Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Allowances Review

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the progress made in relation to allowances in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42658/12]

Public Sector Allowances Review

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the steps he has taken to deal with the issue of allowances paid to staff in his Department. [49774/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the number of times since the Dáil recess that the International Financial Services Centre Clearing House Group has met; the issues that were discussed; the actions that have been taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44100/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times officials from his Department attended Clearing House Group meetings in relation to the International Financial Services Centre; the main issues being discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44239/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the progress made to date in his Department in relation to the strategy to create 10,000 jobs in the International Financial Services Centre sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44240/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Financial Services Clearing House Group has met and the issues they discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48419/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has met representatives of the International Financial Services Centre recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49613/12]

IFSC Clearing House Group

Joe Higgins

8. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of times officials from his Department have attended Clearing House Group meetings; and the issues that were discussed. [49712/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Willie O'Dea

100. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the report of the advisory group on tax and social welfare; the conclusions of the report on child benefit rates; her future plans for child benefit rates; if the child benefit rate will be protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49974/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

101. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the findings of the Focus Ireland report, Out of Reach: The impact of changes in Rent Supplement, that persons are homeless as a consequence of the cuts to the rent supplement scheme; her response to the findings; and the steps she will take on foot of the report. [49977/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Seamus Healy

102. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reform the social welfare appeals system in view of the recent FLAC report; her further plans to address delays in the issuing of decisions and the reductions in oral hearings; her views on the importance of consistency, transparency and proper access to legal advice and representation for applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50056/12]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Willie O'Dea

103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if the free travel pass scheme will be fully maintained in budget 2013; her future plans for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49975/12]

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

104. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the origins of the term "headline rates of social welfare" and the meaning of the term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50112/12]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Charlie McConalogue

105. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for community employment schemes in budget 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49883/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

John Halligan

106. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the cases of persons (details supplied) in relation to community welfare offices having flexibility in making payments. [49921/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Mary Lou McDonald

107. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the options she is currently considering regarding child benefit including, the way and which vulnerable families would be compensated for any cut to the universal payment; if she is considering a top-up via qualified child increase, family income supplement and domicilliary care allowance or if a new means-test and income threshold will be introduced for the purposes of child benefit alone. [49837/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Sean Fleming

108. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether reductions in rent supplement has led to an increase in homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49901/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Dara Calleary

109. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing flexibility to casual workers receiving social welfare benefit in budget 2013 with a hours based rather than days based system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49885/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Thomas P. Broughan

110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that multiple birth families including twins and triplets will not be subject to further cuts in budget 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49772/12]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Peadar Tóibín

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending to 19.5 hours the number of hours a recipient of carer's allowance can work outside the home. [49846/12]

Pension Provisions

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

112. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take in response to the finding contained in her Department's report on pension charges that the private pensions industry is taking up to a third of the value of persons' retirement savings in charges. [49831/12]

National Advocacy Service

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

113. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether advocates working in the National Advocacy Service have no power to obtain information or attend meetings or consultations and can only operate on the basis of voluntary co-operation of service providers as shortcomings especially considering this co-operation is not always forthcoming and the steps she will take to extend the powers of the National Advocacy Service accordingly. [49844/12]

Free Travel Scheme Administration

Peadar Tóibín

114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the companion travel pass for persons in receipt of disability allowance to cover a companion on the portion of the round trip during which the disabled person may not be present. [49847/12]

Community Employment Schemes Funding

Willie O'Dea

115. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of community employment scheme cutbacks in 2012; the number of schemes closed or that had hours reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49876/12]

Home-makers Scheme

Seán Crowe

116. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to SIPTU's call for the home-makers scheme to be backdated from 1994 to 1964; if she will make arrangements to backdate it as suggested; the estimated cost of doing so; and the likely number of women who would benefit. [49848/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Jonathan O'Brien

117. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the option of a review in advance of an appeal is given greater prominence and explanation in letters sent out turning down applications with a view to reducing the number of cases that go forward to the more costly and time consuming appeals process. [49852/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Issues

Pearse Doherty

118. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take legislative steps to introduce a public appointments procedure involving the publication of selection criteria and an open recruitment competition. [49842/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Michael Colreavy

119. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange for a poverty and gender impact assessment to be conducted on all budget proposals relevant to her Department in advance of the announcement of budget 2013. [49858/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Mary Lou McDonald

120. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the report by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, The Human Face of Austerity; and her views on their assertion that those who depend on social welfare income supports must be protected from further cutbacks. [49838/12]

Sick Pay Scheme Expenditure

Barry Cowen

121. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she has taken to reform the sick pay scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49893/12]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Robert Troy

122. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken to address waiting times in social welfare payments and appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49911/12]

Social Welfare Code Review

John McGuinness

123. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address lone parent family distress in budget 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49891/12]

Home-makers Scheme

Clare Daly

124. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in Budget 2013 for a backdating of the home-makers scheme from 1994 back to 1964 in order to ensure that workers with and interrupted PRSI record do not lose out on their contributory State pension. [49913/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Thomas Pringle

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the cases of persons (details supplied) in relation to community welfare offices having flexibility in making payments. [49920/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Brian Stanley

126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the call by Barnardos for pre-budget audits that examine the impact of proposals holistically and across Departments to ensure that they do not continue to erode family incomes to be conducted in advance of the finalisation of budget decision; and if she will engage with others in the conduct of same. [49857/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Billy Kelleher

127. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of rent supplement in budget 2013; its future operation and in particular its relationship with local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49905/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

128. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in households with children are almost three times as likely to be in debt arising from ordinary living expenses compared with those living in households without children; if she has investigated the impact that any cut to child benefit would have on the level of debt amongst households with children; if so, her findings and if not, if she will arrange for this research to be conducted. [49835/12]

Disability Allowance Payments

Seán Crowe

129. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange for a review of all agency arrangements for all persons in receipt of disability allowance living in residential care in view of concerns raised by Inclusion Ireland. [49849/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Sandra McLellan

130. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will bring forward her rent limits review scheduled to take place in June 2013 in view of reports of increases in rents since the start of 2012. [49839/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

131. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to evidence that new rent allowance limits are resulting in tenants becoming homeless and or living in overcrowded situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49916/12]

Child Benefit Payments

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

132. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of child benefit recipients not in receipt of any means-tested social welfare payment. [49836/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Brian Stanley

133. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by the National Advocacy Service that community welfare officers are not willing to pay rent supplement to persons with disabilities who are leaving residential care; her views on whether this is making independent living impossible for some; and her response to same. [49856/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Michael Colreavy

134. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-introduce the freefone number for callers to the central rents unit and allocate case officers to specific geographic regions. [49840/12]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Dessie Ellis

135. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any progress made and the nature of negotiations that she has had with energy and other suppliers with a view to receiving greater value under the household benefits package without cutting the scheme. [49855/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

136. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of her visit to Sweden to examine child care; her plans to progress the model and proposals of the interdepartmental subgroup on school-age child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49914/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Clare Daly

137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that there are no further cutbacks in budget 2013 in payment benefits or allowances to elderly citizens and that the cutbacks in the last two budgets for this category be reversed. [49912/12]

Child Benefit Rates

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection having regard to the Estimates prepared by her Department and the likely competing demand arising, if she is satisfied that she can meet the needs of those with disabilities and others who are vulnerable in our society arising from the situation she inherited from her predecessors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49860/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Pearse Doherty

139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take legislative or other steps to ensure that the decisions of social welfare appeals officers are implemented by her Department promptly and in full, including recommendations that the appeals officers may make with regard to the recoupment of past overpayments. [49843/12]

Early Retirement Scheme

Gerry Adams

140. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the impact that the early retirement scheme has had on the administrative functions of her Department; her plans to sanction the recruitment of additional staff; and if so, when, and the number of same. [49834/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

John Halligan

141. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to evidence that new rent allowance limits are resulting in tenants becoming homeless and or living in overcrowded situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49917/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to applicants for local authority housing who are forced to rely on rent support in respect of private housing and are subject to a maximum rent which is applicable throughout County Kildare notwithstanding the market variations for such rent and in view of the fact that in certain parts of the county rent levels vary dramatically arising from the demand; if she accepts the existence of such variations and the need to adjust the levels of rent support in accordance with the actual market situations wherein some cases rent levels are higher than in many parts of Dublin city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49859/12]

Employment Support Services

Martin Ferris

143. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will develop a clear strategy to increase awareness of the employment supports available to persons with disabilities; and her plans for further steps regarding same. [49850/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Issues

Sandra McLellan

144. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the findings of the FLAC report, Not Fair Enough, making the case for reform of the social welfare appeals system; if she has discussed the findings with the social welfare appeals office; her response to the findings and the steps she will take on foot of the report. [49841/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49918/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Jonathan O'Brien

146. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that deciding officers that are considering turning down an application for social welfare should make a telephone call to the applicant before finalising their decision during which basic things such as the absence of documentation or misunderstandings would come to light and these could be rectified in advance of the decision with a view to reducing the number of cases that go forward to the costly and time consuming appeals process. [49853/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Dessie Ellis

147. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct that all unsuccessful applicants for social welfare payments be given their complete file, including comments of deciding officers automatically, to aid in their appeals, thereby avoiding the expense and inconvenience of having to go through the freedom of information procedure. [49854/12]

Disability Allowance Applications

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making a liaison or support person available to those who need assistance making applications and appeals with respect to disability-related payments as recommended by Inclusion Ireland. [49845/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

149. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date on the development of her plan for a Scandinavian style child care system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49915/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

150. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she does not introduce rent controls and legal penalties on landlords who discriminate against tenants in receipt of rent allowance in view of (details supplied); if she will achieve her stated aim of reducing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49919/12]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Gerry Adams

151. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commence a review of income supports for family carers as recommended by the Carer's Association. [49833/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Martin Ferris

152. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to shorten the time period that it takes to implement decisions of appeals officers. [49851/12]

Departmental Functions

Kevin Humphreys

153. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced within her Department due to the failure to transfer files for appeals quickly when decisions in the negative for entitlements to payments are appealed by a citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49989/12]

Departmental Schemes

Kevin Humphreys

154. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays of over six months in the processing of disability, invalidity and carer's allowance applications and the difficulties it is causing for members of the public who have to live with the uncertainty of the status of their entitlements for up to a year in some cases; the action being taken to address the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49990/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Joe McHugh

155. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on developments arising from the joint statement on the future relationship between Ireland and Britain made by him and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, at Downing Street on 12 March 2012. [49391/12]

State Agencies

Niall Collins

156. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit; if he will provide a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit that have been abolished since March 2011 or are scheduled to be abolished and the date on which they are due to be abolished; the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body in 2012; the names of outside consultants hired by the organisation since march 2011; and his future plans for the body. [49392/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Sean Fleming

157. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the gross and net additional expenditure savings that his Department is seeking to achieve in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49393/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

158. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49659/12]

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

Mary Lou McDonald

159. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular form the number of public servants in receipt of annual gross public sector pensions of between €0 to €10,000, €10,001 to €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,000 to €90,000, €90,000 to €100,000, €100,001 to €110,000, €110,001 to €120,000, €120,001 to €130,000, €130,001 to €140,000, €140,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €160,000, €160,001 and above; and if these figures include local authorities, vocational educational committees, commercial semi-State companies, non-commercial State agencies and bodies public sector retirees. [49861/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Seán Kyne

160. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50648/12]

Human Rights Issues

John Paul Phelan

161. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Chinese Government the issue of alleged human rights violations in China, with particular reference to allegations of organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong worshippers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/12]

State Agencies

Billy Kelleher

162. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49653/12]

International Relations

Maureen O'Sullivan

163. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider placing an Irish presence in Sarajevo for the EU heads of mission meetings as Ireland enters the EU Presidency to facilitate and monitor the peace process in Bosnia and prevent further disintegration of stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49678/12]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Finian McGrath

164. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of officials by grade in his Department that will be working solely on the Presidency for the remainder of 2012; if redeployment or promotion has occurred; if they will be paid any additional allowances or pay; the way these officials were selected; if the selection procedure gave rise to any complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50025/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 March 2012, if this review of the working of the election roster has been completed; the outcomes of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50037/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

166. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland's international election monitoring since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50038/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

167. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh perspective: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 25.8% of the London Irish community suffer poor health and that isolation may contribute to this poor health, the work his Department is undertaking to address causes and results of isolation within the Irish community in London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50054/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

168. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh Perspectives: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 94.7% of recent Irish migrants to London report poor or moderate levels of perceived social suppor,; the work his Department is undertaking to engage supports for recent migrants. [50063/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

169. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement by his Department with the British social services in respect of vulnerable elderly Irish citizens who live in the greater London area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50065/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issues of the continued imprisonment of Marian Price McGlinchey and Martin Corey with the British Prime Minister when next they meet. [45663/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Gerry Adams

171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his role with regard to Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [45664/12]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Gerry Adams

172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work his Department has done in relation to identifying further areas for North-South co-operation. [47230/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the continued imprisonment of Marian Price McGlinchey and Martin Corey with the British Prime Minister in any of their recent engagements. [47411/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

174. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the agreement on Scotland holding a referendum in 2014 with Prime Minister Cameron or Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46065/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

175. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the Scottish referendum in 2014 has any implications for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46066/12]

Scottish Referendum

Micheál Martin

176. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Scottish referendum has been discussed at the recent EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46067/12]

Trade Missions Numbers

Micheál Martin

177. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is planning to take part in any forthcoming trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45672/12]

Foreign Conflicts

Micheál Martin

178. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the EU Council's actions to be taken and Ireland's contribution following the discussion on Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47589/12]

Trade Missions Numbers

Micheál Martin

179. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to partake in a trade mission in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48011/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Seán Kyne

180. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded to contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50643/12]

NewERA Establishment

Gerry Adams

181. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce legislation to place NewERA on a statutory footing. [49418/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Mary Lou McDonald

182. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Finance if public servant pension abatement rules are being applied to public interest directors appointed by the Government to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Permanent TSB, Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks; and, if not, if he will confirm the annual pensions paid to these same public interest directors. [49557/12]

Credit Availability

Terence Flanagan

183. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the support available for Irish small businesses from the banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49578/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

184. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the action that can be taken to curtail pensions paid to some of the former top managers in the covered banks; the way these pensions are funded; if he will assure taxpayers that recapitalisation moneys do not and will not underpin these pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49404/12]

Pension Provisions

Olivia Mitchell

185. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 16 October 2012, if legislation or new procedures are in place to ensure adequate monitoring and early action by the Central Bank of Ireland to prevent in the future the losses which occurred in the case of Custom House Capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49405/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Olivia Mitchell

186. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if following media coverage (details supplied) of the activities of debt management companies, legislation to control same or bring such companies under Central Bank regulation is being considered,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49406/12]

Pension Provisions

Gerry Adams

187. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in receipt of pensions from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation which are in excess of €100,000; the names of those who are in receipt of the pensions and the sums they receive on an annual basis. [49416/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the extra cost to the Exchequer in income forgone of granting 30% and 35% mortgage interest relief TRS to all householders who purchased house between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2012, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49424/12]

Negative Equity Mortgages Numbers

Maureen O'Sullivan

189. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to promote the incentive involving negative equity mortgages offered by Bank of Ireland and other banks whereby a home owner could sell their house and move to a more suitable house, adding their savings to the purchase price and taking the mortgage with them at its existing level; the reason this incentive is not being rolled out on a greater scale to help curb problems with the mortgage arrears crisis here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49458/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Richard Boyd Barrett

190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the reason Permanent TSB are not offering the mortgage arrears solutions set out in the Government's personal insolvency initiative, that is, mortgage to rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49463/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Allied Irish Bank, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49474/12]