Parliamentary questions

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on mortgage arrears and credit availability will next meet. [47672/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on mortgage arrears and credit availability last met; the number of meetings that have been held in the past year. [52532/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach when was the last time the Cabinet committee on mortgage arrears and credit availability met; and when it is scheduled to reconvene. [7497/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

4. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee on health has met since the budget. [47678/13]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on health has met since the October budget. [2190/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

6. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met. [2242/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on health has met in the past 12 months. [2243/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the most recent meeting of the Cabinet committee on health took place. [6348/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

9. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the last time the Cabinet committee on health met; and when it is scheduled to reconvene. [7496/14]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

10. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent talks with former US President Bill Clinton during his visit to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47684/13]

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the issues he discussed with Mr. Bill Clinton when he met him recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47757/13]

Official Engagements

Joe Higgins

12. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Mr. Bill Clinton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/14]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Timmy Dooley

89. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is concerned at the introduction of a heavy goods vehicle road user levy in the United Kingdom which will have a significant impact on Irish hauliers; if he has spoken to his British counterpart regarding this levy; his plans to apply a similar levy here on foreign hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8056/14]

Heritage Sites

Sandra McLellan

90. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the strategy his Department has to invest in and upgrade national heritage sites to make them attractive to the domestic and international tourist markets. [7797/14]

Air Accident Investigations

Clare Daly

91. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the recent report from the Irish air accident investigation unit into the Manx2 Cork crash, which identified serious concerns in relation to the regulation of aviation in Europe, if he will outline the Irish regulatory agency or body responsible to ensure that the terms and conditions under which aircraft are operated, or flight crew are employed and managed, will not have any adverse impact on the safety of passengers such as we saw evidenced in the Manx2 accident in Cork; and the steps he will take to ensure that companies in the aviation business will not be able to use aircraft or flight crew under commercial or personal contract arrangements that are not transparent about their potential impact on the safety of aircraft operations. [7995/14]

Pension Provisions

Timmy Dooley

92. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he has taken to resolve the potential strike action at our national airports; his views with regard to the future of the Irish airlines superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8057/14]

Ports Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

93. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the key issues for Dublin Port; his further views on the ports package and the port services directive; if he will protect union involvement and support worker protection; and his views on the need for stability for those companies who have invested in the port. [7994/14]

Sports Events

Eoghan Murphy

94. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed bid for the Rugby World Cup. [7802/14]

Road Projects Expenditure

Eoghan Murphy

95. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether local authorities should have greater discretion with regard to spending on local and regional roads. [7801/14]

Airport Security

Clare Daly

96. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the fact that the Defence Forces have been called in on aid to civil power duties at Shannon airport over 300 times a year for the past number of years is undermining the commercial operation of the airport. [7520/14]

Road Projects

Charlie McConalogue

97. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available for the A5; his most recent engagement with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on progressing the A5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7794/14]

State Bodies Mergers

Patrick O'Donovan

98. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in the context of the upcoming merger of the National Roads Authority and the Rail Procurement Agency, he will consider amendments to existing planning legislation and regulatory instruments to allow the NRA and or local authorities to engage in pre-planning consultations with An Bord Pleanála in an attempt to avoid money being spent on planning road projects that are subsequently rejected at a cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4840/14]

Road Projects Expenditure

Ray Butler

99. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether local authorities should be given greater discretion with regard to spending on regional and local roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7673/14]

Road Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

100. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available for key infrastructure projects in County Donegal including a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, County Donegal along the R238 Cockhill Road, the Bonagee Link Road and the Lifford-Letterkenny road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7795/14]

Parking Regulations

Mick Wallace

101. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to street clamping policy, the safeguards he has put in place to ensure that clamping is used primarily to modify driver behaviour, rather than as a revenue-raising measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7672/14]

Traffic Calming Measures

Ciara Conway

102. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce congestion charges in the city centres of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/14]

Vehicle Height Limits

Martin Heydon

103. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on representations that have been made regarding the height restrictions for trailers, with specific reference to loads of hay and straw; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7611/14]

Bus Éireann Services

Thomas P. Broughan

104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the current state of Busáras; if he will support greater investment in improving Busáras for bus passengers; his position on the way Busáras could be enhanced to become a first-class bus transport facility; or if a new bus station could be built in Dublin. [7617/14]

Tourism Promotion

Michael McNamara

105. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the footfall to date on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Green Way in the west of Ireland; his plans to support SMEs and entrepreneurs along these routes offering tourism related services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/14]

Public Transport

Clare Daly

106. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason public transport workers have endured a significant erosion of their wages and terms and conditions of employment on cost-cutting grounds, while the State hands over €50 million per annum to the developers of the Westlink toll bridge which has already been paid for many times over and millions more to consortia which built motorways that not enough cars are using. [7522/14]

Vehicle Height Limits

John O'Mahony

107. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on representations that have been made regarding the height restrictions for trailers, with specific reference to loads of hay and straw; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/14]

Sports Events

John O'Mahony

108. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed bid for the Rugby World Cup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7619/14]

Driver Licences

Patrick O'Donovan

109. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the roll out of the National Driver Licensing Service; if he is satisfied that the delays which were being encountered at initial stages of the roll-out have been rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7529/14]

Community Involvement Scheme

Michelle Mulherin

110. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has completed his review of the community involvement scheme and if a further allocation will be made for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7620/14]

Aviation Issues

Clare Daly

111. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to make the relevant aviation regulatory bodies subject to freedom of information legislation, to enable the public to be fully assured that their safety is being safeguarded to the highest extent and in the most transparent way possible. [7521/14]

Transport Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

112. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the impact of the recent storm damage on Ireland’s maritime facilities and on coastal erosion; the implications for roads and transport infrastructure; the resultant actions of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7524/14]

Public Transport

Timmy Dooley

113. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on management-worker relations and negotiations in Iarnród Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann; if he is confident that the financial position of the CIÉ Group will improve in 2014; if he is satisfied with the performance of the boards of the CIÉ Group of companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7612/14]

Public Transport Provision

Clare Daly

114. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline a strategy in relation to the urgent necessity to deliver Metro North. [7523/14]

Roadworthiness Testing

Denis Naughten

115. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the regulations covering the vehicle roadworthiness certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7526/14]

Penalty Points System Investigation

Thomas P. Broughan

116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed report on the issues examined to date by the penalty points working group established; if he will outline the recommendations made by the working group to facilitate the implementation of certain aspects of road traffic legislation; and the actions that are being taken by his Department to address problems with the implementation of some legislative provisions in the area of penalty points. [7618/14]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Timmy Dooley

117. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that the regional and local roads allocation for 2014 to local authorities is sufficient in view of the recent storms which have caused immense damage to our infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7614/14]

Sport and Recreational Development

Clare Daly

118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of Ireland's boxing success, if he will prioritise working with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to develop a major boxing training facility in Swords as a strategic location, near the airport for international and local development of the sport. [7519/14]

Aviation Issues

Catherine Murphy

119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent memorandum of understanding that was signed between Etihad Airways and College Ireland Aviation Services for the provision of aviation training services during the Government's recent trade mission to the Gulf region; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that part of this MOU includes plans to greatly expand the use of Weston Airport beside Leixlip, County Kildare; if he is further aware that Weston Airport is subject to a number of outstanding planning violations and objections by local residents and that any intensification of the use of the runway there would lead to significant additional problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7726/14]

Vehicle Clamping

Seán Kyne

120. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the regulation of vehicle immobilisation Bill and notwithstanding the great need to provide regulation in this area, if provisions will be included to take into account land owners, such as those operating a mobile home-camping site for example, who have used clamping as a means of security and safety for customers. [7717/14]

Driver Licences

Mattie McGrath

121. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a full and complete assessment of the reasons the National Driver Licensing Service driving licence renewal process is in utter chaos and is now in the hands of three different companies; the way this can be seen as a cost saving and efficient measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7792/14]

Harbour Authorities

Richard Boyd Barrett

122. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received the annual report and accounts for 2012 or 2013 from the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company as the latest accounts available on the harbour company website are 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7724/14]

Transport Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which transport infrastructure in respect of road and rail transport continues to be evaluated with a view to concentration on areas most efficient and from which a great degree of economic benefit might accrue; if any particular areas of specific deficit in this regard have been identified; if it is expected to make specific recommendations or take initiatives arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7675/14]

Tourism Promotion

Bernard Durkan

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which targets in respect of tourism growth have been revised upward following the success of The Gathering in 2013; the extent to which it is expected the industry can generate economic activity and contribute to economic recovery in 2014; if any new initiatives are likely to be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7674/14]

Legislative Programme

Sandra McLellan

125. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed update on contacts or discussions his Department have had with both the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority prior to the establishment of Sport Ireland. [7798/14]

Sports Sponsorship

Timmy Dooley

126. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding the sponsorship of sport by alcohol producers; if he has been in contact with the national sporting organisations to establish if there is an alternative to alcoholic sponsorship in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7615/14]