assessment of needs or hydraulic study on the culverted Swan River, Dublin, which has caused multiple local floods in recent years, but which does not form part of the Eastern CFRAMS carried out by the Office of Public Works as it is culverted; if he considers the Swan River to be part of the Rathmines and Pembroke drainage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41431/12]

Taxi Regulations

Kevin Humphreys

591. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made on extending the powers of An Garda Síochána to issue fixed charge penalties on taxis and to work with the National Transport Authority for greater on-street enforcement and on off-street enforcement as recommended in the report on the future of the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41277/12]

Bus Éireann Services

Kevin Humphreys

592. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when a real time passenger information display signs for Dublin Bus will be installed on the Ringsend Road between South Lotts Rd and Barrow St, and when one will be installed in Ringsend village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41278/12]

Climate Change Policy

Kevin Humphreys

137. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when he expects to publish the interim report of the National Economic and Social Council secretariat on climate policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41218/12]

Mobility Allowance Decision

Kevin Humphreys

173. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he has accepted the Ombudsman's recommendation of the need to review and revise the mobility allowance so as to render it compliant with the Equal Status Acts; the date on which he will revise the mobility allowance to render it compliant, in view of the fact that those over 66 cannot currently access this allowance; when will they be able to access this mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40769/12]

Genetically Modified Organisms

Kevin Humphreys

350. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if Teagasc developed any genetically modified organisms such as potato, barley or wheat seeds, or other important vegetable or fruit species here; if the State through Teagasc retains any patents or intellectual property in any such genetically modified food; if he will explain the position with respect to GMO's and Ireland's food security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40484/12]

Genetically Modified Organisms

Kevin Humphreys

351. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will confirm who owns the intellectual property or patent of the genetically modified potatoes which Teagasc is field trialling; if he will clarify if Teagasc had any role in the development of this potato; if so, if it retains any share in the patent or intellectual property relating to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40485/12]

Food Labelling

Kevin Humphreys

352. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the plans he has, if any to protect food labelling terms such as artisan, farmhouse, local and traditional to ensure they are not open to abuse or misuse, and that small producers are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40486/12]

Sentencing Policy

Kevin Humphreys

27. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the practice of taking into account previous good behaviour, character references and future potential to commit crimes when sentencing convicted criminals; if he has any intentions to introduce legislative reforms in this area [37877/12]

Sentencing Policy

Kevin Humphreys

41. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has any intentions of introducing guidelines for sentencing of criminals convicted of sexual offences and clarifying the role that compensation should pay and the influences it may have on the sentence that is imposed and the amount that should be suspended; his views on whether too much discretion is available to the sentencing judges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37876/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Kevin Humphreys

202. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties in receipt of the heritage property relief that were open or closed during National Heritage Week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38918/12]

Departmental Reports

Kevin Humphreys

318. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance when the Report from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners showing the effect of the High Earners Restriction for 2011 will be published; the changes that have occurred, if any, to the restriction between 2010 and 2011; the changes, if any, that were introduced in the most recent Finance Bill; if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38718/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Kevin Humphreys

319. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline each age exemption limit that exists within the income tax system and the estimated cost to the Exchequer of each of these exemptions in a full tax year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38720/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Kevin Humphreys

330. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers that have had to reimburse the State due to failure to comply with the heritage property relief conditions on an annual basis since 2005; the number of audits relating to use of the relief that have been performed on an annual basis since 2005; the amount of revenue raised from such audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38919/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Kevin Humphreys

331. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost on an annual basis since 2005 of the heritage property relief; the number of claims there have been on an annual basis since 2005 of this relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38920/12]

Environment Fund

Kevin Humphreys

1085. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if any consideration has been given to ending the ring-fencing of the Environment Fund or reducing the amount of the bag and landfill levies paid into the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38206/12]