Parliamentary questions

Passport Services

Clare Daly

51. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the passport express facility, which states a guaranteed ten-day return, is not producing passports within that timeframe but actually taking considerably longer, causing huge distress and travel disruption; and the action he will take regarding same. [22326/14]

Maritime Jurisdiction

John Browne

52. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with regard to SI 86 of 2014 titled Maritime Jurisdiction (Boundaries of Exclusive Economic Zone) Order 2014 whose purpose is to designate the economic zone of the State, if he will provide a map of the new exclusive economic zone detailing changes from the previous exclusive economic zone of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22472/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Finian McGrath

53. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the peace talks in Havana, Cuba concerning the conflict in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/14]

Consular Services Representations

Clare Daly

54. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to secure the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) who has been imprisoned for eight months in Egypt; if the EU will publicly demand their immediate release prior to the case going before the criminal courts and that the outrageous violation of their human rights be condemned. [22272/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

55. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent contact he has had with the British and Northern Ireland authorities regarding prisoner conditions and issues. [22273/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Finian McGrath

56. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will push for the implementation of the Haass proposals in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22319/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

57. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland regarding possible party political activities within the PSNI; if he and his Department are concerned about same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22603/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

58. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to Secretary of State Villiers regarding the allegations made by the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland regarding possible activity within the PSNI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22604/14]

Boston College Archives

Micheál Martin

59. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding threats and use of provocative labels such as touts being made against persons who co-operated with the Boston College tapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22705/14]

Consular Services Representations

Pat Deering

60. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that he is doing everything possible to secure the release of Ibrahim Halawa who remains imprisoned in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22748/14]

Human Rights Issues

Michael McNamara

61. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with his Sudanese counterpart the case of a person (details supplied), who has been sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22868/14]

Passport Applications

Finian McGrath

62. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a passport in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22874/14]

Driver Licences

Pat Breen

63. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the concern among the Irish community in Canada regarding the delay in reaching agreement with various Canadian provinces on driving licence exchange; and if he will provide an update on this matter. [23043/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

64. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Justice Minister the issue of prisoners being held in the care and supervision unit in Maghaberry for months with no access to the separated wings, isolated, forcibly and repeatedly strip searched, and subjected to approaches by State agencies in total breach of human rights. [23074/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Micheál Martin

65. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to or written to the Ukrainian Prime Minister following recent events there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/14]

International Relations

Micheál Martin

66. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the Taoiseach's visit to Rome, where he spoke with the Pontiff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20848/14]

Humanitarian Aid

Olivia Mitchell

67. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if emergency aid has been considered for flood relief in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23137/14]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specifics of the new initiative he launched at the meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, through which Ireland, Mozambique, Finland and Switzerland will work together to strengthen the quality and co-ordination of development co-operation in Mozambique and to bring new donors, such as China and Brazil, and civil society organisations into aid co-ordination and planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23192/14]

Foreign Conflicts

Maureen O'Sullivan

69. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent national commemoration of the Irish Famine, and Ireland's experience with famine, if he will address the ongoing failure of the international community to deliver aid to those starving to death in Syria as caused by the Assad's regime policy of starve or surrender; if he will insist that aid is delivered across Syria's borders to hundreds of thousands of Syrians in need of food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23193/14]

EU Issues

Seán Crowe

70. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering Armenia’s decision to turn away from the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative and join the Russian-led Customs Union, the specific bilateral engagements his Department had with the Armenian Government; and if he discussed the issue of Armenian-EU relations with his European counterparts. [23212/14]

UN Resolutions

Seán Crowe

71. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Argentine Government’s request for bilateral dialogue with the British Government on the question of the sovereignty of the Malvinas-Falklands islands; and if he has discussed the issue with representatives of either Government. [23213/14]

Mortgage Applications Approvals

Terence Flanagan

72. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has concerns that persons are being prevented from purchasing a family home and getting on the property ladder because of their inability to pay the substantial deposits that are a requirement of banks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22278/14]

Tax Credits

Brendan Griffin

73. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the amount the changes to the one-parent family tax credit system will save in 2014; his views that the measure is forcing some parents into poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22720/14]

Carbon Tax Collection

Terence Flanagan

74. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm where the money collected through the carbon tax is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22802/14]

NAMA Operations

Stephen Donnelly

75. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department has had any contact with the National Asset Management Agency and its employees, including the NAMA chairman, Mr Frank Daly, in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22856/14]

NAMA Operations

Stephen Donnelly

76. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department has at any time sought changes to specific personnel at the National Asset Management Agency, and-or to have named NAMA individuals reassigned so that they were not dealing with specific borrowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22857/14]

Tax Code

Terence Flanagan

77. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the reason increases in taxes and VAT were introduced for 4 x 4 vehicles in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23152/14]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Griffin

78. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will allow persons in private pensions to cash in their pensions without a tax liability if they invest in a start-up business; if he sees a merit in such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22127/14]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

79. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 1 May 2014, if he will separately disclose the proportion of AIB's non recourse lending which relates to mortgage and personal borrowing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22134/14]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

80. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he or the Financial Regulator ever investigated any potential conflict of interest at Setanta Insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/14]

Civil Service Code of Conduct

Seamus Healy

81. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the current Secretary General of his Department will not take up a position with a private sector entity until the standard Civil Service time interval has elapsed; if bodies such as the Central Bank of Ireland, National Treasury Management Agency and the National Asset Management Agency and similar agencies have adopted the Civil Service protocol as previously promised by him (details supplied). [22162/14]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

82. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the standard tax rate band from €32,800 for a single person, €41,800 for a married couple one earner, €65,600 married couple two earners, €36,800 one parent family, by €260, €520, €1,040, €1,560, €2,080 and €2,600 respectively per annum or €5, €10, €20, €30, €40, €50 per week; and if he will state in each category the number of persons that would benefit from these annual increases. [22163/14]

Insurance Industry

John Browne

83. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to restore trust in the financial services market following the liquidation of Setanta Insurance; if at national or EU level, there are any proposals to introduce measures to allow for the return of premiums paid, the writing off of phased premiums which are not yet paid, and the handling process for claims without the lengthy delays inherent in a liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22184/14]

Tax Credits

Lucinda Creighton

84. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) will receive the tax refund they are due. [22185/14]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Pearse Doherty

85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the reason disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession scheme those who would otherwise qualify are disqualified because they do not buy their car from an authorised person. [22221/14]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Pearse Doherty

86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if an applicant under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession scheme can qualify for the scheme on presentation of documentation even if they have not bought from an authorised person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22222/14]

Tax Credits

Billy Timmins

87. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a new PPSN being available on the system in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22226/14]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Clare Daly

88. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will organise an urgent meeting with the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation home owners group. [22227/14]

Central Bank of Ireland

Finian McGrath

89. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of financial advisers have left the debt advice business over the application process to the regulator; and his views on the concerns of the Professional Insurance Brokers Association Ltd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22287/14]

Credit Unions

Pearse Doherty

90. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the problems being caused to credit unions, as shown by the Irish League of Credit Unions, by the restrictive lending regulations and interpretations of these regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22301/14]

Credit Unions

Pearse Doherty

91. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when he will review the lending regulations placed upon credit unions by legislation to examine whether they are fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22302/14]

Credit Unions

Pearse Doherty

92. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland is proposing further lending limits for credit unions; and if so, if these new limits will replace the current system of ad hoc limits placed on some credit unions. [22304/14]

Credit Unions Regulation

Pearse Doherty

93. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he favours the three tiered regulatory approach to credit unions as proposed by the Commission on Credit Unions or the two tiered approach currently being proposed by the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22305/14]

Credit Unions

Pearse Doherty

94. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on revising the Section 35 lending restrictions on credit unions in view of the argument from the credit union movement that these restrictions are preventing members from taking advantage of improvements in their own economic fortunes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22306/14]

Credit Unions

Pearse Doherty

95. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will ask the Central Bank of Ireland to revisit its prudent lending circular to credit unions of February 2013 in order to clarify whether or not the Central Bank of Ireland will allow any discretion to credit unions in their lending to ensure their social ethos can be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22307/14]

Credit Unions Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

96. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the period of operation of the Credit Union Restructuring Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22308/14]

Credit Unions Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been drawn down to date by the Credit Union Restructuring Board; and the amount that has been used to aid in the restructuring of credit unions to date. [22309/14]

Tax Exemptions

Billy Kelleher

98. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance if the property of a person (details supplied) in County Cork is exempt from the local property tax. [22313/14]

Tax Code

Charlie McConalogue

99. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding an Irish registered company trading and employing staff based in the Republic of Ireland but which also has a company registered in Northern Ireland in order to have Northern Ireland registered vehicles (details supplied); if there are difficulties with the legality of such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22314/14]

Tax Credits

Pearse Doherty

100. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if a parent who is not the primary carer can avail of the single parent tax credit if the primary carer is unemployed but does not agree to allowing the other parents avail of the credit. [22322/14]