Parliamentary questions

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the outbreak of sectarian violence in Belfast over the past number of weeks over flag protocols at Belfast City Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1357/13]

Use of Non-Conventional Weapons

Seán Crowe

2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support an international investigation to examine if the use of non-conventional weapons, such as chemical weapons and depleted uranium munitions, were used in Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza in November 2012; and if they were the cause of a rapid rise in the number of patients being admitted into hospitals in Gaza with grotesque injuries, that the Ministry of Health in Gaza said resembles the adverse effects of exposure to uranium or lethal chemicals. [1979/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

3. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise on the UN Human Rights Council, the fact that the arrest of Irish citizens including Martin Corey, have been found to be in breach of Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights but that this has been overruled by the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the basis of closed evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1603/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken in relation to requesting a full independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane since the publication of the De Silva report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1358/13]

Peace and Reconciliation Programme

Seán Crowe

5. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programmes which will benefit from the €315,000 increase in Reconciliation and Cooperation on the Island services of his Department as laid out in Budget 2013. [1675/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Sandra McLellan

6. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the fact that Ireland has received praise internationally for maintaining its overseas development co-operation programme despite the recession, he will take or encourage any measures to ensure that the EU’s larger member states live up to their commitments and obligations in terms of the quality, and the quantity, of overseas aid during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. [1665/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Sean Fleming

7. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans for the establishment of a civilian corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1576/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Timmy Dooley

8. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to review the overseas development aid paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1574/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Charlie McConalogue

9. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he and his EU counterparts have taken to address escalating ethnic tensions in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1585/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Seamus Kirk

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional steps he and his EU counterparts have taken to address the Syrian conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1581/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU is considering additional sanctions against Iran on the basis of its nuclear development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/13]

EU Programmes

Brian Stanley

12. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to ensure that the EU’s development cooperation programme is a central focus of Ireland’s EU Presidency; and what he sees as the biggest successes to aim for in this area. [1664/13]

EU Presidency Agenda

Bernard Durkan

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will, during the course of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, encourage his EU colleagues to rediscover the original vision of Europe as set out by Monnet, Schuman, Adenauer and others with particular reference to the urgent need to ensure that European leaders speak with a common cause and purpose, mindful of the need for unity and solidarity on matters affecting the persons within and outside the Eurozone; if it is expected to set particular or specific targets in this regard in respect of areas that have become known to require particular attention in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1655/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Crowe

14. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has been given significant increases in some administration spending, such as travel, €452,000, postal and telecoms services, €451,000 and office equipment and external IT services, €945,000, in Budget 2013. [1676/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

15. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the problems arising from the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Billy Kelleher

16. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the target of 0.7% of GNP to be given as overseas development aid for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1578/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

John Browne

17. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address procedures in distributing aid to Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/13]

EU Battlegroups

John Halligan

18. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a new EU military mission will be launched in the coming months; if he will provide details of both the mission and Ireland's involvement in any such mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1683/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Barry Cowen

19. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the Israeli representation in Ireland and his EU counterparts regarding the Gaza conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1572/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

20. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that are taking place between his Department, the Northern Ireland Office and the British Government to address the new crisis in relation to the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Clare Daly

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will use his position in the EU to ensure that the US sponsored sanctions against Iran currently supported by the EU, and having an adverse impact on the Iranian economy and people, are lifted, rather than intensified. [1602/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Mary Lou McDonald

22. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will he raise the practice of tied aid, as practiced by many EU countries, during Ireland’s EU Presidency; the measures he will take to encourage other EU member states to abolish this practice which does not benefit the recipient country, and in fact imposes unnecessary costs on them. [1666/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

23. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programmes that will benefit from the €3.6 million increase in the Consular, Passport and Irish Abroad Services of his Department that are outlined in Budget 2013. [1674/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

24. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the date on which the Ugandan Auditor General is expected to finish his report into the misappropriation of €4 million of aid given by Irish Aid; and if officials or those from an accounting background in his Department will be travelling to Uganda in connection with the case in the coming months. [1680/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Crowe

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the concern over the possible likelihood of an armed conflict between Israel and Iran, he shares the concerns of many of those who want to see a peaceful resolution to conflict in the Middle East, that the increased militarisation of the region is increasing the likelihood of this conflict; his views on whether the export of Dolphin Class military submarines by Germany to Israel possibly breaches Criterion Four of the EU rules governing the exports of military technology and equipment. [1657/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Michael Colreavy

26. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that in the long term interest of peace in the region, Israel should urgently place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards as required by UN Security Council resolution 487, which was adopted unanimously on 19 June 1981 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 2012 by 174 votes to 6; and if has raised this matter with the Israeli authorities. [1659/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

27. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the conflict in Syria will be a high priority in Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will invite representatives of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces to Dublin during the Presidency. [1667/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will explain the decrease in the Promote Ireland's Economic and Trade Interests in Europe and Internationally section of his Department, as outlined in Budget 2013, by more than €1.1 million; the reason it was cut while recent trade figures demonstrate this State's over reliance on trade of chemical and related products and the EU and American market. [1673/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Michael McGrath

29. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out on a country basis a breakdown of the planned distribution of Irish overseas development aid; the percentage year on year change in overseas development aid to each recipient country since 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/13]

EU Enlargement

Michael Colreavy

30. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he held talks with the Turkish Minister for Europe when he visited Dublin; the agenda that was discussed at these meetings; if Ireland’s Presidency of the EU will include any talks on the barriers to Turkey’s accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1663/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Niall Collins

31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid that he has distributed to the Gaza strip following the conflict in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1570/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Dessie Ellis

32. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Israel should fully implement the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, to give the stagnant economy of Gaza an opportunity to revive itself, and to pave the way for the creation of a viable Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza by providing and allowing transport links between the West Bank and Gaza. [1660/13]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Dara Calleary

33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff hired by his Department for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the EU Council; the total anticipated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which it is intended to use Ireland’s influence in the course of its Presidency of the EU to positively influence the situation in Syria with particular reference to the urgent need for a major humanitarian input from the EU and its member states in association with the UN and the worldwide community with the objective of bringing to an end the on-going loss of life and humanitarian violations; if he anticipates a specific role for this country and the EU; if this will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Dessie Ellis

35. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to any progress that has been made with regard to opening the crossings and facilitating the movement of people and transfer of goods in and out of Gaza as provided for in the cease-fire agreement of 21 November 2012; and if he has discussed the issue with the Israeli authorities and his colleagues in the EU. [1678/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Sandra McLellan

36. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the remarks by Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, that the goal of Israel’s recent military action against Gaza was to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages; and if he has raised the issue with the Israeli authorities and his colleagues in the European Union. [1661/13]

EU Battlegroups

Richard Boyd Barrett

37. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a new EU military mission will be launched in the coming months; if he will provide details of both the mission and Ireland's involvement in any such mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1682/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

38. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the raid at 3 am on 11 December 2012 by Israeli military forces on the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights office in Ramallah in which the office was ransacked and valuable equipment including four laptops were confiscated; and if he shares any concerns on the matter. [1658/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Martin Ferris

39. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the right of Gaza's fishermen to fish twenty nautical miles out at sea, as provided for in the Oslo accords; and if he will raise the restriction to six nautical miles currently being imposed on them by the Israeli navy with the Israeli authorities. [1679/13]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Michael McGrath

40. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the tender contract awarded for the establishment of a website for Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1133/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Numbers

Niall Collins

41. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57761/12]

Exports Data

Terence Flanagan

42. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Irish export levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57794/12]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Terence Flanagan

43. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the countries to which Ireland provides financial assistance through its overseas development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57832/12]

Departmental Bodies Abolition

Patrick O'Donovan

44. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57879/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Michael McNamara

45. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when interviews will be held to put in place a revised roster of election monitors of Irish Aid with his Department; the delay in revising this roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58030/12]

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Eric J. Byrne

46. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount it costs for Ireland to affiliate to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

47. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will encourage the formation of an EU Committee for Middle East Affairs in the coming Presidency of the European Union and if he will help relieve the suffering of the people of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1240/13]

Action Plan for Jobs

Dara Calleary

48. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the 2012 targets set for his Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if he will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps he is taking within his Department to create new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1283/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Terence Flanagan

49. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of overseas aid the State is required to pay under UN requirements; the amount of overseas aid the State is required to pay under EU rules; and the amount the State voluntarily gives in addition to these sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1308/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Micheál Martin

50. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department have received any representations recently in relation to the Irish Embassy in the Vatican; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50914/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Micheál Martin

51. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will be recruiting or seconding extra staff for the duration of the EU Presidency; if so, the areas to which they will be seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50876/12]

EU Presidency Agenda

Micheál Martin

52. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has any special arrangements made for the term of the EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50917/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Micheál Martin

53. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail all planned costs to his Department of press activity relating to the EU Presidency. [50875/12]

EU Presidency Agenda

Micheál Martin

54. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if during Ireland's Presidency of the EU particular attention will be given to the ongoing violence in Syria, Israel and Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52231/12]

Middle East Peace Process

Micheál Martin

55. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there was a discussion on Israel and Gaza at the November European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53795/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

56. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, during his visits to Northern Ireland, funding for the Foyles Women's Aid Group was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54057/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

57. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received representations from the Family Justice Centre, County Derry, in relation to funding or any other matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54058/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

58. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the work of the Family Justice Centre, County Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54059/12]

Middle East Peace Process

Micheál Martin

59. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his concerns regarding tensions in Israel and Palestine even though there is a peace agreement at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54063/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Micheál Martin

60. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has carried out an assessment on the increased costs to his Department in 2013 due to the Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53798/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

61. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the recent violent protest near Belfast City Hall with the First Minister or Deputy First Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55447/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

62. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned about party political demonstrations on PSNI headquarters following recent arrests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55218/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

63. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in contact with the Northern Secretary of State Theresa Villiers in relation to the recent decision to suspend the inquests into the victims of the Ballymurphy Massacre. [53793/12]

Nuclear Proliferation

Clare Daly

64. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will withdraw diplomatic support for the US/EU sanctions against Iran. [1630/13]

Passport Applications

Jack Wall

65. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider the following regarding an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1829/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Kevin Humphreys

66. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were fully funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1906/13]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his colleagues at EU and UN level can highlight the bravery of Ms Malala Yousufzai and her efforts to achieve education for women and girls in Pakistan and other regions worldwide; if the international community can use the attack on her life and her on-going recovery as a means of bringing positive attention to the issues that she highlighted in a coordinated international effort to ensure that her bravery does not go unnoticed and her sacrifices were not in vain; if he will be in a position to pursue these issues during the course of Ireland’s presidency with the help of his EU and UN colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1934/13]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community can assist through the medium of the EU and the UN to improve women’s rights in Pakistan; if specific objectives have been set out or will be set out in this regard; the extent, if any, to which he sees a role for the smaller countries in the EU and elsewhere being expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1935/13]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which, at EU and UN level, he and his colleagues are in a position to focus attention on the rape and sexual assaults on women and girls worldwide regardless of nationality or culture with particular reference to the most recent incidents in India; if international pressure can be brought on all countries with a view to stamping out such attacks and the culture surrounding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1936/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts continue to be made to bring about a cessation of violence and the provision of support for aid workers in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1937/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to become alerted to the difficulties faced by the Red Cross, Medicins San Frontieres and all aid workers and their agencies currently operating or attempting to operate in war zones or unrest in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere; if he anticipates any particular improvements in this regard in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1938/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts are being made to set up permanent structures to engage with all the protagonists in the Middle East conflict with particular reference to the need to ensure access to outside independent agencies to deal with on-going issues and avert new confrontations or the potential for such confrontation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1939/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Bernard Durkan

73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he has been reassured that overseas development aid continue to reach those for whom it was intended and that recompense is made in situations where this is not the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1940/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current situation in the top ten most sensitive locations worldwide which continue to suffer from war, starvation, famine, genocide, ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses; the degree to which it remains possible to deliver aid and support to the people in such cases; the extent to which deterrents such as referral to the International War Tribunal are used effectively in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1941/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the international community can bring about positive influence on the protagonists in the various war-torn regions in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/13]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to monitor the continued incarceration of former Prime Minister of the Ukraine, Yulio Tymoshenko; the extent of efforts, if any at international level to bring about her release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1943/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Bernard Durkan

77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to be in a position to focus attention on hunger, famine, starvation and war associated atrocities throughout Africa; if he will set out the main locations for concern in this regard and the extent to which success can be expected in bringing about an improvement in the situation thereat in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1944/13]

Exports Data

Bernard Durkan

78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects an improvement in trade with various countries throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America in the coming years with particular reference to the need to use such trade as a vehicle for economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1945/13]

Exports Data

Bernard Durkan

79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries worldwide with which Ireland recorded greatest improvement in the expansion of trade and commercial activity in 2012; his objectives in this regard in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1946/13]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Bernard Durkan

80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he might envisage progress in any discussions with the US authorities in regard to the possibility of addressing the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States; if it might be possible on an annual or piecemeal basis to draw up a procedure whereby an agreed number of regularisations could be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1947/13]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his EU and UN colleagues continue to monitor the persecution of citizens attempting promote democracy at various locations throughout the globe; the extent if any of an agreed strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1948/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

82. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the plight of a person (details supplied) who is incarcerated in a Spanish prison since 2009; if any consular service has been made available to them; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person believes they have been victimised in the prison for raising the issue of abuse of other prisoners in prisons in which they were also imprisoned. [1977/13]

Departmental Agencies Funding

Kevin Humphreys

83. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were partially funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/13]

Property Taxation Application

Michael Healy-Rae

84. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding property tax in respect of a building (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57802/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

85. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the need to exempt residents of Priory Hall, Dublin, tenants from the property tax in view of the situation regarding their homes and their inability to live in them due to health and safety concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57889/12]

Property Taxation Application

Finian McGrath

86. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding property tax. [58182/12]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Timmy Dooley

87. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Finance the reason he confined the granting of the rebate to hauliers and excluded passenger transport operators from the scheme; if he will explain his apparent u-turn on his views expressed previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/13]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Timmy Dooley

88. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Finance if he has already sought permission from the EU Commission to introduce an excise rebate for hauliers; if so, the case he has put forward to have haulage operators included while excluding passenger transport operators; if the Commission has not already been notified, if he will the consider seeking permission to have passenger transport operators included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1329/13]

Pension Provisions

Terence Flanagan

89. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the number of jobs created as a result of the money generated by the pension levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362/13]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Sandra McLellan

90. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Finance that the excise rebate on diesel be passed onto coach and bus operators as well as licensed hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1371/13]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Mattie McGrath

91. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the auto-diesel relief for licensed road hauliers measures introduced in Budget 2013 to all passenger transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1733/13]

EU Policy Group

Bernard Durkan

92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he and his EU colleagues can reach consensus on the various issues now affecting the European Union with particular reference to economic and fiscal policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1949/13]

Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments

Niall Collins

93. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57760/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Michael Healy-Rae

94. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if persons who are in arrears with their mortgage and having extreme difficulty in paying their mortgage, are faced with the dilemma of having a demand for the new property tax to be paid or to make a payment on their mortgage and there is absolutely no surplus cash available, the mechanisms that will be in place for special and needy cases such as this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57864/12]

Copyright Infringement

Maureen O'Sullivan

95. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to ensure that the integrity of the National Anthem will be preserved as copyright will end in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57867/12]

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Patrick O'Donovan

96. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57878/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Terence Flanagan

97. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the wording of the property tax is changed in order that voluntary housing agencies are made exempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57907/12]

Pension Provisions

Martin Ferris

98. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been collected to date under the 0.6% pension levy; if the money is being ring-fenced for the purposes outlined on its introduction; and the number of jobs that have been created as a consequence. [57921/12]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Michael Lowry

99. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the terms of the fuel rebate as introduced in Budget 2013; if this rebate will apply to passenger transport companies as well as hauliers; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused as a result of this uncertainty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57926/12]

Pension Provisions

Eoghan Murphy

100. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his position on the transfer by AIB of €1.1 billion of its assets to its pension fund. [57931/12]