Parliamentary questions

European Council Meetings

Brendan Howlin

78. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the issues discussed at the European Council in December 2016. [1990/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

79. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has sought a meeting with the DUP. [1992/17]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if there has been a skills needs assessment in his Department; and if any direct hires have occurred in the past year. [39820/16]

Financial Services Sector

Brendan Howlin

35. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his Department's current role in engaging with the financial services industry here. [38620/16]

EU Funding

Brendan Howlin

92. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if agreements have been reached on the European Fund for Strategic Investments. [1990/17]

Labour Employer Economic Forum

Brendan Howlin

720. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 5 October 2016; and the details of further meetings which he anticipates chairing. [40017/16]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Brendan Howlin

1463. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the introduction of an outright ban on the sale and distribution of smoky coal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41368/16]

Family Income Supplement Applications

Brendan Howlin

233. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for family income supplement (FIS) in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason a payment of one parent family payment has been taken into account in the assessment of means in respect of this family, despite the fact that the one parent family payment has ceased; if a review of FIS will be facilitated in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/16]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has asked for items to be included for discussion at the next European Council meeting or the informal meeting of the 27 leaders to be held alongside it on Brexit. [38619/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his three-day visit to Silicon Valley, Palo Alto and New York and the issues raised. [38661/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

16. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the European Commission finding against a company (details supplied) with any companies or public officials during his recent visit to the United States of America. [40021/16]

EU Meetings

Brendan Howlin

17. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Prime Minister of Malta on 28 November 2016; and if the issue of a company (details supplied) was raised. [38663/16]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

5. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will reaffirm comments attributed in the media to him regarding the potential for a united Ireland following the negotiations on the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; and the specific plans he has in place for such a measure. [38617/16]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to set out how his Department will work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Brexit; and the process for dealing with the overlap of functions on relations with EU member states between the two Departments. [39818/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Howlin

504. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons prioritised as urgent on the outpatient list for urology services at University Hospital Waterford have been informed that they can expect to be seen within four years (details supplied); his views on whether this waiting time is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39999/16]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has held discussions on Brexit with the governments of Gibraltar and the Isle of Man; and, if not, his plans to do so. [38621/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

5. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet committees and the number of meetings held since September 2016. [37412/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

12. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Pope and the issues discussed. [38662/16]

Ministerial Advisers

Brendan Howlin

76. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has made his Government advisors and programme managers available to Opposition Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. [38664/16]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Brendan Howlin

285. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in preparing for the recent EU Council at which trade deals were discussed, she sought legal advice as to whether provisions of CETA would require a referendum here. [34742/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his engagements with the European Commission negotiating team on Brexit and Mr. Michel Barnier. [37413/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for a bilateral meeting with the Scottish First Minister regarding Brexit. [37411/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Howlin

71. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned school building project for a school (details supplied), construction of which was scheduled to commence in 2014 or 2015, in addition to the details of scale and nature of that project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37955/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Howlin

73. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned school building project for a school (details supplied), construction of which was scheduled to commence in 2014 or 2015, along with details of the scale and nature of that project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38069/16]

National Risk Assessment

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has updated the national risk assessment following the receipt of submissions to his public request. [36043/16]

Ministerial Advisers

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to appoint new special advisers. [36045/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

66. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the last meeting of the Cabinet committee on housing took place; and the future plans for meetings. [37414/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

67. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his planned travel schedule to meet international leaders up to the end of 2016. [37416/16]

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme

Brendan Howlin

305. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Question No. 254 of 22 November 2016, the basis on which he supported the payment of statutory redundancy, by approving amendment of the LCDP financial guidelines, to employees made redundant as a result of reorganising and replacing the LCDP scheme in 2015, but has not supported the making of ex gratia payments to former employees where the companies had no funds to make such payments; if money was provided in the 2016 or the 2015 Vote for his Department to allow for such ex gratia payments; if an amendment of the law would be required for the purpose; if he is in compliance with a Labour Court recommendation (details supplied) to enter into meaningful discussions with workers and their union representatives regarding the issue; if he is in compliance with any agreement or understanding on the matter between the parties to the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37758/16]

Commemorative Events

Brendan Howlin

418. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans that have been put in place to commemorate the centenary of the death of John Redmond in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36936/16]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to engage in bilateral meetings with EU leaders to discuss the impact of Brexit here. [36042/16]

European Security Strategy

Brendan Howlin

34. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the EU security agenda; and the position he will take when it is discussed at the next EU Council meeting. [36044/16]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Howlin

44. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to secure comprehensive immigration reform for undocumented Irish in the United States of America. [35220/16]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Howlin

58. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position on the ownership of Lough Foyle due to the ongoing claim of the British Crown Estate; and if this has been raised recently with the British Government. [36325/16]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Howlin

59. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has considered the long outstanding questions concerning territorial ownership and demarcation of the Border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. [36326/16]

Industrial Relations

Brendan Howlin

135. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with his officials on the re-establishment of an employer labour conference. [33721/16]

Social Partnership Meetings

Brendan Howlin

136. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to re-establish social partnership or a renewed form of social dialogue. [34745/16]

Ministerial Meetings

Brendan Howlin

137. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions he has personally held with the leadership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the issues raised. [36328/16]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will consider providing a weekly update to Dáil Éireann on progress on planning, policy and Ireland's position on Brexit, whether oral or written. [34744/16]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the North South Ministerial Council on 18 November 2016; and the issues raised and any decisions made. [36327/16]

US Presidential Election

Brendan Howlin

18. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his telephone call with President-elect Donald Trump. [35219/16]

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Brendan Howlin

193. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an appeal to the primary staffing appeals board by a school (details supplied) was deemed unsuccessful; if he will give consideration to the allocation of a second teacher to this school in view of projected growth in enrolment over the coming years; when he will publish the staffing schedule for primary schools for the 2017-18 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35749/16]

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme

Brendan Howlin

254. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the arrangements made for ex gratia or other payments to workers made redundant in the process relating to the termination in 2015 of the local and community development programme and its replacement by the social inclusion and community activation programme; the number of workers included in the payment scheme; the body by which payments were made; the authority used to make payments; the funds from which payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35937/16]

Disability Allowance Payments

Brendan Howlin

290. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection when arrears of disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36073/16]

Animal Welfare

Brendan Howlin

501. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to effect a ban on the use of animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35921/16]

Departmental Correspondence

Brendan Howlin

138. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be provided with information requested from his Department some months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35575/16]

National Economic and Social Council

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when he will appoint a new National Economic and Social Council. [33719/16]

National Economic and Social Council

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to provide instructions to the National Economic and Social Council; and the detail of the subjects. [33720/16]

Seanad Reform

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for reform of Seanad Éireann; and his further plans to ensure proposals are advanced before the next general election. [34743/16]

Constitutional Convention Recommendations

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for the recommended referenda arising from the Constitutional Convention. [34746/16]