Parliamentary questions

Departmental Reports

Paul Murphy

64. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the date for the publication of the annual report on Ireland's interaction with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and when it, and the 2014 report, will be published on the Department of Finance website. [22607/15]

Official Engagements

Paul Murphy

156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to South Africa. [22602/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Paul Murphy

157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 20 May 2015. [22603/15]

Certificate of Irish Heritage

Paul Murphy

158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of certificates of Irish heritage that were issued in 2014 and in 2015 to date. [22604/15]

Human Rights Issues

Paul Murphy

407. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on his recent trade mission to Bahrain; his views on the European Union's strategic framework on human rights, which advocates promotion of human rights in trade and investment; and the way human rights were dealt with in his recent visit to Bahrain. [21262/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Paul Murphy

644. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on discussions with pharmaceutical companies regarding reducing the cost of drugs used in the health service. [21261/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Paul Murphy

891. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on 24 May 2015. [21263/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Paul Murphy

923. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans on building and opening a secondary school in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21232/15]

Third Level Fees

Paul Murphy

947. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial assistance with regard to fees that is available for a person entering third level for the first time who is on the back to education allowance, where the course is a master's course and the person in question has not previously undertaken an undergraduate course. [21533/15]

Housing Finance Agency

Paul Murphy

1069. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the interest rate charged by the Housing Finance Agency for local authority loans has remained at 2.75% since 2012 while in the same period the Euribor rate, on which the Housing Finance Agency is supposed to determine the interest rate it charges, has fallen dramatically, being less than 0.6% for the past year, and while the tracker mortgage rate charged by commercial lenders is currently 1.5% or less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22052/15]

Banking Sector Regulation

Paul Murphy

1099. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce regulations to oblige banks which repossess properties that have sitting tenants to honour existing leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17577/15]

Maternity Services Provision

Paul Murphy

17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the INMO (details supplied) that points out that the internationally recommended midwife-to-birth ratio of one midwife for every 29.5 births, 1:29.5, is not in place in any hospitals or midwifery units here; the measures he has taken to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20768/15]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Paul Murphy

146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the assessment of the i-port advance injection device for approval to be included in the long-term illness scheme. [20933/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Paul Murphy

161. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 580 of 24 March 2015, and in view of the reply from the Health Service Executive, if he will provide an update on the treatment of a person (details supplied); when that person can expect to see a consultant who will operate on the person's upper limb; the length of the waiting list for such a procedure; his views on the resourcing of upper limb surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21019/15]

UN Conventions

Paul Murphy

141. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the ratification by the State of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20220/15]

Debt Collection

Paul Murphy

153. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on changes to current debt collection practices. [20221/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, and other Chinese officials on 17 May 2015. [20483/15]

IBRC Loans

Paul Murphy

271. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the incidence of errors on mortgage accounts of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation resulting in over-charging and under-charging of customers; the measures that have been taken to review accounts for errors; the policies that are in place when an error is discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/15]

Official Engagements

Paul Murphy

301. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his meeting with the Premier of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, and other Chinese officials, on 17 May 2015. [20481/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Paul Murphy

317. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a building (details supplied) in Dublin 2 is being rented by the Office of Public Works; if so, if the property is in use; and his plans for the property. [20135/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Paul Murphy

423. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his meeting with the Premier of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, and other Chinese officials, on 17 May 2015. [20477/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Paul Murphy

775. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the attempted coup in Burundi. [20090/15]

Middle East Issues

Paul Murphy

776. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will bring forward the formal recognition of the state of Palestine by Ireland, in view of the recognition of the state of Palestine by the Holy See recently, and a number of other states. [20091/15]

International Relations

Paul Murphy

777. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the understanding between the United States of America and the Gulf Co-operation Council on military issues; his views that the involvement of the United States of America in the region will have a negative effect on the prospects for peace in the region and relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20092/15]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

778. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the boat of Rohingya refugees from Burma that was adrift and denied access to Malaysia and Thailand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20093/15]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

781. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the death sentences that have recently been passed on the former President of Egypt and other prisoners in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20473/15]

UN Reform

Paul Murphy

782. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on reform of the United Nations Security Council, following discussions with Chinese officials on 17 May 2015. [20474/15]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

783. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the matter of human rights abuse in China with the Premier of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, or his officials on their visit here on 17 May 2015. [20475/15]

EU Meetings

Paul Murphy

784. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 18 May 2015. [20476/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Paul Murphy

785. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with the Premier of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, and other Chinese officials on 17 May 2015. [20482/15]

Third Level Fees

Paul Murphy

875. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) entering third level education for the first time can avail of the free fees scheme if the person is taking a masters course and not an undergraduate course. [20295/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Paul Murphy

888. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on her meeting with the Premier of China, Mr. Premier Li Keqiang, and other Chinese officials, on 17 May 2015. [20479/15]

Control of Dogs

Paul Murphy

934. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on discussions with organisations or advisers on the Control of Dogs Act 1998; and if these organisations or advisers have advised the use of breed specific legislation as a dog bite mitigation strategy. [19975/15]

Control of Dogs

Paul Murphy

935. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the current Control of Dogs Act 1998 Regulations, should veterinary and animal welfare groups seek a change from a system of breed specific restrictions to breed neutral restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19976/15]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

18. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 430 of 6 May 2015, if he will report on developments in the case of an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Egypt; if there has been further contact with the Egyptian Foreign Minister since the meeting in New York in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19308/15]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

27. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the lack of a credible opposition to President Nazarbayev in the recent presidential elections in Kazakhstan; his further views regarding the freedom to organise a political opposition in Kazakhstan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19307/15]

Common Security and Defence Policy

Paul Murphy

221. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 30 April 2015, if there are Common Security and Defence Policy measures in north Africa he is opposed to if proposed by High Representative Mogherini; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19218/15]

Common Security and Defence Policy

Paul Murphy

389. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 30 April 2015, if there are Common Security and Defence Policy measures in North Africa he is opposed to, if proposed by High Representative Mogherini; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19217/15]

Diplomatic Representation

Paul Murphy

390. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he requested the European Council, at its meeting in December 2014, to make representations to the Egyptian Government for the release of a person (details supplied), an Irish citizen, who has been designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. [15210/15]

EU Directives

Paul Murphy

462. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Directive 95/46/EC, in particular those principles outlined in Article 6, was deemed to be compatible with the legislation allowing third parties share data with Irish Water. [19199/15]

Health Reports

Paul Murphy

177. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health in view of the World Health Organization report on obesity levels, the measures he is introducing to deal with this public health problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/15]

Medical Negligence Claims

Paul Murphy

178. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the figures from the State Claims Agency indicating a higher number of claims against maternity hospitals outside of Dublin than in Dublin, over the past three years; if he has taken any measures to investigate this; and if he will report on discussions he has had regarding this matter with hospital management, the Health Service Executive and Department officials. [19122/15]

Official Engagements

Paul Murphy

182. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his visit to Switzerland on 6 and 7 May 2015. [19119/15]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Paul Murphy

183. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the issue of a referendum in the United Kingdom on European Union membership; if he will report on any discussions with European Union counterparts on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19120/15]

Employment Appeals Tribunal

Paul Murphy

15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if additional resources will be required to reduce current waiting times for Employment Appeals Tribunal hearings from the current average of over a year to three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18418/15]

European Council Meetings

Paul Murphy

67. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if the situation in Egypt with regards to human rights was discussed at any meetings of the European Council since December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/15]

Pension Levy

Paul Murphy

193. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps his Department will take to abolish the pension levy on public sector workers; and if he will discuss this with public sector workers' unions. [18241/15]

Public Sector Pay

Paul Murphy

209. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the reversal of pay cuts and an increase in pay will be discussed with the relevant trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18242/15]

European Council Meetings

Paul Murphy

381. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 30 April 2015, the measures he is in favour of, in relation to the Common Security and Defence Policy approach to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean; the measures he is opposed to; and if there will be any involvement from the Defence Forces. [18173/15]

Common Security and Defence Policy

Paul Murphy

517. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 30 April 2015, the measures he is in favour of in the Common Security and Defence Policy approach to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean; the measures he is opposed to; and if there will be any involvement from any Irish law enforcement agencies. [18174/15]