Parliamentary questions

Rent Controls

Bríd Smith

8. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to large rent rises in areas adjoining the rent pressure zones; if he will reconsider extending the application and breadth of rent controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/17]

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the progress of his plans to end the use of emergency settings such as hotels, bed and breakfasts and so on for persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/17]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received advice on the legality of proposals to select members of ASTI for redundancies at the end of this school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16540/17]

DEIS Status

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for DEIS status, in view of the fact that a school in an area (details supplied) has been refused DEIS status while surrounding schools in the same socioeconomic area have attained it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16539/17]

Labour Court Recommendations

Bríd Smith

345. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department or the Workplace Relations Commission have conducted an analysis on the reason the Labour Court have overturned or varied 53% of adjudication officer decisions in 2016 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16934/17]

State Banking Sector

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to sell a bank (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16468/17]

Motor Insurance

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the next steps for the motor insurance industry in view of the recent report on the cost of motor insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16469/17]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Reports

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the GSOC report with regard to a person (details supplied) will be published; and the reason for the delay. [16309/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

672. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the value of work contracted out by her Department to an agency (details supplied); and the nature of that work. [16158/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

673. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the monetary value of all work undertaken by consultant firms for her Department; and the nature of that work. [16159/17]

Data Protection

Bríd Smith

674. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied that data protection issues do not arise when work contracted out to a consultancy that involves departmental staff or possible recruitment of staff is involved; and the protections taken when outside agencies are involved in the recruitment process for public service work. [16160/17]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

680. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will examine the redundancies announced at a company (details supplied) under the Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Act 2007 and determine if these are carried out to replace the employees with workers on lower pay or less favourable terms and conditions; and if she will report on this matter. [16672/17]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reform the direct provision system in view of the continued problems experienced by asylum applicants in this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15659/17]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the current restrictions on visa applications for citizens from Libya can be justified in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been offered a position as a registrar in Galway hospital but is unable to take up the position due to these restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15658/17]

Air Corps Strength

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to bring the Air Corps up to staffing levels needed to perform all of its existing functions and reach its stabilised strength; and when he expects the Air Corps will be in a position to provide top cover for all future emergencies. [15427/17]

After-School Support Services

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total funding available to implement the action plan for school age children; and the way in which this will deliver affordable care for children out of school hours. [15134/17]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the progress of Ireland taking in unaccompanied minors from Calais and on the setting up of the national project office to care for these children. [15133/17]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) is in receipt of numerous public contracts paid by the State in addition to a contract with a bank (details supplied) and is now planning to lay off 65 workers at its Dublin base and move these jobs abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14456/17]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has had contact with a company (details supplied) that is planning 65 redundancies to its workforce in order to move part of its profitable operations to other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14455/17]

Job Creation Data

Bríd Smith

213. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any of the companies verified by IDA Ireland as creating 527 jobs under the Succeed in Ireland initiative have received any other support from IDA Ireland or other State agency; and if so, the details of such support. [14733/17]

Job Creation Data

Bríd Smith

214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any of the companies verified by IDA Ireland as creating 527 jobs under the Succeed in Ireland initiative are or have been client companies of IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland or any other State agency; and if so, the details of any supports provided by these agencies to these companies. [14734/17]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the contingency plans he has organised in the event of a national bus strike at Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14219/17]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

61. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans by the National Transport Authority, NTA, or his Department to increase funding to Bus Éireann or to private operators of national bus routes in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14220/17]

Trade Agreements

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the passing of the CETA trade deal by the EU and its implications for trade here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8706/17]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

342. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department's officials have met with any representatives of private bus companies in the past number of weeks; if so, if they discussed the threatened dispute at Bus Éireann and the provision of additional services by private bus companies during any dispute; and if so, the number of meetings and so on. [12555/17]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to meetings or actions by the NTA to encourage or licence additional services from private bus companies in the event of any dispute at Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12556/17]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

97. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the general practitioner service availability for parents of children under five years of age and address problems they have accessing this service. [12058/17]

Accident and Emergency Departments

Bríd Smith

104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will report on measures he will take to address the concerns and issues of nursing staff in public hospitals and the current crisis in the hospital accident and emergency departments. [12059/17]

Prisoner Transfers

Bríd Smith

127. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a matter in relation to a person (details supplied). [12282/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, environment and climate action last met. [10074/17]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a formal request has been made to An Garda Síochána to investigate the loss of weapons and ammunition in the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if she will ensure that any report on this issue will be made available to the public. [11716/17]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to an investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding the loss of high-calibre weapons and ammunition from armouries in different parts of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11715/17]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the extreme hardship her decision to continue with a blanket restriction on visa applications from Libya is having on persons that are studying and working here [12019/17]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reconsider the present restrictions on visa applications from Libya and allow individual exemptions to be considered on humanitarian grounds, in view of the fact families are being torn apart and separated for years as a result of the decision. [12020/17]

Housing Assistance Payments

Bríd Smith

278. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding tenants who are receiving rent support and are now being told they must move to HAP (details supplied). [11871/17]

Housing Assistance Payments

Bríd Smith

279. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding a tenant who is being moved to the HAP scheme but wishes to remain on the local authority waiting list for a local authority home. [11872/17]

Injecting Facilities

Bríd Smith

600. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if Merchants Quay in Dublin 8 has been selected as the location for an injecting facility pilot scheme; and if not, the procedures for selection and timeframe for decision. [11808/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

12. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, as well as committing to retain the link between the public sector pay and pensions, he will reverse the public sector pension reductions and levies inflicted during the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10502/17]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to certify in 2017 that the financial emergency still exists in order to retain the FEMPI legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10501/17]

Junior Cycle Reform

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the relegation of history as a distinct subject at junior cycle level will aid the success of his action plan for education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10460/17]

Third Level Staff

Bríd Smith

66. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on recent plans announced by the board of Trinity College, which will make a secure future or career advancement for many staff an impossibility; the way this might impact on the Government strategy for the third level sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10461/17]

Institutes of Technology

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the announcement from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology that a significant number of courses are to be axed at the campus; and the way this will impact on his Department's Action Plan for Education and it's aims. [10633/17]

Institutes of Technology

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the reduction of State funding from 2008 to 2014 is affecting the range and quality of courses offered by institutes of technology; and if he has been informed by the governing bodies of any IT of plans to reduce the level of services as a result of budget shortcomings. [10634/17]

Poverty Data

Bríd Smith

443. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify a response from his Department to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 21 February 2017 (details supplied). [10312/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the latest figures that suggests the number of social houses built in 2016 were among the lowest in the State's history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9044/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Price Controls

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the recent figures on rent increases in the private rented sector suggest that rental pressure zones should be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9045/17]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Bríd Smith

35. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his latest efforts to secure the release of a person (details supplied) from Egypt. [8705/17]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on whether the best interests of jobseekers are advanced by allowing JobPath operators the right to stop jobseekers from accepting placements with, for example, the Tús initiative and other schemes, even in circumstances where they applied for such placements in advance of being selected for JobPath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8458/17]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will re-examine the authority of JobPath operators that are able to overrule the placement offers to jobseekers on various community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8457/17]

Ambulance Service

Bríd Smith

250. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his Department have been briefed on any proposed changes by the Dublin city manager to the current operation of the emergency ambulance call out service as provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade. [8194/17]

Poverty Data

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the latest CSO survey on income and living conditions, SILC, report which shows that over 390,000 children are living in households experiencing deprivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/17]

Poverty Data

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the levels of constant poverty of children living in households headed by one parent, in the recent EU survey on income and living conditions, SILC, report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7024/17]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

35. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the annual numbers and percentages of successful applications for asylum seekers following first interview for their applications; the percentages of successful initial applications there are by individual interviewer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7643/17]

Refugee Data

Bríd Smith

49. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of suicides of persons in direct provision and in the asylum application process that have taken place in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7642/17]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to any particular difficulties experienced by citizens of Libya in obtaining and renewing visas for this State; and the rationale for the current operation of visa issuing and possible restrictions imposed on such citizens by this State. [7809/17]

Fire Service

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the current plans of Dublin City Council regarding the provision of the emergency ambulance call-out services as provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade; his views on such plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7960/17]

Fire Service

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his Department has been briefed on any proposed change by the Dublin city manager to the current operation of the emergency ambulance call out service as provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade. [7961/17]

Ambulance Service Provision

Bríd Smith

241. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to proposed changes to the operation of the emergency ambulance call out service as provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade. [7941/17]

Ambulance Service Provision

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the potential impact on patients and public safety of proposed changes to the operation of the Dublin Fire Brigade emergency ambulance call out service and the potential impact on hospital services and emergency departments. [7942/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with EU leaders in Malta. [7019/17]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

93. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Government's ongoing rationale for preventing persons in direct provision from working in gainful employment. [7734/17]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Staff

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the type of training members of her Department or those working with asylum applicants have received in cultural awareness when dealing with foreign nationals; the proportion of her departmental staff and outside staff in front-line roles dealing with asylum seekers and refugees who have received training in dealing with survivors of rape, torture or those suffering from PTSD; if her attention has been drawn to any kind of cultural awareness training that is provided to staff members, including staff not directly employed by her Department in hostels and accommodation used for those in direct provision. [7736/17]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Bríd Smith

432. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist parents who are unable to access the free general practitioner scheme for children under six years due to lack of availability in certain areas; and if he will use child benefit data to anticipate the areas in which there is a need. [6954/17]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the fact the 100 jobs announced at a company (details supplied) in County Limerick will in fact be subject to much poorer employment conditions than those previously practised at the plant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6200/17]

Job Creation

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, before welcoming any future announcement of new jobs created, she or her Department will investigate the actual working conditions and employment contracts of workers involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6201/17]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the provisions she has made in her jobs plan to ensure jobs created are not subject to precarious hours, bogus self employment, low hours or low pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6204/17]

Legislative Programme

Bríd Smith

39. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the commitment in the programme for Government to introduce legislation to safeguard workers against precarious and low-hours contracts is not on the priority list for legislation in this term of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6202/17]

Departmental Bodies Data

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when her Department will make available the exact amount and type of aid made available to individual IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6203/17]

Traffic Management

Bríd Smith

245. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to deal with growing traffic volumes in the greater Dublin area; and the specific measure he intends to take to deal with growing traffic chaos. [6436/17]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

49. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has any contact with the NTA on the issuing of bus licences on intercity routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6034/17]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any contact with the management of Bus Éireann prior to or since it announced a cost cutting plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6035/17]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when she expects Dáil Éireann to discuss and vote on the trade deal CETA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3099/17]

Media Pluralism

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider media plurality and industrial relations issues when making his decision on a proposed acquisition by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/17]

Hydraulic Fracturing

Bríd Smith

77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure the Prohibition on the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill will pass Committee Stage during this term of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5790/17]

World Economic Forum

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. [2796/17]

Official Engagements

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he has had contact with President Trump since his inauguration. [4126/17]

National Monuments

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she or any representative from her Department has met and-or communicated with representatives from companies (details supplied) or Dublin City Council in the past 12 months with regard to the Dublin Central Carlton-Moore Street site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4177/17]

National Parks and Wildlife Service Expenditure

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on whether the present resources allocated to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, are sufficient to meet its remit to protect Ireland's wildlife and biodiversity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4178/17]

Northern Ireland

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with Ms Arlene Foster on the current crisis in Stormont. [1995/17]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans following the latest deferment of the trial of a person (details supplied) in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3098/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of unclaimed social protection entitlements that persons are entitled to claim but for whatever reason do not claim. [2774/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to publicise or launch campaigns to ensure persons are fully aware of their entitlements to social protection payments in various circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/17]

Rent Controls

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to take steps to protect tenants who have been served with rent reviews that are demanding 50% and 60% rent rises by landlords trying to evade the proposed rent caps in some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2147/17]

Rent Controls

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the huge rent increases facing some tenants on foot of rent review demands notified by landlords in the days before his recent Bill was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2146/17]

Third Level Staff

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Action Plan for Education will address the increasing use of precarious contracts and poor work conditions and pay in the third level institutions for lecturers and other workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1915/17]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Action Plan for Education will address pay inequality and ensure that workers in the education system receive equal pay for equal work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1914/17]

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the projected loss of tax revenue from the tax exemptions granted to REITs in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/17]

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider revising the tax exemptions granted to REITs in the Finance Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/17]

Enterprise Ireland

Bríd Smith

1634. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has made contact with the owners or workers of a company (details supplied) in Dundalk to help avert redundancy. [41563/16]

Enterprise Ireland

Bríd Smith

1635. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the reasons given to workers for redundancies at a company (details supplied) is that the lease has run out on the current premises where work is being carried out; and, if this is the issue, whether she will request IDA Ireland to seek a suitable alternative premises for the company. [41564/16]

IDA Ireland Portfolio

Bríd Smith

1636. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland has been approached by any other company to inform them that they will be taking over a premises on the Finnabair industrial park in 2017. [41565/16]

Children in Care

Bríd Smith

1679. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider setting up a State-sponsored voluntary DNA website for all those persons who have been in care in order to trace family and relatives. [41430/16]

Commissions of Inquiry

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether she will consider an independent public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) and the subsequent Garda actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40437/16]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure that asylum seekers here will not face another Christmas in the direct provision system that has been described as a severe violation of human rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40438/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to the USA. [38855/16]

Childcare Education and Training Support Programme

Bríd Smith

34. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if those persons availing of CET childcare will not face any increased costs in the years ahead. [40176/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made in providing the 60,000 child care places that the Government committed to by April 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40177/16]

European Security Strategy

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the joint German-French paper calling for a new European security contract. [39830/16]

Military Neutrality

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are any implications for Ireland's neutrality as a result of recent joint European Union defence plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39829/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are limits placed on the amount local authorities may borrow from the Housing Finance Agency for the purpose of building social housing. [39991/16]