Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Patrick Costello

315. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the parameters for the criteria that qualify a business as a start up for the purposes of receiving the employment wage subsidy scheme which is currently capped at 37 weeks trading in 2019 for eligibility in 2020 recognising that a business takes at least one year to establish itself such as a business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30497/21]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

331. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the number of claims for a benefit under the Israel-Ireland double taxation agreement in each of the past five years; the number that required further investigation; the number that were rejected; the number that were rejected in particular due to the fact that the company, person or income to be taxed was based in illegally occupied territories to which the treaty does not apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30658/21]

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission

Patrick Costello

435. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if secretarial assistants are currently employed by the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number that have applied for incremental credit; the number of total years of past experience that have been disregarded under the policy of disregarding three years per application; the estimated cost to add the disregarded years to credit for the pay scale both in arrears to the start of the current Oireachtas term; and the increase in the weekly wage bill. [30979/21]

Museum Projects

Patrick Costello

440. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will extend the opening of the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 from 6:30pm for the summer season. [31130/21]

Local Authorities

Patrick Costello

588. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming fourth anniversary of the authorship of the report A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council by a person (details supplied) will be published. [30824/21]

Passport Services

Patrick Costello

658. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make provisions for parents to apply for passports for their children who are unregistered and without a birth certificate deeming them unable to apply for a passport due to the ongoing HSE hacking issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30952/21]

Data Protection

Patrick Costello

141. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if consideration will be given to an independent review of the processes of the Data Protection Commission as called for by an organisation (details supplied). [27843/21]

United Nations

Patrick Costello

128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use Ireland’s position on the United Nations Security Council to ensure that a United Nations database of companies operating in occupied Western Sahara is established similar to that which currently exists for occupied Palestine. [29907/21]

Road Traffic Offences

Patrick Costello

202. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of successful prosecutions of drivers who have struck the Luas in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, including the offence which was prosecuted and the sentences that were handed down in tabular form. [29649/21]

Foreign Policy

Patrick Costello

358. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the US Senate is considering a draft Bill that targets jurisdictions with inadequate enforcement of data protection law (details supplied); and if he will furnish details of any enquires his Department has made to the US Senate or any other relevant body regarding the potential impact this could have on Ireland. [29156/21]

Energy Conservation

Patrick Costello

100. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total annual budget of the SEAI on an annual basis; the number of applicants for various grants; and the average grant award and number of rejected applications for the past five years, in tabular form. [28939/21]

Swimming Pools

Patrick Costello

119. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when children’s swimming lessons will resume in line with public health advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28548/21]

Middle East

Patrick Costello

142. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of the recently announced €1.5 million funding which will be made available to ensure access to education in occupied Palestine in view of the challenges of access to education for Palestinian children, as demonstrated by UNICEF 2018 State of Palestine- Country report on out-of-school children report. [28409/21]

Election Monitoring Missions

Patrick Costello

303. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 18 May 2021, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the OSCE Election Observation Mission to Armenia is headed by an Irish citizen; if, in view of this he will review the decision not to deploy any Irish election observers to these elections especially those observers that are vaccinated against Covid 19; if he will now give active consideration to nominating experience Irish election observers from the current and previous rosters that have experience of elections in Armenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/21]

Election Monitoring Missions

Patrick Costello

304. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to replace the 2018 election observation roster; if any preparation work has been done on this to date; if Department officials have been in formal contact with the Public Appointments Service seeking them to organise a professional recruitment competition; if the existing roster can be increased to take account of observers that no longer wish to travel internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28404/21]

Election Monitoring Missions

Patrick Costello

305. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 18 May 2021, if he will explain the reason that insurance premiums are being paid for election observers when no Irish election observers have been deployed for over a year; if, in view of zero deployments he will seek a rebate of premiums paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28405/21]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

325. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence if he will seek to have the plaque at the monument to the Defence Forces in Merrion Square, Dublin 2 amended to correct the misspelling of the word emanate which appears as eminate. [27857/21]

Visa Applications

Patrick Costello

476. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when the processing of long stay visa applications will be resumed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27472/21]

Education Policy

Patrick Costello

142. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the Programme for Government commitment to promote biodiversity initiatives across primary, post-primary and third-level sectors and ensure that schools, colleges and universities across the country play an active role in providing areas to promote biodiversity. [26952/21]

EU Directives

Patrick Costello

159. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposed directive on artificial intelligence and Digital Services Act would render Ireland the EU’s super enforcer of these new regulations for technology companies based here; his views on whether the current delays in enforcing GDPR decisions by the DPC will undermine the potential for further investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27181/21]

Data Protection

Patrick Costello

160. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the US Senate is considering a draft Bill that targets jurisdictions with inadequate enforcement of data protection law (details supplied); his views on the situation; and if he regards the prospect of EU data export controls as a threat to the digital services sector. [27184/21]

Departmental Properties

Patrick Costello

133. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 5 May 2021, the operational use that the Defence Forces have for this site. [26803/21]

Pension Provisions

Patrick Costello

239. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek an assurance that CIÉ will await the outcome of the High Court application being made by the CIÉ pension trustees before engaging in further discussions in relation to the pension trustees 1951 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25587/21]

Strategic Infrastructure

Patrick Costello

356. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if battery energy storage system developments are fast-tracked for planning purposes given they are treated as strategic infrastructure in the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26087/21]

Election Monitoring Missions

Patrick Costello

425. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the importance of international election observation; if he will list by country since February 2020 the election observation missions that the OSCE and EU sought nominations for from his Department; the number nominated in each case; the 2021 budget for election observation; the amount spent to date; if he will nominate Irish election observers from the current and previous rosters that are vaccinated against Covid-19 to OSCE and EU election observation missions in view of ongoing Covid-19 vaccination programmes; when he plans to recruit new observers to the roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26044/21]

Programme for Government

Patrick Costello

143. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the status of measures her Department has undertaken to date to fulfil the programme for Government commitment that the Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for relationships and sexuality education and social, personal and health education across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships. [25097/21]

Health Services Staff

Patrick Costello

408. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if his Department will subsidise counselling psychologists in training in Ireland in a way similar to clinical psychologists in training are, that is, salary for work experience and fees subsidised in view of the huge benefit this would be to encourage more persons to study this area and alleviating the huge waiting lists for counselling services. [25243/21]

Vaccination Programme

Patrick Costello

143. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel present on UN duty who were offered a Covid-19 vaccination through the UN since December 2020; the number that received it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25053/21]

Vaccination Programme

Patrick Costello

144. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the details of UN arrangements for vaccinations of peacekeepers; if the Defence Forces were part of those arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25054/21]

Vaccination Programme

Patrick Costello

145. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on UN duty who received a Covid- 19 vaccination from the host country from December 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25055/21]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons in care who have had complaints filed against them by the agency or the residential in which they reside; the number of young persons in care who have been charged with criminal damage relating to their placement; and if Tusla has policies in place to assist social workers and social care managers in relation to charging young persons in care that assault staff or damage units. [24762/21]

Human Rights

Patrick Costello

120. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use Ireland’s position on the UN Security Council to ensure a human rights observation mission is added to MINURSO mandate when it is renewed in October 2021. [24788/21]

Departmental Properties

Patrick Costello

122. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the details of property owned by the Chief State Solicitors Office; the current use and date acquired of each in tabular form. [23699/21]

Driver Licences

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will temporarily suspend the rule whereby non-EU driver licence holders must obtain an Irish licence after 12 months of residency here given the fact that with the ongoing restrictions it is in fact not possible for such person's to book driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/21]

Human Rights

Patrick Costello

390. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 28 April 2021, if he will address a series of matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24334/21]

United Nations

Patrick Costello

415. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use Ireland’s position on the United Nations Security Council to ensure a human rights observation mission is added to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara mandate when it is renewed in October 2021. [24700/21]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

442. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the reason children on the ASD spectrum are not provided with a special needs assistant in the early start programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23690/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Patrick Costello

830. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will issue instructions to have a uniform policy nationally in regard to a partner's ability to attend maternity services such as appointments and births under Covid-19 regulations as opposed to the ad hoc situation which currently varies on a hospital by hospital basis. [24283/21]

Passport Applications

Patrick Costello

84. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a commitment will be given to stop the policy of automatically cancelling first-time passport applications from children after six months (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23314/21]

Departmental Properties

Patrick Costello

351. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the use his Department has for a plot of land (details supplied) between the Chapelizod Road and the River Liffey; and if his Department has considered granting the land to Dublin City Council for public use. [22816/21]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

428. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of requests for a child or young person turning 18 years of age to be allowed to stay on in residential care for 2018, 2019 and 2020; and the number of those requests granted. [22658/21]

Protected Disclosures

Patrick Costello

480. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when an independent external report into the penalisation of a person (details supplied) for making a protected disclosure in the Irish Prison Service will be published. [23117/21]

Prison Visiting Committees

Patrick Costello

481. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to review the existing functions, powers, appointment procedures and reporting processes for prison visiting committees. [23158/21]

Programme for Government

Patrick Costello

482. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to establish a penal policy consultative council to advise on penal policy. [23159/21]

Legislative Measures

Patrick Costello

611. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to allow for 0.3% THC specifically for the cultivation of industrial hemp in Ireland in line with other states such as the United States of America and Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23076/21]

Programme for Government

Patrick Costello

693. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work that has been completed by his Department to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to fully explore the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp considering whether these crops have a viable market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23075/21]

Arts Funding

Patrick Costello

61. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status and progress of the ten recommendations in the Life Worth Living report by the arts and culture task force, including recommendation No. 1 to establish a basic income pilot scheme for arts and culture. [21486/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Patrick Costello

105. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the €50 million provided for the arts and culture live entertainment sector in Budget 2021 to survive and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. [21487/21]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

267. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised if the carbon tax was doubled and the 2030 levy target was doubled to €200 per tonne. [21370/21]

Road Traffic Accidents

Patrick Costello

802. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of reported collisions and traffic incidents occurring at or 100 metres before or after Knockmaroon Hill, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21395/21]