Parliamentary questions

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Thomas Byrne

6. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the roll-out of community-based CCTV schemes nationwide. [47678/19]

Legal Advice

Thomas Pringle

7. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the low uptake of legal advice under section 26(3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (details supplied) has been investigated; the number of applications made in this regard each year since the enactment of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47799/19]

Law Reform Proposals

Jim O'Callaghan

8. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he plans to respond to the report by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality calling for reform of the family law system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47616/19]

Wards of Court

Catherine Connolly

9. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been made wards of court since the passing of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47764/19]

Drugs Dealing

John Curran

10. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the operations in place by An Garda Síochána to deal with the issue of public and on-street drug dealing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47675/19]

Asylum Seekers Employment

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will extend the right to work to all asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47834/19]

Asylum Seekers Employment

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers who would be eligible to work under the programme available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47833/19]

EU Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

1. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communication with the President of the European Council. [45284/19]

EU Meetings

Micheál Martin

2. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with other EU leaders since the last European Council meeting on 17 and 18 October 2019. [45497/19]

EU Meetings

Joan Burton

3. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent conversations with the President of the European Council. [46442/19]

EU Meetings

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussion with the President of the European Council. [46454/19]

EU Meetings

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to European leaders since the last European Council meeting on 17 and 18 October 2019. [46659/19]

EU Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to European leaders since the last European Council meetings on 17 and 18 October 2019. [47381/19]

Climate Action Fund

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the launch of the first progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2019. [46413/19]

Climate Action Fund

Joan Burton

8. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in the context the Climate Action Plan 2019. [46443/19]

Climate Action Fund

Mary Lou McDonald

9. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2019. [46522/19]

Climate Action Fund

Michael Moynihan

10. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach the role his Department plays in the roll-out of the Climate Action Plan 2019. [46662/19]

Climate Action Fund

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to provide a progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2019. [47382/19]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Byrne

30. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that there is now no school-based oral examination of the Irish syllabus at junior cycle. [47776/19]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

31. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the special education teacher allocation model still gives an additional weighting to gender on the basis of on the number of boys attending each school; if so, the evidence to support this approach; and his views on whether it is appropriate and necessary. [47618/19]

European Court of Human Rights Judgments

Thomas Byrne

32. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the reforms of the ex gratia scheme established in July 2015 in view of the O'Keeffe case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47777/19]

Schools Amalgamation

Mattie McGrath

33. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the amalgamation of Cahir national schools; his views on the long duration of the process; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47792/19]

Third Level Funding

Catherine Martin

34. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for medium and long-term funding for third level education in view of the increasing demographic demand and the effect of substantial per capita reductions in investment in the sector in recent years; his timeline for receipt of the economic analysis of the Cassells report in view of the first funding major benchmark from the report in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47825/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Charlie McConalogue

35. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a development at a school (details supplied); the funding that will be made available; the timeline of when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47496/19]

School Transport Review

Kevin O'Keeffe

37. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the plans he has put in place to review the school bus transport scheme in view of the serious difficulties that arise with the scheme each year and, in particular, in the lead-up to the commencement in September of the academic year 2019-2020. [47096/19]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

38. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure equality of access for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47467/19]

Oideachas Gaeilge

Aindrias Moynihan

39. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén teagmháil a bhí aige leis an Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta nó leis an Roinn nó le haon Aire eile maidir leis na hathruithe ar an díolúine ón nGaeilge sna scoileanna; cén éifeacht a bheadh leo ar an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, 2010-2030; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [47483/19]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

42. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in building a permanent school on the Phoenix Park racecourse site for a college (details supplied); when construction of the new permanent school building will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47484/19]

Technological Universities

James Browne

43. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a technological university for the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47078/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Aindrias Moynihan

44. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the redevelopment project at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47482/19]

Estimates Process

Barry Cowen

1. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when Supplementary Estimates will be brought forward for 2019; the estimated amount required for Supplementary Estimates in 2019; the Departments that will require extra funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46823/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Pearse Doherty

2. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital projects that are to be delayed or deferred in the years of the National Development Plan as a result of cost overruns such as the national children’s hospital and National Broadband Plan, which the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council calculates could reduce funding for capital projects by as much as €17 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47029/19]

Land Development Agency

Barry Cowen

3. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the acreage of State land managed by the OPW that has been transferred to the Land Development Agency for the development of residential units; the number of units that have been delivered; the number of acres that will be transferred to the agency in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46825/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the escalating costs of the national children’s hospital will require changes to his budget projections or to promised capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46799/19]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

5. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of his Department in 2019 and 2020 in the implementation of the Climate Action Plan 2019 for his Department and throughout Departments generally; if estimates of the net cost of the plan are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46785/19]

Public Spending Code

Pearse Doherty

6. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the reviewed and revised public spending code will be published, in view of repeated overruns in large-scale capital projects; the way in which it will address the deficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46895/19]

Budget 2020

Barry Cowen

7. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether there has been an under-provision for demographics in 2020 in view of the fact the new demographics provision in the, Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, analysis is €511 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46824/19]

Shared Services

Thomas P. Broughan

8. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated expenditure savings in 2019 and 2020 from the operation of the National Shared Services Office, NSSO; his plans in this regard for financial shared services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46786/19]

Public Expenditure Policy

Bernard Durkan

9. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that good practice in terms of public expenditure and reform remains in place and capable of dealing with possible overruns throughout the public sector throughout the course of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46864/19]

Public Procurement Regulations

Denis Naughten

11. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the public procurement threshold will be increased from €25,000 in view of the impact same is having on SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46498/19]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his position on the pay of senior civil servants and the proposed review of same by the Public Service Pay Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46801/19]

Office of Government Procurement

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his role in selecting the chief procurement officer; if the CEO of the Office of Government Procurement will have a future role in the management of costs at the proposed new national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46802/19]

Office of Public Works Projects

Thomas Byrne

16. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of improvement works at the Tara Hill complex, County Meath. [45282/19]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Aindrias Moynihan

17. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the preferred options for the flood relief works on the Sullane River, Ballyvourney, County Cork will be finalised; the impediments delaying the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46899/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with the UK Prime Minister since 29 October 2019. [45240/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joan Burton

2. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent conversations with the UK Prime Minister. [46441/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with the UK Prime Minister since 29 October 2019. [46450/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if meetings of Cabinet committees were held in October 2019. [45243/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the number and types of Cabinet committee meetings held since June 2019. [46523/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the Cabinet committee meetings held in October 2019. [46683/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy will next meet. [44456/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

8. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy will next meet. [45285/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

9. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on the economy has met to date in 2019. [46415/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael Moynihan

10. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee on the economy met recently; and the number of times it has met to date in 2019. [46420/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy will next meet. [46489/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

12. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy will next meet. [46452/19]

Tax Code

Michael McGrath

28. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position on the review of the flat rate expenses system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46832/19]

Insurance Costs

Pearse Doherty

29. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to implement further reforms in view of the rising costs of insurance and the escalating crisis in the market and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46847/19]

Insurance Costs

Michael McGrath

30. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of the work of the cost of insurance working group with particular regard to compensation award levels and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46833/19]

State Aid Investigations

Pearse Doherty

31. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the legal fees and the companies and firms to which the fees have been paid disaggregated by amount paid to each firm in the appeal case regarding the ruling of the European Commissioner for Competition in 2016 on illegal state aid in respect of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46893/19]

EU Budget Contribution

Joan Burton

32. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the progress of talks on the 2021 to 2027 EU budget and the multiannual financial framework, MFF; his views on reports that the contribution by Ireland would raise by a tenth to 0.91% of gross national income, GNI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46555/19]

Tax Code

Michael McGrath

33. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he expects the Revenue Commissioners to bring forward new guidance on flat rate allowances; when he expects it to be brought forward; the measures he plans to ensure lower and middle income earners are not adversely affected by changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46675/19]

Budget 2020

Bernard Durkan

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance to outline the degree to which he remains satisfied that his budgetary strategy remains on target, irrespective of Brexit or international pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46602/19]

Insurance Costs

Fiona O'Loughlin

35. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Finance the priority measures he is putting in place to tackle the growing insurance crisis facing businesses, community groups, charities, sporting clubs and outdoor activities nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46565/19]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

36. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he has spoken to his EU counterparts about recent data from EUROSTAT that found Ireland to be the least taxed country in the European Union based on the ratio of tax collected to gross domestic product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46549/19]

Banking Sector Staff

Thomas P. Broughan

37. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the continuing job losses in the pillar and other banks and the perception among the public that banking services, including online services, are deteriorating for households and businesses. [45809/19]

Illicit Trade

Brendan Smith

38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the additional measures he plans to implement to deal with cross-Border smuggling and illicit trade in fuel, tobacco and drink products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46644/19]

Insurance Costs

Niamh Smyth

48. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the status of his plans to deal with the rising cost of motor, home and business insurance; the steps being taken to prevent businesses from closing and bring down premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46616/19]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

50. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the categories of flat rate tax expense the Revenue Commissioners propose to abolish from the beginning of 2020; the anticipated increase in tax revenue arising out of the abolition of the certain flat rate expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46691/19]

Illicit Trade

Brendan Smith

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the recent discussions he or his officials have had with the authorities in Northern Ireland on the need to deal with the scourge of illicit cross-Border trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46645/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services last met. [44319/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

2. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services last met. [46344/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if immigration policy is discussed at the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services. [46414/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services last met. [46448/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services will next meet. [46491/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

6. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on security will next meet. [44407/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee on security has met recently. [45242/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

8. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on security will next meet. [44455/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Security will next meet. [45466/19]

Programme for Government Implementation

Mary Lou McDonald

10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the next progress report in respect of the Programme for a Partnership Government will be published. [44408/19]

Programme for Government Implementation

Brendan Howlin

11. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the next progress report on the Programme for a Partnership Government will be published. [46449/19]

Programme for Government Implementation

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Programme for a Partnership Government. [46490/19]

Programme for Government Implementation

Micheál Martin

13. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment on the timeline for the passage of Bills as outlined on page 148. [46658/19]

Migrant Integration

Seán Haughey

40. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of efforts to address the global migration crisis; his position on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46438/19]

Good Friday Agreement

Seán Crowe

41. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met his UK counterpart since the ruling in the case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether the ruling shows that the UK Government is failing to honour the Good Friday Agreement; and the steps he will take to ensure the UK Government abides by and implements each of the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements. [46440/19]

Brexit Issues

Lisa Chambers

42. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there is sufficient time to negotiate an agreement on a future trading relationship by the end of 2020 if the withdrawal agreement agreed in October 2019 is ratified in the European Parliament and the UK House of Commons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46439/19]

International Agreements

Róisín Shortall

43. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position of Ireland on the draft legally binding instrument to regulate in international law the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises. [46682/19]

Armenian Genocide

Thomas P. Broughan

44. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a motion or resolution will be brought to Dáil Éireann to recognise the 1915 genocide of Armenians living in the Ottoman empire (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46129/19]

Female Genital Mutilation

Denis Naughten

45. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made to ban female genital mutilation at both EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46479/19]

Overseas Development Aid

Seán Haughey

46. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to ensure that the target ratio of 0.7% for official development assistance, ODA, to gross national income, GNI, is achieved by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46435/19]

Presidential Elections

Maureen O'Sullivan

47. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland recognises the recent election of Mr. Evo Morales as President of Bolivia; if calls for similar recognition at EU level will be supported; if he with his EU colleagues will condemn the US position on the election which infringes Bolivian sovereignty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46257/19]

Safety of Irish Citizens Abroad

Seán Haughey

48. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason for making public the efforts to assist the return of persons (details supplied) prior to them being safely returned here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46433/19]

Visa Agreements

Denis Naughten

49. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46480/19]

International Agreements

Maureen O'Sullivan

50. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the need for binding legislation here to secure due diligence for business and human rights to ensure mandatory guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46258/19]

International Agreements

Fiona O'Loughlin

69. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when Ireland will sign an international treaty on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46382/19]

Public Service Pay Commission Reports

Jack Chambers

1. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Public Service Pay Commission's report on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45895/19]

Defence Forces Personnel

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

2. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the situation within sections of the Defence Forces is so bad that the viability of those units is at risk due to the failure to address the exodus from the Defence Forces; and the immediate steps he will take to stem the tide of resignations of commissions and other ranks leaving the Defence Forces in large numbers. [45672/19]

Army Bomb Disposals Data

Jack Chambers

3. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the work of the Army bomb disposal unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45896/19]

European Defence Capabilities

Maureen O'Sullivan

4. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the relationship between Ireland and the Future Combat Air System, FCAS, and the European defence union. [45509/19]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will accept the affiliation of a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/19]