Parliamentary questions

Medical Card Data

Robert Dowds

572. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will consider putting a person's photograph on medical cards, or requiring that photo identification be shown with the medical card in order to avoid abuse of the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44685/13]

Community Employment Schemes Places

Robert Dowds

172. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection her policy regarding community employment placements focusing on child care; if she has a national policy of consolidating the provision of these placements under a reduced number of dedicated child care sponsors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43536/13]

Community Employment Schemes Places

Robert Dowds

173. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the safeguards that are in place for community employment schemes in circumstances where a scheme's child care places are redistributed to a different sponsor and this renders the original scheme non-viable due to a lack of numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43537/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

350. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that the agricultural and food sector is worth over €24 billion to Ireland's economy and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish agricultural industry and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41969/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

351. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the importance of a clean and viable water supply to Ireland's environment and economy, and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking with regard to the environment and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41970/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

352. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the value of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and in view of the well documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies, health, landscape and ecology seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish tourism industry, Ireland's image as a tourist destination and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41971/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

353. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the highly toxic nature of many of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing or fracking process which has been documented in other countries, and in view of the widely documented evidence of the migration of chemicals into local and national water supplies causing irreversible water contamination, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking for the country's health. [41972/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

356. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the widely documented and detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries on local and national water supplies, health, agriculture and environment including climate change, his views on the potentially catastrophic effects of fracking here. [41973/13]

Climate Change Policy

Robert Dowds

384. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to the recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and its implications for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41890/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Issues

Robert Dowds

394. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the social welfare payments that are made to persons living overseas; and the reasons for making the payment to an overseas resident in the case of each payment. [40969/13]

Human Trafficking

Robert Dowds

502. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce legislation to address human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution. [40970/13]

Road Signage

Robert Dowds

786. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that the road signs across the State refer to Derry City as Derry if he will clarify the policy of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland regarding the name of County Derry and the City of Derry in Northern Ireland when producing Irish Government maps; if he will clarify the policy of the Irish Government more generally on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37350/13]

Tax Compliance

Robert Dowds

68. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if, in cases where some old age pensioners have inadvertently underpaid tax due to a failure of communication between the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners, the normal interest and penalties which arise in such circumstances are payable. [35648/13]

Noise Pollution Issues

Robert Dowds

745. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide clarity about the obligations of local authorities with regard to noise pollution emanating from road traffic which is impacting on the lives of those living in nearby areas. [34338/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Robert Dowds

149. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance with regard to deferral of property tax, the reason the rate of interest stands at 4%, nearly twice the current bank interest rate. [32952/13]

Property Taxation Application

Robert Dowds

150. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance in terms of deferral of property tax, if the same deferral conditions apply when the person involved is availing of the fair deal programme. [32953/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Robert Dowds

151. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if there is any redress for owners who have over-assessed the value of their dwellings. [32955/13]

Property Taxation Application

Robert Dowds

152. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the local property tax, the position regarding the deferral rule where a house is willed to someone who is unable to pay due to unemployment. [32956/13]

Job Initiatives

Robert Dowds

291. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the position with regard to the national roll-out of Intreo offices; if she is satisfied with the progress the Office of Public Works is making on the programme; and if she will provide the general schedule for the roll-out covering 2013 and 2014. [32949/13]

Exceptional Needs Payments

Robert Dowds

294. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances in which an exceptional needs payment may be made and the amount of flexibility which a community welfare officer or other responsible person has in this regard. [32965/13]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Robert Dowds

322. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been a change to the receipts issued by local offices to claimants; and if receipts still display the next date on which the person must attend the local office to sign on. [33374/13]

Motor Tax Collection

Robert Dowds

366. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the use being made of car tax receipts in 2013; and the use which will be made of it in subsequent years. [32954/13]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Eligibility

Robert Dowds

489. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the fair deal scheme, including means testing and the fair deal scheme, and the difference in relation to the fair deal scheme if private or public nursing homes are involved. [32957/13]

Regulation of Sunbed Use

Robert Dowds

531. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his work on the public health (sunbeds) Bill; and when this Bill will be introduced. [33334/13]

Tobacco Smuggling

Robert Dowds

237. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the number of tobacco seizures in each month since January 2011; and the amount of cigarettes and tobacco seized in each month since January 2011. [31811/13]

School Enrolments

Robert Dowds

297. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the planned changes to enrolment policy, if he will ensure that Gaelscoileanna at both primary and secondary level are able to give priority to children who come from households where Irish is in use. [31502/13]

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Robert Dowds

637. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that staff who have worked for the Health Service Executive for at least two years may apply for paid leave of absence for a period of up to three years at a rate of €12,000 per year, and, if this is the case, the reason for same. [31501/13]

VAT Exemptions

Robert Dowds

87. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance in view of the decision of the British Government not to impose VAT on debt management or insolvency services, in line with EU law on VAT, if VAT will be charged on the services of personal insolvency practitioners here; if so, the rate at which such VAT will be charged; if VAT will be charged on persons who, while not being official personal insolvency practitioners, are providing a debt management service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/13]

Personal Insolvency Practitioners

Robert Dowds

195. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects the first personal insolvency practitioners to be formally operating as envisaged under the personal insolvency legislation. [31451/13]

Legislative Programme

Robert Dowds

474. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his progress with promised immigration, residence and protection legislation; the way this legislation is likely to affect people already in the immigration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30673/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Robert Dowds

475. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will give further consideration to the true costs of the direct provision system for asylum seekers, including health care, social welfare and legal costs; and if the direct provision system is still cheaper than providing for asylum seekers in the community when these costs are taken into account. [30674/13]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Robert Dowds

476. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the mental health care provided for asylum seekers and persons seeking leave to remain who are living in direct provision; and if data are collected regarding the number of persons with serious mental health problems in the direct provision system. [30675/13]

Immigration Policy

Robert Dowds

477. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding the issue of asylum seekers and permission to work. [30684/13]

Asylum Applications

Robert Dowds

478. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on leave to remain for asylum seekers who have been in the system for a long time. [30685/13]

Asylum Applications

Robert Dowds

479. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way he is dealing with the backlog of applications for asylum. [30686/13]

Garda Resources

Robert Dowds

45. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding available to An Garda Síochána for white collar crime in view of (details supplied). [28221/13]

Repatriation of Money

Robert Dowds

98. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the amount of money being repatriated from here to Poland; its sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26354/13]

Repatriation of Money

Robert Dowds

99. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the amount of money being repatriated from here to Nigeria; its sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26355/13]

Tobacco Seizures

Robert Dowds

137. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on tobacco seizures in the four Dublin local authority areas for the years 2009 to 2012. [26815/13]

Tax Exemptions

Robert Dowds

143. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide consideration to revising the exemptions and rebates on corporation tax, such as the facility to carry forward losses and to move losses between trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27117/13]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

144. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the rules governing the amount each director of a company may take out of a company's reserves as a lump sum at retirement, without attracting capital gains tax, income tax or universal social charge; and if he will consider amending the legislation which covers same. [27118/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Robert Dowds

146. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if additional staff have been assigned to audit, investigation and compliance tasks in the Revenue Commissioners since the commissioners' comprehensive expenditure review in 2011, which stated that additional staffing in these areas could yield up to €100 million per year in additional income. [27119/13]

Universal Social Charge Application

Robert Dowds

147. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he has given further consideration to increasing the universal social charge levied on earnings of more than €100,000 for employees since this was raised with him last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27120/13]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

151. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to implement the OECD/IMF/World Bank recommendation that OECD countries conduct individual spill-over analysis of their tax policy to ensure that it is not adversely affecting developing countries; and if he will give a reassurance that tax policy here is not being exploited to the detriment of developing countries. [27228/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Robert Dowds

391. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the rules regarding social welfare benefits for persons who are forced to retire aged 65 years; and if persons in this category have to prove that they are seeking work in order to avail of jobseeker's benefit or allowance. [27230/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Robert Dowds

631. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No.182 of 30 May 2013, if he will answer the question posed in relation to local property tax. [27755/13]

EU Conventions

Robert Dowds

647. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence CETS No. 210; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27227/13]

Family Reunification Policy

Robert Dowds

659. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the rules regarding joint spouse/joint parent visas for persons who are resident here on Stamp 4 visas; and if permission for family reunification will be granted in such a case if the person resident here was earning over the family income supplement level for their family size. [27129/13]

Crime Statistics

Robert Dowds

670. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Vietnamese nationals that were charged with the offence of cannabis cultivation under the Misuse of Drugs Act from 2010 and to date in 2013; and if trafficking for forced labour was identified by An Garda Síochána in any of these cases. [27229/13]

Garda Deployment

Robert Dowds

741. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí in Clondalkin Garda station in June 2011; in June 2012; and in June 2013; the number of community gardaí in Ronanstown Garda station in June 2011; in June 2012; and in June 2013; the number of community gardaí in Rathcoole Garda station in June 2011; in June 2012; and in June 2013; the number of community gardaí in Lucan Garda station in June 2011; in June 2012; and in June 2013; the number of community gardaí in Ballyfermot Garda station in June 2011; in June 2012; and in June 2013. [27756/13]