Parliamentary questions

Hare Coursing Regulation

Maureen O'Sullivan

38. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the very serious concerns of animal welfare groups in relation to the so-called coursing trials; and if she will reconsider the issuing of licences. [1695/19]

Hare Coursing Regulation

Maureen O'Sullivan

83. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the findings of officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service attending coursing meetings in 2018; if there will be an increase in attendances of officials in 2019; and if she has commissioned a report to examine the sustainability of the Irish hare. [1693/19]

Student Accommodation

Maureen O'Sullivan

91. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a study or research has been carried out to ascertain the way in which the increase in student accommodation has addressed housing demand issues; and if the increase in student accommodation has seen a corresponding reduction in the numbers on housing lists. [1178/19]

Rental Sector

Maureen O'Sullivan

100. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if new laws relating to landlords and notice to quit will be retrospective and include those on eviction orders. [1177/19]

School Staff

Maureen O'Sullivan

351. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will retain its teacher allocation in view of the fact that its teacher-pupil ratio is higher than other DEIS 1 schools in the area. [1189/19]

Housing Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

1160. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the precarious position of private tenants who have been given termination notices with regards to sourcing local authority homes; and his plans to address the uncertainty faced by renters in this predicament by establishing a preventative homeless scheme with adequate resources. [1186/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a new recruitment campaign for the Naval Service and Air Corps will occur early in 2019. [53539/18]

Garda Transport Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

239. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda community support vans attached to each Garda district in Dublin; and if additional funding will be provided to purchase additional community support vans in 2019. [53533/18]

Legislative Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

240. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will bring forward the explosives Bill. [53534/18]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

241. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on updating technological equipment for the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and the amount for same in 2019. [53535/18]

Garda Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

242. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of increasing the number of juvenile liaison officers by 15%. [53536/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Maureen O'Sullivan

278. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when she last formally met the director general of Science Foundation Ireland; and when she will next meet the director general. [53538/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Maureen O'Sullivan

308. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to meet his US counterpart. [53537/18]

Teacher Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

235. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason in cases in which a permanent teacher in a primary school retires mid-school year the permanent position cannot be advertised and resolved at the time (details supplied). [53172/18]

Gambling Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

279. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill will be introduced in Dáil Éireann; and if there will be an opportunity for pre-legislative scrutiny, consultation and amendments to be made. [53312/18]

Early Years Sector

Maureen O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress to date in addressing the perceived poor pay and conditions in the early childcare sector; her views on whether in view of uncertainties and conditions of employment there is a lack of incentive for many to pursue careers in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52430/18]

Family Reunification

Maureen O'Sullivan

21. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role in the family reunification process; and if her attention has been drawn to the stress and anxiety caused to certain children due to time delays and inefficiency of the process. [52429/18]

Child Protection Guidelines

Maureen O'Sullivan

40. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the protections and protocols in place to avoid a repetition of the traumatic removal of a child from the breast-feeding mother in a maternity hospital in view of a recent High Court decision (details supplied). [52427/18]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

146. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of appointments provided daily through the immigration appointment booking system; if his attention has been drawn to complaints from users that are having difficulty getting appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52406/18]

Tourism Industry

Maureen O'Sullivan

466. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if problems are anticipated in sustaining tourism growth in 2019 in view of the potential effects of Brexit; the steps he is taking to ensure the continued success of the tourism industry here despite threats to the British market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52112/18]

Bus Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

467. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date with the BusConnects scheme in Dublin; when the service will be fully operational; and if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by the elderly and mobility challenged groups concerning the change from certain direct routes to indirect routes. [52113/18]

Hare Coursing

Maureen O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the inherent cruelty involved in live hare coursing; and his views on whether Ireland’s reputation is being damaged by allowing this blood sport to continue in the face of international bans on the activity. [51049/18]

Wildlife Regulations

Maureen O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with an association (details supplied) to ensure there will no repetition of an incident in which a hunt entered a residential area and endangered public safety in Macroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51047/18]

Addiction Treatment Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

58. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists and options open to those wanting to detox from benzodiazepines and similar substances. [50827/18]

Disability Support Services

Maureen O'Sullivan

124. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); and if he will consider the concerns raised by the not-for-profit sector that carries out vital work for persons with disabilities. [50828/18]

Greyhound Industry Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

257. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of injured and killed dogs racing at greyhound tracks here over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51086/18]

Export Controls

Maureen O'Sullivan

77. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the rationale for Ireland opposing the EU export controls on surveillance software; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48082/18]

Property Tax Review

Maureen O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the status of the review of the local property tax; and when homeowners can expect changes in their liability. [50301/18]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

428. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the resources being committed to address the shortage of staff in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin 1; and if his attention has been drawn to the pressures surrounding patient-to-nurse ratios, sick leave and staff attending occupational health for stress management due to the staff shortages [50854/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Maureen O'Sullivan

429. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the frustration of patients such as persons with MS regarding approval of new medicines; if he will report on efforts to work in conjunction with other countries to expedite the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50855/18]

Primary Care Centres Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

430. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status and breakdown of services offered at Summerhill primary health facility; and the projected opening date of same [50856/18]

Infectious Diseases

Maureen O'Sullivan

431. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the concerns raised by persons with Lyme disease in terms of diagnosis, patient services and general care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50857/18]

Animal Welfare

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of times An Garda Síochána invoked the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Control of Horses Act 1996 when dealing with reports of animal neglect or cruelty; and if he will request that information regarding powers under the Acts are part of Garda training in Templemore. [49787/18]

Crime Prevention

Maureen O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Greentown programme; and when the report will be released. [45788/18]

School Curriculum

Maureen O'Sullivan

74. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he plans to complete the review of history as a compulsory subject for the junior certificate; his views on the decision to make history non-compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49459/18]

School Textbooks

Maureen O'Sullivan

103. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 16 October 2018, his views on whether there is a need for a body or authority when it comes to verifying the accuracy of information in textbooks available to schools as opposed to publishers having full autonomy in view of the recent corrections in history textbooks. [49460/18]

Visa Applications

Maureen O'Sullivan

175. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied with the turnaround time on visa decisions; and if his attention has been drawn to the anxiety and stress the prolonged waiting times are having on applicants. [49797/18]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

176. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he will address the difficulties with the online appointment system for both registrations and visas faced by clients of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49798/18]

Family Reunification Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

177. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that sufficient funding and resources are available for family reunification; and if his attention has been drawn to difficulties faced by families utilising the programme. [49799/18]

Gambling Sector

Maureen O'Sullivan

178. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has a role in the certification of slot machines; and if his attention has been drawn to the wider concerns of persons in the gaming and casino industry that without proper regulations the industry is susceptible for use by criminals with activities such as money laundering and issues regarding gambling addiction. [49800/18]

Magdalen Laundries

Maureen O'Sullivan

179. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the dismay of survivors of laundries at the addendum requests from his Department and the fact that the Ombudsman has taken issue with the nature of the requests; and the way in which he plans to address same. [49801/18]

Crime Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

180. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the crime statistics for the Glasnevin and Drumcondra areas (details supplied). [49802/18]

General Practitioner Contracts

Maureen O'Sullivan

269. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the decision of certain general practitioner practices to charge persons in receipt of illness benefit for certificates relating to the benefit; and her plans to have discussions with the Minister for Health regarding this practice in view of the fact that it is impacting persons in receipt of illness benefit that are on limited means and unable to afford the €10 charge. [49835/18]

Tax Code

Maureen O'Sullivan

35. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report issued by a company (details supplied) illustrating the effects on employment in the retail bookmaking industry as a result of the blanket increase in betting duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48579/18]

Prescriptions Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

146. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when there was a review of the continued prescriptions for medication for a person (details supplied). [48757/18]

Child and Family Agency Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

204. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the protections and protocols in place to avoid a recurrence of a traumatic removal in which trauma was caused for the child, the mother and the professionals involved (details supplied); and the special arrangements in place, including a provision of a mother and baby unit, to minimise the trauma, particularly for the child in these circumstances. [48785/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Maureen O'Sullivan

212. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which correspondence issued on 30 October 2018 which appeared to have the situation resolved in the case of a person (details supplied) was then followed by further correspondence on 12 November 2018 suggesting otherwise. [48749/18]

Defence Forces Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

63. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the concerns that Ireland must make commitments to military spending under PESCO; and his further views on whether extra resources should be prioritised in areas other than military hardware in view of the discontent among some members of the Defence Forces in relation to pay and conditions. [48344/18]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

114. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has taken action at an intergovernmental or bilateral level in regard to the human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan Government against its people, which are documented in reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48499/18]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which concerns regarding the safe repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48085/18]