Parliamentary questions

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Clare Daly

33. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the growing number of complaints and delays regarding the processing of applications to Caranua; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28182/16]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Clare Daly

103. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in the statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way her Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28230/16]

Prison Education Service

Clare Daly

109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners actively following a course with the Open University at present, in each institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28401/16]

Legal Services Regulation

Clare Daly

110. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the powers she has under the legislation to take action in instances where there are allegations that proper procedures have not been followed by any organisation or body in nominating individuals to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. [28411/16]

Judicial Appointments

Clare Daly

116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the appointment of judges to districts in which they had formerly had a large solicitors practice; and the details of the regulations and legislation pertaining to managing potential conflicts of interest given that in such circumstances a person would be appearing as a judge before parties and defendants that they had earlier represented as a solicitor. [28544/16]

Judicial Investigations

Clare Daly

117. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a number of complaints by solicitors and other legal practitioners against a person (details supplied); and if she will investigate the matter. [28545/16]

Judicial Pay

Clare Daly

118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if travel and subsistence expenses claimed by judges are vouched and audited; and her views on the €780,000 in expenses claimed by judges in the first half of 2016. [28546/16]

Independent Review Mechanism

Clare Daly

123. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in the commencement of the statutory inquiry in relation to a case (details supplied); when it will be convened; and the likely timeframe for completion. [28616/16]

Education Policy

Clare Daly

172. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in its statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way his Department engages with the programme for a partnership Government's commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28232/16]

School Transport Provision

Clare Daly

181. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide transport for young adults attending special services. [28333/16]

School Curriculum

Clare Daly

185. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to expand the ISL programme in secondary schools currently available to those in the junior cycle to encourage an increase in the take-up of the use of Irish Sign Language. [28512/16]

Home Tuition Scheme

Clare Daly

190. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of families with deaf children who are availing of his Department's home tuition scheme; and the steps his Department is currently taking to advertise this scheme to the public. [28547/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Clare Daly

218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason for the discrepancy in the advocacy services here, whereby there are currently only three persons employed by the service here while there are 26 employed in similar services in Northern Ireland, which has a significantly smaller deaf population. [28492/16]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

222. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Question No. 638 of 16 September 2016, if he will exercise his powers under section 222 of the Local Government Act 2001 to request the information sought from the local authority in question. [28096/16]

Local Authority Funding

Clare Daly

236. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the offer of assistance his Department made to Sligo County Council, conditional on the council agreeing to increase the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/16]

Northern Ireland

Clare Daly

317. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the ongoing incarceration of a person (details supplied) in Maghaberry Prison on revocation of licence with no clear reason provided by the authorities; and his views on whether this is a breach of international law. [28312/16]

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Clare Daly

320. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding reports that civil servants from his Department, along with the Irish Aviation Authority, entered into a bilateral agreement with the RAF, the Civil Aviation Authority, the British Ministry for Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to permit the British military to conduct armed operations in Irish sovereign or Irish-controlled airspace in the event of a real time envisaged threat of a terrorist related attack from the skies on either this country or a neighbouring state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27095/16]

Diplomatic Representation

Clare Daly

322. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent health issues of a person (details supplied); if his Department has made a representation to ensure that he, as an Irish citizen imprisoned without due course to international law, is being provided with the appropriate medical care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28490/16]

Public Sector Pensions

Clare Daly

341. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on maximum lump sum payments to retiring public servants in 2016, in view of media commentary to the effect that sums of €1 million have been paid out. [28554/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Clare Daly

386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the policy implemented under the fair deal scheme by which residents in nursing homes are allocated a daily allowance of €6.34; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28193/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Clare Daly

416. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting 13 months for an application to be processed for the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28331/16]

Fish Farming

Clare Daly

483. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department expects to complete an examination of overstocking at fish farms operated by a company (details supplied); and if the examination will include potential damage to the marine environment and to the organic status of the fish produced at the sites. [28064/16]

Aquaculture Licences

Clare Daly

484. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will conduct the proposed review of aquaculture licensing; and if he will suspend all aquaculture licensing pending the outcome of the review. [28065/16]

Departmental Bodies Expenditure

Clare Daly

485. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of public money that has been spent by Bord lascaigh Mhara to date on its proposed licence application for a giant fish farm off Inishturk. [28066/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

536. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has to date exercised his powers under section 29A of the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 to demand that Horse Racing Ireland provides a full account of the way the reappointment of its chief executive officer complies with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. [28503/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

537. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has to date exercised his powers under section 29A of the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 to give a direction to Horse Racing Ireland on its compliance with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies or any other code or policy issued by the Government. [28504/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

538. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his Department had any contact from any member of the board of Horse Racing Ireland prior to 13 July 2016 noting that support for the reappointment of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland was not unanimous within the board. [28505/16]

State Bodies

Clare Daly

539. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify his response to Parliamentary Question No. 686 of 12 July 2016, in which he stated (details supplied), in view of the fact that on the same day the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform stated in Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 12 July 2016 that he had sanctioned the reappointment of the chief executive officer based on the strength of the business case presented to him, which was strongly supported by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. [28506/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

540. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which his Department requested permission from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to extend the contract of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland by a further five years. [28507/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

541. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions between his Department and the Department of Finance regarding the latter's stated position in 2011 that the contract governing the second term of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland should preclude that person from retaining their position when that second term came to an end. [28508/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

542. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify his statement at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 27 September 2016 regarding amendments to the pay and entitlements of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland; if he will clarify specifically the amendment of pay and entitlements which took place and when; if those amendments did not encompass basic pay and pension entitlements; if the chief executive officer's pay up to the date that they finished their second term was €191,000 plus €56,000 in pension entitlements; and the details of all pay and entitlements contained in the chief executive officer's new contract. [28509/16]

Horse Racing Ireland Staff

Clare Daly

543. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department did not insist upon an open competition to fill the role of chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland when the incumbent's second term in the role came to an end. [28510/16]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

546. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds which were homed by the Irish Greyhound Board in 2015; the arrangements which were made for retired racing greyhounds that were not homed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/16]

Greyhound Industry

Clare Daly

547. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds which were euthanised at greyhound tracks here after sustaining racing injures; if the statistics for injuries to greyhounds during racing can be published by the Irish Greyhound Board on a track by track basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28556/16]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

548. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money the Irish Greyhound Board expended on retired greyhounds which were finished racing in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28557/16]

Greyhound Industry

Clare Daly

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the surplus moneys allocated to the greyhound industry in 2015 which was spent on greyhound welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28558/16]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Coursing Club has a homing scheme for retired coursing dogs; the number of dogs the Irish Coursing Club rehomed in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28559/16]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Clare Daly

563. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in its statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way his Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the Departmental and budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28231/16]

Children in Care

Clare Daly

611. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 963 of 27 September 2016, if Tusla will refer children for assessment to centres that are not registered as residential centres with Tusla. [28578/16]

NAMA Investigations

Clare Daly

19. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance his views on the serious allegations and revelations regarding NAMA's activities both North and South; the steps he has taken to address these matters; his plans to freeze all NAMA activity until such time as a full and thorough inquiry into all aspects of NAMA's work has concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/16]

Insurance Costs

Clare Daly

29. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to address spiralling insurance costs and the allegations that price signalling by insurance companies is leading them to increase insurance costs to a point that those costs are threatening the capacity of many small businesses to continue in operation. [27543/16]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Clare Daly

58. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the date her Department requested the Bar Council to appoint nominees to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority; and the date they were given to have the names of the nominees submitted. [27953/16]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Clare Daly

59. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which she referred the matter of the conflict between the evidence given to the O'Higgins inquiry by two senior Garda and a person (details supplied) regarding a meeting that took place between them in Mullingar to GSOC; the expected timeframe of the investigation; and if the report will be published. [27955/16]

Primary Care Centres

Clare Daly

196. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that no new staff are to be allocated to the primary care centre in Balbriggan in view of the fact that his predecessor made a number of promises regarding jobs and health services that would come on stream with the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27830/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

197. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait up to 14 months for an assessment by a psychologist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist when this assessment should be completed within six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/16]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Clare Daly

266. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe and process that will be undertaken for the establishment of a separate unit within the IAA to deal with airport noise; and the way it will operate as the competent authority in relation to EU Regulation No. 598/2014 in the interim. [27919/16]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Clare Daly

267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the arrangements that exist in other EU countries regarding the competent authority designated to deal with EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and the analysis he made of the practice in other jurisdictions, prior to awarding this function to the IAA. [27920/16]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Clare Daly

268. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he proposes to deal with the collaborative working and public consultation arrangements that he has acknowledged have to be applied in implementing EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and the way residents' views will be taken into consideration in the establishment of such arrangements. [27921/16]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Clare Daly

269. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process he intends to undertake in relation to the establishment on an appeal mechanism to independently examine, where required, the application of the competent authority's legal responsibility in adhering to the ICAO balanced approach in implementing EU Regulation No. 598/2014; and if such a body must be in place prior to the commencement of the implementation of the regulation. [27922/16]

Appointments to State Boards

Clare Daly

274. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process undertaken in the appointment of the chief executive of Sport Ireland, from the original ministerial statements that the position would be filled by public competition, to the filling of the position for a year with a commitment that it would be advertised at the end of that period, to the appointment being made on a permanent basis by the board without any competition. [27954/16]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Clare Daly

63. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to strengthen the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's ability to deal with complaints against gardaí, particularly the problems being experienced in it dealing with protected disclosures; the difficulties being experienced in having claims effectively investigated; and the rights of the whistleblowing gardaí protected during the process. [27371/16]

Prisoner Welfare

Clare Daly

64. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the fact that a person (details supplied) is being held in continuous solitary confinement in violation of their human rights and that the advice of medical professionals regarding their custody plan has not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27370/16]

Military Neutrality

Clare Daly

33. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the practical implications for his Department and the Defence Forces of the accelerated practical co-operation between the EU and NATO agreed to in a joint communiqué from EU leaders in July 2016 following an EU leaders summit; and the discussions he has had regarding the role his Department will play in ensuring that such practical co-operation will not compromise Ireland's neutrality. [27097/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Clare Daly

41. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 831 of 16 September 2016, if the Defence Forces were called upon to perform aid to civil power duties for US military aircraft landing at Shannon and en route to or returning from Romania in June 2016; and the total cost to the State of the Defence Forces performing these duties for these aircraft. [27096/16]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Clare Daly

46. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will remove Lariam from the Defence Forces' formulary and cease its use as a first-line anti-malarial by the Defence Forces at least until such time as he has had time to review the report of the malaria chemoprophylaxis working group, both in order to safeguard Irish troops and to protect the State against future litigation. [27094/16]

Irish Prison Service

Clare Daly

110. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 16 September 2016, if, in the last round of recruitment for chief officer 2 - work and training in the Irish Prison Service, every person awarded a mark of at least five out of ten for each competency following assessment of their application forms by the interview board was automatically offered an interview. [26952/16]

Irish Prison Service

Clare Daly

111. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 16 September 2016, if some individuals who scored a mark of at least five out of ten for each competency following assessment of their application forms by the interview board in the last round of recruitment for chief officer 2 - work and training in the Irish Prison Service, were offered an interview for the role only after email correspondence with the Irish Prison Service in which those individuals pointed out that they had not been offered interviews despite having the necessary scores. [26953/16]

Irish Prison Service

Clare Daly

112. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 16 September 2016, if written records are kept of the scores awarded at interview for the chief officer 2 - work and training in the Irish Prison Service, including evidence of the way in which cumulative scores for each competency are arrived at. [26954/16]

Departmental Bodies

Clare Daly

116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the basis upon which, on whose authority and the process by which a person (details supplied) was assigned to work full time for the newly established Adoption Board in 1953; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27005/16]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Clare Daly

132. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in the commencement of the statutory inquiry related to a case (details supplied); and when it will be convened and the likely timeframe for completion. [27452/16]

Prison Discipline

Clare Daly

136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to eliminate the use of solitary confinement in Irish prisons, which has been consistently been criticised by international human rights periodic reviews. [27528/16]

Departmental Properties

Clare Daly

189. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) which will in the near future be leasing office property to his Department at a cost to the State of €9 million per year is availing of a section 110 exemption. [26912/16]

Property Tax Data

Clare Daly

193. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 210 and 226 of 16 September 2016, the number of persons who own properties, respectively, in ranges (details supplied); and the number of multiple property owners in each of the ranges for each of the years 2013 to 2015, inclusive. [26961/16]

Property Tax Data

Clare Daly

194. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 210 and 226 of 16 September 2016, the number of the 50 persons who own 201 or more properties who are natural persons; the number which are companies or investment vehicles; and the number of those companies which fit the definition of vulture fund. [26962/16]

Housing Data

Clare Daly

195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if his Department, the Revenue Commissioners or NAMA collect and collate data on those entities which purchase multiple residential properties from NAMA and which subsequently let those properties to local authority tenants through any of the local authority rental schemes available (details supplied); the number of local authority tenants to which each entity rents units; the cost to the Exchequer per entity; and the number of units as a percentage of the total number of rental units available in any given time period, quarterly, yearly and so on. [26963/16]

Schools Building Projects

Clare Daly

257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if commencement of phase 2 of the construction of a school (details supplied) can be brought forward to ensure that students will not be sitting for exams in an overcrowded school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26781/16]

Labour Court Recommendations

Clare Daly

344. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will investigate his Department's failure to intervene in relation to the fact that the Wexford Local Development Company refused to honour Labour Court recommendation LCR 19755 26/3/2010 on the grounds that it was a private matter between the company and its employees, when it later emerged that the company, which has consistently been funded by his Department, stated that it was a former Minister (details supplied) who advised it not to do so. [27039/16]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Clare Daly

345. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of properties that have been remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme; the number accepted into the scheme awaiting commencement; the number of applications pending, refused acceptance onto the scheme, appeals made and appeals upheld; the number of properties with a DCR of 1 or 1 with progression that have been included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27044/16]

Back to Education Allowance

Clare Daly

368. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reverse the new policy changes to the back to education allowance scheme which were introduced in April 2016, which will reduce any income for students working part time during the academic year and have not been publicised to the local social protection officers or students on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26457/16]

JobPath Implementation

Clare Daly

402. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection further Parliamentary Questions Nos. 743 to 746, inclusive, of 16 September 2016, if the 60 minutes maximum travel time for JobPath participants is the totality of a round trip to attend at JobPath offices or 60 minutes each way. [26945/16]

JobPath Implementation

Clare Daly

403. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection further Parliamentary Questions Nos. 743 to 746, inclusive, of 16 September 2016, the number of on-site inspections of JobPath providers which have taken place since the scheme was established; the nature of the on-site inspection; and if the inspection is a one off or involves repeat visits by inspectors to a provider. [26947/16]

JobPath Implementation

Clare Daly

404. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection further Parliamentary Questions Nos. 743 to 746, inclusive, of 16 September 2016, the safeguards which are in place to prevent private JobPath providers from using valuable data acquired in the course of delivering the scheme, for example, information on persons responsible for recruitment in a given organisation, particularly in view of the fact that one service provider (details supplied) is a private recruitment company with an interest in gaining and using this data in the delivery of its recruitment services to private entities. [26948/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Clare Daly

407. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by his Department for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date on rent supplement payments (details supplied) to landlords being paid rent through one or other of these schemes for, respectively, 50 to 100 units, 100 to 200 units and 200 plus units. [26964/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Clare Daly

414. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure by his Department for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, inclusive, in tabular form of rent supplement payments inclusive of HAP, RAS and all other local authority private rental schemes to private landlords being paid rent through one or other of these schemes for ten or more properties. [26981/16]

Diplomatic Representation

Clare Daly

465. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic efforts in place to secure the release of a person (details supplied). [26467/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Clare Daly

473. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 831 of 16 September 2016, the purpose of those flights listed as originating in and destined for Romania; and if those flights had a connection to the activation of a missile defence station in Romania by the United States in May 2016. [26979/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Clare Daly

474. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to his response to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 16 September 2016 (details supplied), which indicates that the pilots in question are engaged in a military exercise, if he will make a statement in this regard, given that it is forbidden for foreign military aircraft to engage in military exercises while here, as per his Department's own rules. [26980/16]

Office of Public Works Properties

Clare Daly

505. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in regard to the proposed move of his Department to Miesian Plaza, where it will pay approximately €9 million per year to lease space from a private entity, any examination of whether NAMA could supply property at a lower cost to his Department was made prior to this decision being made. [26910/16]

EU Directives

Clare Daly

530. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 171 and 172 of 13 July 2016 (details supplied), if she will name the competent authority in matters of public health involved in making decisions on which bird species should come under a derogation from the birds directive. [27028/16]

EU Directives

Clare Daly

531. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the research which has been conducted by her Department into methods of control used elsewhere in Europe to deal with seagulls in urban settings; and her plans to deal with the issue. [27041/16]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Clare Daly

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the case of a person (details supplied), particularly in view of Government statements regarding its commitment to reduce waiting times for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26475/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

608. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a fully independent hospital wide review of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, counselling at Lourdes hospital, rather than the HSE managed review of an individual case with no start or completion date and no review of any of the other cases, despite the fact that its own limited audit of 2011 cases highlighted over 50% of cases had no documentation of the risks of VBAC being discussed. [26670/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the HSE's apparent widespread failure to counsel on the risks of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, to enable persons to make an informed birthing choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/16]

HSE Correspondence

Clare Daly

660. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a public representative made a written submission (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that, despite a reminder being sent, to date there has been no acknowledgement of or response to the submission; if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that the HSE responds to correspondence promptly and within a reasonable timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26930/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

662. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that in the week of 6 June 2016 a total of four qualified midwives and a student midwife were covering nine delivery rooms, working 13-hour shifts, in the Rotunda Hospital; the steps he has taken to deal with staffing problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26935/16]

Maternity Services

Clare Daly

663. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on how he proposes to deal with problems in our maternity services, with particular reference to the fact that eight maternity units are under investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26936/16]

Hospital Procedures

Clare Daly

680. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and determine if a procedure can be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27009/16]

Hospitals Funding

Clare Daly

681. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse budget cuts to the chronic pain management clinic at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. [27010/16]

Greyhound Industry

Clare Daly

767. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Morris report into doping in the greyhound industry was not published as promised; if he will make it publicly available without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26672/16]

Live Exports

Clare Daly

782. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the first shipment of animals from Ireland to Turkey will take place; the time of the shipment; and the locations from which will they depart. [26623/16]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

809. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 335 of 12 July 2016 and 560 of 16 September 2016, if dogs seized on welfare rather than control grounds become the responsibility of the local authority, the authorised officers, the ISPCA or the welfare group carrying out the seizure. [26898/16]

Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme

Clare Daly

855. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the situation with regard to feed-in tariffs for renewable sources of energy; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the small-scale solar and wind industry here has ground to a halt due to the lack of a feed-in tariff for domestic scale investments; if he will direct the Commission for Energy Regulation to provide for small-scale producers a clear system whereby they will know that they are going to get a return for their investment; if he will ensure that his Department delivers on providing a REFIT rate for the solar energy industry within the next few months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26886/16]

Sports Organisations

Clare Daly

898. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the fact that an association (details supplied) prohibits participants in the sport from having any vote in the affairs of the association or in the election of its governing body in view of the fact that the association has historically been and is currently recognised by Sport Ireland as the sport's national governing body, which recognition, given the exclusion of ordinary participants in the sport from the body, is ultra vires to the terms of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26918/16]

Sports Organisations

Clare Daly

899. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grounds upon which a national governing body which does not allow any democratic participation of members is recognised as a national governing body by Sport Ireland; and the checks in such circumstances performed by his Department or Sport Ireland regarding the way public funds given to such a national governing body are spent. [26919/16]

Sports Funding

Clare Daly

900. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all groups or entities in receipt of public funds from Sport Ireland must fulfil criteria (details supplied); and if not, the reason therefor. [26920/16]

Road Safety

Clare Daly

902. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commission an independent study into the safety of zebra crossings as a potentially efficient and cost-effective measure that could be implemented to assist pedestrians crossing roads, given that some local authorities claim they are unsafe. [26937/16]

Aviation Policy

Clare Daly

903. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the nature of the review he is commissioning into the new runway at Dublin Airport; and the steps he has taken to ensure the daa recognises the enormous losses being experienced by residents in the area and takes appropriate steps to minimise the negative impact and provide effective compensation. [27011/16]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Clare Daly

960. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider the aims of the United Survivors group in regard to the commission of inquiry into the mother and baby homes for an end to the use of the word "home" in reference to mothers and babies' institutions, and to the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry to include illegal adoptions and stolen babies. [27003/16]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Clare Daly

961. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to deliver a State apology and memorial garden to all survivors of mother and baby institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27004/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Clare Daly

963. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs , further to Parliamentary Question No. 1926 of 16 September 2016, if Tusla has agreed to make referrals to the centre in question as noted in documentation lodged with An Bord Pleanála (details supplied) should the development go ahead; the way in which such an agreement to place children between the ages of three and ten in a residential assessment setting for up to 15 weeks fits with Tusla's current policies regarding placements for children under 12 years of age; and her views regarding the appropriateness of holding children as young as three years of age in a privately run centre for up to 15 weeks for assessment.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27201/16]