Parliamentary questions

Human Rights Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his Department's most recent interventions on behalf of an Irish citizen (details supplied) who is imprisoned in Egypt; the interventions, representations or meetings he has had with members of the Egyptian Government or the Egyptian ambassador; if the Government is considering any public statements demanding the release of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28398/15]

Human Rights Issues

Ruth Coppinger

108. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on representations made to the Egyptian authorities on the case of a person (details supplied). [28376/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Denis Naughten

109. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in securing an E3 visa scheme between Ireland and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28295/15]

Syrian Conflict

Maureen O'Sullivan

110. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the use of barrel bombs by the Assad regime in Syria, which is causing death and destruction to more and more civilians; and if he will support calls for a no-fly zone in Syria, as highlighted by many non-governmental organisations as being of utmost importance for reducing the death toll in the ongoing conflict. [28343/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, and with the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive, Mr. David Ford, in relation to prison issues in Northern Ireland for segregated prisoners; in particular, if he raised the issues of detention for long periods in the custodial support unit in Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry, strip searching and controlled movement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28216/15]

Consular Services Provision

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any discussions with the Irish Consulate in Scotland regarding an Irish citizen (details supplied), who has been on trial at the High Court in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/15]

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative

Mick Wallace

113. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that Ireland is taking every action at its disposal to further the cause of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made any representations to the Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland, Mr. David Ford, in respect of the implementation of the Stocktake report carried out in relation to the conditions in which segregated prisoners are held at Her Majesty's Prison, Maghaberry, in Northern Ireland; if he has requested a full implementation of its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28217/15]

International Terrorism

Terence Flanagan

115. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with Tunisian authorities regarding the recent terrorist attack that occurred in their country and which resulted in the loss of three Irish lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28219/15]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his European Union colleagues have contemplated the potential effects of Brexit or Grexit, with particular reference to the need for a rediscovery of a vision for the European Union among all existing member states and the European Union's institutions; how it is expected to reconcile the extra powers and influence conferred on the European Parliament and on national parliaments with a growing tendency towards Euroscepticism and the failure to recognise the need for national parliaments and the European Parliament to work together for the greater good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28345/15]

Naval Service Operations

Mick Wallace

117. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on developments at the May and June 2015 European Union Foreign Affairs Councils in relation to the European Union Naval Force Operation - Mediterranean Mission, and since; if there are any related common security and defence policy measures he is opposed to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28404/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Denis Naughten

118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in securing a visa waiver for the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28294/15]

Human Rights Issues

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

119. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied), an imprisoned Saudi Arabian blogger and activist, who has been handed a sentence of 1,000 lashes and ten years in prison for insulting Islam; if he agrees this is an extremely cruel, inhuman and unjust sentence for starting an Internet discussion group and that the right to freedom of expression should be respected; if he is aware that this person's lawyer, who is also a human rights activist, is still in jail; and if he will raise the case with his Saudi Arabian counterpart. [28360/15]

Consular Services Provision

Clare Daly

120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been briefed on a case (details supplied) and the trial currently under way in Glasgow in Scotland; if consular assistance has been offered to the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28221/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Charlie McConalogue

121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his discussions with officials of the United States of America in relation to immigration reform and, in particular, the plight of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States of America; his plans to meet with officials of the United States of America in the near future to discuss this further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28336/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department is taking to ensure the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28339/15]

Easter Rising Commemorations

Brendan Smith

123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the key events being organised by his Department to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising abroad; the budget allocation that has been made from his Department for those commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28340/15]

Humanitarian Aid

Seán Kyne

124. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following the first Irish Humanitarian Summit, if he will detail the Irish Aid humanitarian funding provided in 2014; if this funding amount will be increased in the context of improving State finances; and the efforts being made at European Council level to address the conflicts which are resulting in the unprecedented displacement of persons. [28344/15]

International Relations

Thomas P. Broughan

125. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on whether he plans to strengthen Ireland's ties with Cuba; and on the current diplomatic, political and economic relationship of Cuba and Ireland. [28214/15]

Israeli Settlements

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

126. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that at the beginning of May 2015, the Israeli High Court ruled that officials could carry out demolition orders on the entire village of Susiya in the southern West Bank; that, if these demolitions go ahead, over 250 persons will be evicted from the place in which they have lived since before the occupation of the West Bank in 1967; and if he will inform the Israeli Government of Ireland's opposition to its plans to demolish the entire village of Susiya. [28357/15]

Middle East Issues

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict; if he has met with the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors regarding the findings of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28341/15]

Sustainable Development Strategy

Maureen O'Sullivan

128. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the priorities for Ireland as it attends the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia; and if Ireland will support the call for international tax matters to be under a United Nations intergovernmental body. [28342/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

129. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has any concerns regarding the use of Shannon Airport by the United States of America military under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952; if it poses a security risk to Shannon and to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28401/15]

Human Rights Issues

Brendan Smith

130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the directions he or his Department have provided to State agencies or non-governmental organisations with regard to the continuous incarceration of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28337/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

131. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding any contact he has had with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Mr. David Ford, or with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, regarding prison conditions in Maghaberry; the implementation of the Stocktake report, with particular reference to the need for the establishment of the forum, with an independent chair, empowered to make recommendations, and with personnel from senior prison management authorised to make decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28220/15]

Departmental Funding

Noel Harrington

132. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes administrated by his Department and available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27790/15]

National Postcode System Implementation

Noel Harrington

133. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Taoiseach his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in all schemes and administrative roles operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28322/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

134. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the contributions he made at the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28379/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

135. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he attended any bilateral meetings at the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28380/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

136. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with the Chancellor of Germany, Ms Angela Merkel, since the recent referendum in Greece; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28381/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

137. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the discussion held at the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015 regarding the 50% level of youth unemployment in Greece, and methods to tackle this issue in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28383/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

138. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the differences in the suggested solutions from the European Union Council meeting in June 2015 to the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015 in terms of addressing the issue of Greek debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28384/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

139. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the discussions held on changing the role of the European Central Bank at the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28385/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

140. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, since the outcome of the recent referendum in Greece; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28387/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

141. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with European Union leaders following the result of the recent referendum in Greece and prior to the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28388/15]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

142. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with the President of France, Mr. François Hollande, prior to the European Union Council meeting on 7 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28389/15]

Census of Population Data

Anthony Lawlor

143. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Taoiseach with regard to next year's census, if he is satisfied that the question on the religion of each citizen ought not to be changed to a question on the practising of a religion, if any, given the growing disparity between stated religion and actual life practice; if the question on religion ought to be asked of each citizen above a certain age, for example 15 years, and should it be answered directly by that citizen, rather than by the head of household, hotel, or school manager, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28916/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Seán Fleming

144. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the current average age of permanent staff employed in his Department and in the agencies under his Department's remit; the way this varied between the end of 2008 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29204/15]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Barry Cowen

145. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the Government's previous commitment to provide gratuity payments to Foras Áiseanna Saothair, the Irish national training and employment authority, community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors. [28730/15]

Registration of Marriages

Michael Healy-Rae

146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28980/15]

Exceptional Needs Payments

Dan Neville

147. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an application for a death grant by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [28211/15]

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Mattie McGrath

148. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the expenditure on the farm assist scheme over the past four years; the number of persons in receipt of this payment over the same period; if she anticipates any changes to the qualification criteria for the scheme or a reduction in the weekly amount of the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28231/15]

One-Parent Family Payment

Mattie McGrath

149. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a six-month review of the recent changes to the one-parent family payment scheme to ensure that significant numbers of the estimated 30,000 affected families do not fall into increasing financial poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28232/15]

Job Initiatives

Paul Murphy

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been employed nationally; and by South Dublin County Council, through the gateway scheme. [28244/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Paul Murphy

151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons and companies in the South Dublin County Council area who have taken part in the JobBridge scheme. [28245/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Paul Murphy

152. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies which have received an orange flag on the JobBridge scheme. [28246/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Paul Murphy

153. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of companies which have been banned from the JobBridge scheme. [28247/15]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have had a penalty applied to their social welfare payments for refusing to take part in an activation scheme. [28248/15]

National Internship Scheme Data

Paul Murphy

155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of investigations which have been launched into the JobBridge scheme; and the number of these which were initiated because of a complaint by an intern. [28249/15]

Unemployment Data

Paul Murphy

156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of long-term unemployed persons in the South Dublin County Council area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28250/15]