Parliamentary questions

Hospital Services

Michael McCarthy

225. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the antenatal services currently available at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk; if there are any plans to close this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/13]

Medical Card Applications

Finian McGrath

226. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [10835/13]

Health Services Provision

Finian McGrath

227. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the supports available in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [10837/13]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Finian McGrath

228. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the refusal of treatment under the treatment abroad scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the criteria on which the refusal was based; and where the treatment is available here. [10839/13]

Departmental Bodies

Kevin Humphreys

229. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10882/13]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

230. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his Department has proposed a salary review for the CEO of the Health Service Executive; if this is an upward review, and the sum involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10899/13]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the proposed pay levels for the chief executives of the new hospital groups; if his Department has proposed bonus payments for these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10900/13]

Hospital Staff

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that lamp treatment facilities for psoriasis patients are not in use in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, because of non-deployment of staff; and if he will address this as a matter of urgency with the Health Service Executive and the hospital so that this treatment can be made available to the patients who need it. [10901/13]

Medical Card Applications

Bernard Durkan

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10903/13]

Health Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which appropriate treatment will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10904/13]

Taxi Regulations

Nicky McFadden

235. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for prohibiting the transfer of vehicle licences under the new Taxi Regulation Bill, in view of the fact that it is the PSV licence that determines a person's suitability to carry out the function and not the vehicle licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10735/13]

Civil Aviation Regulation

Brian Stanley

236. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the Irish Aviation Authority carries out effective and adequate auditing of airfield sites in view of correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues contained therein relating to Kilkenny airfield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10743/13]

Penalty Points System

Thomas P. Broughan

237. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the upcoming new Road Traffic Bill will address any remaining difficulties with the production of driving licences in District Courts and any other issues that have allegedly arisen in relation to the registering of penalty points on the national vehicle driver file; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10808/13]

Departmental Bodies

Kevin Humphreys

238. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10887/13]

Proposed Legislation

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

9. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to action the 2011 programme for Government commitment to legislate for a reformulated code of laws, replacing both the Ministers and Secretaries Acts and the Public Service Management Act, on the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants and their legal accountability for decisions and for management of Departments. [10439/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

Peadar Tóibín

10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the National Procurement Service annual survey's 2012 acknowledgement that the challenges facing micro enterprises include particular barriers to participation in the public procurement market the action he will take to reduce existing barriers and increase micro enterprise participation in the public procurement process. [10431/13]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Catherine Murphy

11. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will specifically outline the way the interests of the citizen user of public services are included in framing the reform objectives of his Department; if he has consulted with citizen and consumer advocacy groups to ensure that his proposals are geared towards providing the best possible service from the perspective of the citizen user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10193/13]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Michael McGrath

12. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress he expects to be made in 2013 on the implementation of the stimulus plan announced in July 2012; the number of jobs that will be created under the plan in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10399/13]

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Joe Higgins

13. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the negotiations with the public sector unions on a successor to the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10376/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

14. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of posts that have been filled in the public sector since the beginning of the moratorium on recruitment; if he will provide details by Department and the rationale for the lifting of the moratorium in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10371/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Mary Lou McDonald

15. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the saving to the Exchequer if all annual public sector pay, to include local authorities and State agencies, was capped at €100,000. [10428/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Michael Colreavy

16. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm if National Procurement Service contracts are now mandatory for all local public sector contract procurement; and if so, the necessary minimal annual turnover of a business to qualify to tender for a contract. [10437/13]

Public Sector Pensions Expenditure

Micheál Martin

17. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the savings he envisages from the single public service pension scheme which came into effect on 1 January 2013; the timetable over which these will materialise; the number of employees he expects to be hired under the terms of the scheme in 2013; his views on the operation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10395/13]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

18. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to address flood risks within the Shannon basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10263/13]

Expenditure Reviews

Bernard Durkan

19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which cost cutting targets set by his predecessors in the context of the memorandum of understanding have been met to date; if in the course of the review of the Croke Park agreement, cognisance will be taken of previous cost-cutting throughout the sector in order to ensure fairness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10348/13]

Public Sector Management Remuneration

Thomas P. Broughan

20. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to assemble key data on high payscales in the public and private sectors such as through a new high pay commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10196/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

Pearse Doherty

21. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by the school supply sector who believe their businesses cannot survive if excluded from the public procurement process; and the action he will take to tackle these concerns. [10432/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Clare Daly

22. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the numbers and cost of agency staff under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/13]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Joe McHugh

23. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in the revaluations process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10191/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Clare Daly

24. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that there are no further pay cuts imposed on low and middle income public sector workers. [10303/13]

State Agencies

John McGuinness

25. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the savings achieved to date from the rationalisation and elimination of State agencies; the additional savings expected in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10401/13]

Public Sector Pensions

Pearse Doherty

26. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the saving to the Exchequer if he imposed public service pension reduction bands (details supplied) to all public sector pensions, including local authorities and State agencies. [10430/13]

State Agencies

Willie O'Dea

27. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he will take to prevent the establishment of new State agencies and quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10411/13]

Construction Contracts

Patrick O'Donovan

28. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider, as part of the Construction Contracts Bill, a project bank account system, which was previously proposed by this Deputy and which has recently been progressed in Northern Ireland to ensure that only payments owing to subcontractors and individuals relating to particular projects can be made from specific bank accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10194/13]

Expenditure Reviews

Bernard Durkan

29. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if in the context of cost-cutting exercises throughout the public sector, he has identified any particular Government Departments or bodies under their aegis, State or semi-State, which have performed better than others in terms of meeting targets; if particular cognisance is likely to be taken of the issues in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Mary Lou McDonald

30. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the saving to the Exchequer if public sector increments were withdrawn for all pay under €50,000, between €50,001 and €60,000, between €60,001 and €70,000 and more than €70,000. [10429/13]

Budget 2014

Timmy Dooley

31. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes he plans to the budgetary process and timetable for budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10388/13]

Freedom of Information Legislation

Brian Stanley

32. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends consulting with the Information Commissioner in relation to those State agencies and or bodies which may be excluded from the freedom of information legislation to be introduced later this year; his views on the possible limitations that will come with the inclusion of An Garda Síochána, refugee and asylum agencies as set out in the draft heads of the Bill. [10444/13]

Croke Park Agreement Implementation

Barry Cowen

33. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the volume and quality of services delivered to the public will be improved as a result of the outcome of the Croke Park talks; the way this is measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10386/13]

Exchequer Savings

Charlie McConalogue

34. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross and net savings in each of the next three years from the targeted redundancy scheme in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10396/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

35. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proportion of the €1 billion cuts to public sector pay and pensions sought by him over the next three years that must come through in 2013. [10443/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Martin Ferris

36. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is encouraging small and medium enterprises to form consortiums when bidding for larger public procurement contracts; and in such instances the monetary value of a large contract. [10435/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Brendan Smith

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is seeking further reductions in legal costs incurred by the State across all Departments and State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10407/13]

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause

Michael Colreavy

38. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has progressed the inclusion of a social clause in public sector procurement contracts. [10438/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Mick Wallace

39. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on his plans to sell Coillte's timber harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10367/13]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

Robert Troy

40. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether there should be reductions in salaries for high-earning officials in the commercial semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/13]

Public Sector Staff Redundancies

Niall Collins

41. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions he has had with trade union representatives and other groups in respect of his proposed programme of targeted redundancies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10385/13]

Public Sector Staff

Gerry Adams

42. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of clerical officers across the public service who are women. [10441/13]

National Lottery Licence Sale

Michael Moynihan

43. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of initial expressions of interest in the National Lottery licence that have been received; the prospective date on which the awarding process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10402/13]

Public Procurement Tenders

Jonathan O'Brien

44. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has introduced since March 2011 that have improved public procurement practices by removing obstacles and encouraging the involvement of small and medium enterprises and micro enterprises. [10433/13]