Parliamentary questions

Flexible Work Practices

Paul Murphy

334. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the reason in relation to circular No. 0039/2022 (details supplied), very high-risk persons are being forced to return to the workplace and are not being facilitated with continued remote working, considering the continued prevalence of Covid-19 and the high risk facing these workers. [35258/22]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

392. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants who have started on the work placement experience programme; the number who are currently registered; the number of persons who have finished placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35523/22]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints that have been received from participants on the work placement experience programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35524/22]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

394. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of positions on the work placement experience programme that have been refused because the position did not meet the standards of the scheme or were removed for the same reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35525/22]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

395. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of workplace inspections that have been carried out as part of the work placement experience programme; the number of placements that were found to be satisfactory or unsatisfactory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35526/22]

State Pensions

Paul Murphy

400. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is now an appropriate time to reverse the unjust reduction to the State pensions of 36,000 older people which were cut due to changes in the State pension system in 2012, given that they have not had their pension rates restored in light of the current situation of rising prices (details supplied); and if she will reverse the changes brought in ten years ago. [35761/22]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

471. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of full-time equivalent staff in TU Dublin that were employed in attached grades (details supplied), in tabular form. [35248/22]

Technological Universities

Paul Murphy

472. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount TU Dublin spent on organisational design consultants for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [35249/22]

Residency Permits

Paul Murphy

513. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the waiting time for an application for permission to remain on the basis of marriage to an Irish national and consequently for a stamp 4 enabling persons to work now being 12 months; her views on whether this is an acceptable waiting period given the severe financial stress that this is placing on couples at a time of huge increases in the cost-of-living; if she will increase resources and staffing to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35686/22]

Departmental Reports

Paul Murphy

524. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will publish the report of independent research conducted by an organisation (details supplied) and the University of Limerick which were awarded funding from the dormant accounts fund of the anti-human trafficking unit in her Department in 2018 to investigate the way that sex workers have been impacted by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 given that the report was due to be published in 2020 but has yet to be published; and her views on the report. [35817/22]

Health Service Executive

Paul Murphy

771. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the discretionary fund of the HSE for 2022 has been exhausted; if so, if he will provide a breakdown of the way that this has happened, only six months into the year. [35789/22]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

772. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements for the urgent residential care needed for a person (details supplied). [35790/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

773. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of the six planned long-Covid clinics at hospitals nationwide (details supplied) that are open at present; the expected opening dates for the unopened clinics; and if any of the clinics will be accepting children as patients. [35791/22]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a recent report (details supplied) from the Ombudsman for Children that states that children with special education needs are not getting their right to education without discrimination and that this is putting an unacceptable level of stress and pressure on families and their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34919/22]

State Examinations

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the publication of leaving certificate examination results until early September 2022, which will cause immense difficulty for students seeking accommodation away from home and for students who may have been allocated places internationally, conditional on a certain starting date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34923/22]

School Facilities

Paul Murphy

44. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the provisions of the Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill 2021 that passed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann in October 2021; the actions she has taken to ensure sufficient fresh air is provided in all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34920/22]

State Examinations

Paul Murphy

53. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the publication of leaving certificate examination results until early September 2022, which will cause immense difficulty for students seeking accommodation away from home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34924/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the recent rapid increase in Covid-19 infection rates and hospitalisations; if she will ensure that schools provide teachers and all school staff with FFP-2 grade masks or higher where necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34922/22]

Religious Discrimination

Paul Murphy

67. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will give a direction to schools to ensure that they provide students who do not attend subjects in religious instruction under section 30(2)(e) of the Education Act of 1998 with instruction in other curriculum subjects during that part of the school day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34921/22]

Tax Reliefs

Paul Murphy

25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if tax relief (details supplied) for taking care of an incapacitated individual at the same time as tax relief on employing a home carer will be applied to the previous years when the legislation was the same; if persons that would have qualified for both tax reliefs will be contacted to make them aware of this e-Brief and the consequences for their entitlements. [34722/22]

Departmental Projects

Paul Murphy

5. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [30727/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

18. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the President of France since his re-election. [30728/22]

Church-State Relations

Paul Murphy

26. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [30842/22]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

87. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the parameters for Ireland joining European defence projects into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34168/22]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

107. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence his views on Ireland joining a future European defence force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34167/22]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

137. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to IDA-backed companies that are asking job applicants questions in relation to their political views (details supplied); and if he will consider making it a condition of IDA funding that companies do not ask questions of this nature. [34080/22]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views that the RHD2 has been listed as one of the threats of highest importance to the hare species and that the NPWS previously said licensed hare coursing was a risk factor in the spread of RHD2 on nets and boxes given the evidence; if the licence will not be granted for hare coursing on both animal welfare and conservationist grounds also given that another threat listed is illegal poaching, which coursers facilitate by keeping hares in relative high density in preserves (details supplied). [34305/22]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

244. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the way coursing may be impacting on the conservationist status of the Irish hare and the trend in recent years for coursing clubs to extend their two day events to three days, to allow for re-coursing of hares in instances where an inadequate number have been netted by a club for its fixture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34306/22]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 2 June 2022 (details supplied), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that compared to the 1,421 public sightings, those carrying out the survey only detected 229 hares in the pilot study March to May 2018 and 253 hares during the full survey November 2018 to February 2019 with the latter sightings made in just 44 x 1 kilometre squares around the country; and his views that these facts would raise questions around the conclusion that this suggests a highly widespread common distribution. [34303/22]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views that it is concerning that National Biodiversity Data Centre’s average density estimate of 3.19 hares/km2 was 4.5% lower than the 3.33 hares/km2 estimated during 2006 and 58% lower than the 7.44 hares/km2 estimated during 2007 and is the acknowledgement in the report that the number of hares could be as low as 60,000 (details supplied). [34304/22]

Military Neutrality

Paul Murphy

302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will identify the person who initiated the visit of the HMS Enterprise war ship to Cork city; and when the invitation was sent to the British admiralty. [33991/22]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

608. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 6 April 2022, if she will request the National Council for Special Education to provide a response given that none has issued to date. [34008/22]

Schools Building Projects

Paul Murphy

611. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the schemes that exist for schools to apply for funding for more substantial structural work than would normally be covered by summer and emergency works schemes, for example replacement of roof, walls or the construction of new buildings. [34085/22]

Passport Services

Paul Murphy

725. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by a number of Irish citizens for example, Chinese Irish citizens holding dual passports among others in relation to the decision to stop issuing re-entry visas (details supplied); if the immediate provision of Garda National Immigration Bureau cards will be ensured in order to facilitate the unhindered travel of those who chose to retain dual passports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34138/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

773. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will increase funding for the current long-Covid clinics to provide further funding to increase the number of clinics from just eight post-acute Covid-19 clinics in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33720/22]

Rental Sector

Paul Murphy

211. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the level of housing assistance payments given the findings of the latest EU survey on income and living conditions on household poverty among those dependent on housing supports. [24511/22]

Visa Agreements

Paul Murphy

391. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if a stamp 4 visa holder is required to have a UK visa to visit Belfast; and if so, the process for obtaining this visa. [33357/22]

Public Inquiries

Paul Murphy

425. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1568 of 14 June 2022, if he will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss an inquiry given that at the last meeting with the group it was confirmed to have been with Minister Butler on 12 July 2021 in which the group was informed regarding an inquiry that it is up to him and the Taoiseach; and if not, the reason for not doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33391/22]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

454. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 2 June 2022, the way that it is possible that the two horses that were featured in the television programme (details supplied) last ran in Ireland in July 2019 and were then sent to slaughter in the UK, given the previous response supplied. [33380/22]

Local Authorities

Paul Murphy

36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to Kerry County Council‘s failure to take steps with the Land Registry to speed up the process of building a house for them; and if he will request Kerry County Council to expedite the registration process by writing to the Land Registry. [32895/22]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to Saudi Arabia's Court of Appeal decision to uphold a death sentence (details supplied); if he will request the immediate release of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32829/22]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

110. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request his Department to engage with the National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on issues regarding the military junta’s crimes and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33054/22]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take actions to stop the executions of four political prisoners (details supplied) who are prominent activists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33055/22]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

112. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether as a member of the United Nations Security Council, Ireland must not ignore the continuous human rights abuses being carried out daily by the military junta in Myanmar; if he will ensure that the ongoing crisis in Myanmar is brought before the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33056/22]

Departmental Programmes

Paul Murphy

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will increase in the CAP Strategic Plan budget to all contracted organisations given that there has not been an increase in the core grant in the past 14 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33021/22]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

84. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the call by the European Union Commission for Ireland to ensure the effective enforcement of workers' rights under the Directive on European Works Councils; the action that he intends to take to address the shortcomings identified by the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32251/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Paul Murphy

606. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 2 June 2022 in which he stated they may be entitled to receive standard illness benefit subject to satisfying the PRSI contributions conditions for the scheme, if he will outline the way someone who is out of work after contracting long Covid in work and does not have the tax credits for long term illness is to receive payment. [32645/22]

Adult Education Provision

Paul Murphy

652. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals that will be made to regularise contracts and establish a salary scale for adult education tutors in view of a recommendation of the Labour Court in March 2020 (details supplied); if the prior service of AETs will be acknowledged within any offer made; and the steps the Minister intends to make to bring post-2011 entrants' pay up to parity with their colleagues.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32518/22]

Departmental Data

Paul Murphy

706. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been 511 reported attacks on people who identify as trans sex workers in 2022 (details supplied); the actions that are being taken by her Department to address violence against trans sex workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32647/22]

Hospital Charges

Paul Murphy

825. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount that Mayo University Hospital recouped through the use of debt collection agencies in 2020 and 2021. [32560/22]