Parliamentary questions

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the contact he had with other EU leaders over the summer recess. [39079/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

2. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has had discussions with Chancellor Angela Merkel recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39086/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Joe Higgins

3. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the meetings he had with other Heads of State since the adjournment of Dáil Éireann in July. [39139/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Joe Higgins

4. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he had with other European leaders since the adjournment of Dáil Éireann in July. [39140/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has written to Chancellor Angela Merkel since her re-election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40517/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

6. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he has been in contact with Chancellor Angela Merkel since her re-election as German Chancellor. [40733/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he has any plans to meet with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. [40734/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent discussion with Chancellor Angela Merkel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40916/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he has had with European counterparts since the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40918/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of Ireland's unemployment rate at the October meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40922/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Prime Minister Samaras recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41823/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

12. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Prime Minister Rajoy recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41824/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

13. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to President Hollande recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41825/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

14. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the issues he will place on the agenda at the next EU leaders' meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44409/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

15. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Chancellor Angela Merkel since the general election in Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44411/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Thomas P. Broughan

16. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach the engagements he has had with Chancellor Merkel since the recent general election in Germany. [45728/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

17. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he had any bilaterals at the EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46203/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the issues he raised with our European partners at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47668/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he had discussions regarding Ireland's exit from the troika programme at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47669/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he had discussions regarding Ireland's debt situation at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47670/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

21. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the recent European Council meeting in Brussels. [47674/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

22. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the meetings he held with other European leaders on the margins of the recent European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47680/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

23. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to Chancellor Angela Merkel at the recent European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47681/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

24. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had at the recent European Council meeting on the issue of alleged bugging by the United States’ National Security Agency of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s telephone and of other surveillance carried out in France and Italy. [47682/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

25. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of youth unemployment at the recent European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47687/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

26. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had at the recent European Council meeting on Ireland’s exit from the EU-IMF bailout programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47691/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

27. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the proposals he will seek to place on the agenda for December’s European Council summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47692/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

28. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the proposals in respect of the banking union he will raise at December’s European Council summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47693/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Thomas P. Broughan

29. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his engagements with other members of the European Council on the issue of the reported monitoring of telephone and electronic communications of citizens and political leaders across a number of countries by intelligence services from other countries. [47729/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

30. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the topics discussed at his meeting with the Italian Minister Enrico Letta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48812/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

31. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he had any bilateral meetings while attending the Youth Unemployment Conference in Paris; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50118/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

32. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will detail his contribution at the Youth Conference in Paris; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50120/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

33. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the option of a safety net post the exit from the EU-IMF programme with Chancellor Merkel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50148/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

34. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the option of a safety net post the exit from the EU-IMF bailout with Prime Minister Cameron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50149/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

35. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the option of a safety net post the exit form the EU-IMF programme with President Hollande when he was in Paris recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50150/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

36. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to Chancellor Angela Merkel at the recent EU meeting in Paris regarding the decision not to seek a post bailout line of credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50214/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Gerry Adams

37. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his telephone conversations with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and Finland's Jyrki Katainen on the decision not to seek a post bailout line of credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50218/13]

Discussions with European Leaders

Micheál Martin

38. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the EU growth figures were discussed at the recent EU leaders' meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50292/13]

Schools Review

Charlie McConalogue

91. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the value for money review of small primary schools will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50478/13]

Special Education Review

Jonathan O'Brien

92. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the working group established by the National Council for Special Education on its proposal to develop a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50480/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Finian McGrath

93. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all pupils with Down's syndrome in mainstream schools receive adequate resource hours. [50605/13]

State Examinations Reviews

Charlie McConalogue

94. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his response to continuing concerns among teachers and parents regarding junior certificate reforms and the need for independent assessment of examination papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50479/13]

Industrial Disputes

Jonathan O'Brien

95. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the efforts that are being made to resolve the ongoing industrial relations dispute with the ASTI; if he will provide assurances that his Department’s focus will be on reaching a fair settlement with the ASTI and to resolve the outstanding issues that have arisen from the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will acknowledge that teachers are being increasingly overwhelmed by new initiatives that are being implemented at a time when schools are enduring unsustainable cutbacks in resources and services. [50548/13]

Early Child Care Education

Charlie McConalogue

96. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the resources he is providing for the implementation of the Aistear framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50228/13]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

97. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if plans to include the family farm in means test assessments for third level support have now been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50225/13]

State Examinations

Patrick O'Donovan

98. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the increased numbers taking up higher level maths for examination at leaving certificate as a result of the reintroduction of bonus points, if he will consider a similar initiative for those students taking up applied math, physics and chemistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50117/13]

Summer Works Scheme Expenditure

Thomas P. Broughan

99. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the works that will be completed to schools in Dublin 5, 13 and 17 under the school works scheme, the funding for which was recently announced for 2014. [50101/13]

School Patronage

Catherine Murphy

100. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to change the status of a school (details supplied) from that of a multidenominational school to that of a Catholic ethos; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school is not regarded as a denominational school; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the school is seen an inclusive school that welcomes all needs, all creeds and none; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no church representatives on the board of management; the role the board of management and the VEC play in changing the ethos of an existing school; in the event that the school is now designated a Catholic school, the knock-on effect this will have on enrolment policy in terms of priority given to children of a particular faith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/13]

School Enrolments

Clare Daly

101. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is appropriate for schools to request payment of a registration fee every year; and the measures he proposes to deal with this situation. [50116/13]

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Bernard Durkan

102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which Student Universal Support Ireland has managed to deal with the total number of applications for higher education grants received in respect of the current academic year; the number of cases approved, refused or as yet undetermined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50293/13]

Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil staidéar déanta aige ar na modhanna trína múintear an Ghaeilge, go háirithe i dtaca leis na moltaí atá sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44492/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Clare Daly

104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the anomaly that full-time special needs assistants contracts are specified by the National Council for Special Education as 32 hours, but the contract of employment specifies the working hours as the hours the school is open to students, that is, 28 hours and 20 minutes for a primary school. [50114/13]

Educational Disadvantage

Jonathan O'Brien

105. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed report on the cross-Border co-operative activities planned for 2014 which will draw on emerging evidence on improvements in learning and the evaluations of DEIS, the action plan of the Department of Education and Skills to combat educational disadvantage, developments in inspection practice, North and South, and a date for possible joint participation in professional development for inspectors. [50109/13]

School Transport Provision

Lucinda Creighton

106. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is not conducting its own separate investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in Bus Éireann involving the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50296/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

107. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his response to the recommendations of the recent National Council for Special Education research report, Moving to Further and Higher Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50226/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Bernard Durkan

108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has found it possible to make adequate provision for children with special needs throughout mainstream education; if he has identified any particular areas in respect of which he proposes to address any emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50294/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

109. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will receive the report of the National Council for Special Education working group on a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50224/13]

Industrial Disputes

Joe Higgins

110. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the industrial action being taken by secondary school teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42510/13]

School Transport Provision

Lucinda Creighton

111. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when Bus Éireann will have completed its investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption involving the school transport scheme; if he will provide further updates on this investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50295/13]

Industrial Disputes

Thomas Pringle

112. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding talks with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50111/13]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Clare Daly

113. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 342, 343 and 350 of 5 November 2013, if he will confirm that the financial implications regarding the annual student contribution for apprentices being pro rata, in relation to aviation apprentices where a model has been agreed with employers which requires them attending college for a full year, could see students being faced with fees of €4,890. [50113/13]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Mick Wallace

114. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the deadline dates for appeals to decisions made by the National Council for Special Education during special needs assistants reviews preceded the date on which some schools were informed of SNA allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50298/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who have moved from a special needs unit to mainstream education and have sought a special needs assistant but have not been provided with one over the past year. [50105/13]

Haddington Road Agreement Negotiations

Richard Boyd Barrett

116. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that ASTI members will continue to be paid the annual supervision and substitution allowance of €1,769 gross, in view of the fact that this is not part of the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/13]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Clare Daly

117. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the decision to change the funding model for apprentices before the review of the Irish apprenticeship training model which he has initiated has been completed. [50112/13]

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Mick Wallace

118. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the qualification requirements for teachers providing home tuition for children with autism spectrum disorder were recently changed from specialist training in autism to a general primary school qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50297/13]

Special Educational Needs Data

Clare Daly

119. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any analysis has been undertaken into the cumulative effect of cutbacks in learning supports at primary level for children with special needs, Traveller supports and support for children for whom English is not their first language in terms of the impact on teachers' ability to manage the class and deliver a level of education that meets the needs of all. [50115/13]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

120. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason it is necessary to have a direct line available for Deputies and Senators to contact Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45681/13]

Schools Administration

Jonathan O'Brien

121. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce legislation to ensure that schools provide to parents a breakdown of the way voluntary contributions are spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50106/13]

Haddington Road Agreement Savings

John Halligan

122. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that after all the deductions and restitution due under the Haddington Road agreement there will still be a permanent gap of 7.5% between pre and post-2011 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42443/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

123. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he considers educational supports for pupils with Down's syndrome to be adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50227/13]

Industrial Disputes

Joe Higgins

124. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met, or is planning to meet, representatives of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland. [42511/13]

School Uniforms

Thomas Pringle

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that all schools that operate a uniform policy will ballot parents on their preferences; the way he foresees the uniform policy based on the ballot results being implemented for the 2014-15 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50110/13]

Teaching Qualifications

Jonathan O'Brien

126. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details on the collaborative agreement that has been reached by the Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster on the provision of assistance and support to students from the Six Counties and Border region wishing to undertake the Scurdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge and Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge; and the efforts that are being made by his Department to facilitate the delivery of language qualification from TCI to St. Mary’s College, Belfast. [50108/13]

School Enrolments

Thomas P. Broughan

127. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes that will be made by his Department through legislation and guidelines to admissions policies in primary and post-primary schools here. [50102/13]

School Transport Provision

Catherine Murphy

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has undertaken a cost benefit analysis of the school transport scheme operated by Bus Éireann; if he will account for the high cost of operating the scheme compared to school transport systems in other jurisdictions; if he will confirm if Bus Éireann makes a profit from the scheme; if he will provide the latest accounts provided to him by Bus Éireann; if he is concerned about market distortion by the overwhelming presence of Bus Éireann in the school transport market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47024/13]

Departmental Banking

Ciaran Lynch

129. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Taoiseach the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50141/13]

Appointments to State Boards

Niall Collins

130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies in State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies in State boards under his Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013, and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [50143/13]

Departmental Bodies Data

Shane Ross

131. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Taoiseach the number of quangos operating under the aegis of his Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in payng the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over this period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50144/13]

State Honours System

Derek Keating

132. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his plans to establish a national awards scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50229/13]

Seanad Reform

James Bannon

133. Deputy James Bannon asked the Taoiseach the actions being taken to reform Seanad Éireann as a forum for real debate on European issues and legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50273/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

134. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the high-level conference on youth unemployment hosted by French President François Hollande in Paris on 12 November last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50413/13]

Departmental Banking

Ciaran Lynch

135. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50135/13]

Departmental Staff Training

Brendan Smith

136. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the language courses available to the staff of his Department; the number of staff members enrolled in these courses since March 2011 and in what language; if he will further provide in tabular form the language qualifications currently held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff by grade from third secretary upwards by language; if he will also provide the budget allocated from his Department for linguistic improvement courses for his staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50288/13]

Departmental Staff Training

Brendan Smith

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has a strategy to improve the linguistic ability of the staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50289/13]

Human Rights Issues

Brendan Smith

138. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's position in relation to the EU's Eastern Partnership summit; his views on whether there will be substantial progress in the area of human rights between the attending countries and the European Union; if he will raise the case of the jailed Ukrainian opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko at this summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50291/13]

Human Rights Issues

Finian McGrath

139. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the International Commission of Inquiry into the case of the Cuban Miami five to be held in London in March 2014. [50399/13]

Emigrant Support Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

140. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding received by each organisation supported under the emigrant support programme in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50438/13]

Diplomatic Representation

Michael Healy-Rae

141. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following on from the Government's decision to close the Irish embassy to the Holy See, his plans to close other embassies in small countries that have little or no interest in the Irish people and which could save us revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50538/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

142. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the recruitment of junior diplomats to his Department, the criteria that were applied in the selection of the type of psychometric tests used at stage one of the recruitment process; if the decision to depart from traditional testing methods, that is, verbal, numeral reasoning and job simulation, in favour of verbal and abstract reasoning was made by his Department or by the Public Appointments Service; in view of the nature of the role, his views on whether personality and-or job simulation would be a key selection method at stage one; if administrating stage one of the process online has resulted in any potential candidates being disadvantaged, in particular those with special requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50544/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

143. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the €9.023 million given by Irish Aid in 2012 to Mozambique under the heading general budget support; if he will provide a breakdown of exactly where the money was spent; the level of parliamentary oversight the Mozambique Government has in relation to this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50644/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the €15.223 million given for health, HIV and AIDS purposes in Mozambique; if he will provide a breakdown of the €5.593 million given towards education in Mozambique and the €1.782 million to agriculture; the amount that was given directly to the Mozambique Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50645/13]

Excise Duties

Tom Fleming

145. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No.118 of 22 October 2013 if he will provide an up to date progress report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50652/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Finian McGrath

146. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the collusion issue north of the Border where one third of the 120 killings occurred in the Republic; and if this aspect was ever raised with the British Government. [50779/13]

EU-IMF Programme of Support

Thomas P. Broughan

147. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance further to the statement by the Taoiseach to Dáil Éireann in relation to the upcoming exit of Ireland from the EU-IMF assistance programme on 14 November 2013, if he will elaborate on the discussions that took place between Chancellor Angela Merkel to arrive at the scenario whereby the German government has asked KfW, the German development bank, to work with the German and Irish authorities to deliver on improving funding mechanisms to support a productive Irish economy at the earliest possible date. [50367/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

148. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18 must pay the property tax on a property they sold in April 2013 in order to get a tax clearance certificate for the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50465/13]

Departmental Banking

Ciaran Lynch

149. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50134/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Arthur Spring

150. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if mortgages previously held with Irish Nationwide, now with Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. will be refinanced by the borrowers; if the liquidator is in a position to negotiate settlements prior to the anticipated sale of the mortgage book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50156/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Arthur Spring

151. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book is sold on to an international investor, if the borrowers will have the protection of the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50157/13]

Tax Collection

Michelle Mulherin

152. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the rate of fees and expenses the Revenue sheriff is entitled to charge in the execution of his duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50188/13]