Parliamentary questions

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

51. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice that food products from the illegal colonial settlements of Israel in Palestine must be clearly labelled as products originating in occupied territories to allow consumers to make informed choices when they shop; his plans to ensure that products from illegal Israeli colonial settlements will now be labelled accordingly in order to enter the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50716/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

52. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to new documents released in the media regarding the mass detention of Uighur and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang; if he has raised this issue with his Chinese counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50717/19]

Trade Missions Participation

Seán Crowe

67. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Minister of State with responsibility for trade, employment, business, EU digital Single Market and data protection took part in a recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Bahrain; and if he or his officials briefed the Minister of State on the human rights abuses of the regime in Bahrain and encouraged him to raise such concerns about human rights in Bahrain during his meetings with government representatives there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49468/19]

Trade Missions

Seán Crowe

131. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a report will be provided on the recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain; her plans to deepen trade relations with these countries; and if the Minister of State with responsibility for trade, employment, business, EU digital Single Market and data protection raised human rights issues during meetings with government representatives. [49467/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

39. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ambassador to Colombia has concluded their visit to La Guajira and a region (details supplied) to carry out fact finding work; if he has received a report from the ambassador on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

40. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his officials have recently contacted the ESB regarding its continued purchasing of coal from a mine (details supplied); his plans in relation to a national plan for business and human rights; and his views on reported human rights abuses and environmental degradation in the region due to the mine and the importation of coal from same to here. [46950/19]

Good Friday Agreement

Seán Crowe

41. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met his UK counterpart since the ruling in the case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether the ruling shows that the UK Government is failing to honour the Good Friday Agreement; and the steps he will take to ensure the UK Government abides by and implements each of the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements. [46440/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

52. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to attacks by Turkey on civilians in northern Syria (details supplied); and if his Department is providing humanitarian assistance in the area. [46429/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

55. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to increased attacks on indigenous communities in Colombia, particularly in the province of Cauca; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that on 29 October 2019 five members of the Nasa Tacueyó indigenous community were killed, including a person (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that before the massacre the United Nations reported that 52 indigenous community members had been murdered in north Cauca to date in 2019; and if he has raised the issue with his Colombian counterpart. [46428/19]

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

63. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to increased attacks on indigenous communities and environmental defenders in Brazil; if his attention has been further drawn to the murder of a person (details supplied) which is part of a campaign of escalating violence against Amazon forest protectors; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that 135 indigenous persons were murdered in 2018, an increase of almost 23% from 2017; and if he will raise the issue with his Brazilian counterpart. [46431/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

66. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the jailing of Catalan political prisoners and the policing response to protests in Catalonia with his Spanish counterpart; his views on whether the way forward is through dialogue and not legal repression; and his further views on whether Ireland can play a mediation role in this regard. [46430/19]

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

75. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Israeli authorities approved plans for 2,342 housing units in illegal Israeli colonial settlements and a new tunnel road in Palestine in October 2019 (details supplied); if he has raised the issue with his Israeli counterpart; and his plans to respond to the alleged continued violations of international law and increased illegal colonial settlement building by Israel. [46432/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent large public protests in Chile and opposition to the current Government and its alleged dire handling of the economy, which has led to rampant inequality; his views on the fact the Chilean Government declared a state of emergency and deployed the army; if his attention has been further drawn to the scenes of police and army brutality, which has led to more than 1,000 Chileans being injured and more than 100 partially blinded after being shot in the eye; and his views on these alleged human rights violations against protesters. [45163/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

115. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will take a leadership role against the human rights violations in Bahrain in the United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly in view of the numerous statements by him that Bahrain is one of Ireland’s priorities and his own statements that he is following the issue closely and is very concerned; and if he will work to ensure a joint statement on the human rights situation in Bahrain is tabled at the next meeting of the council in March 2020. [45164/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland Staff

Seán Crowe

207. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of new personnel employed by Inland Fisheries Ireland, both temporary and permanent, in 2018 and to date in 2019; and the job titles of each. [43877/19]

Road Network

Seán Crowe

221. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if officials from his Department will examine the bridge that was built in Athy, County Kildare, on the Barrow that is impossible to cross in a wheelchair (details supplied); and if he will examine fixing the issue. [43876/19]

Insurance Data

Seán Crowe

348. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount each county and city council paid out in insurance claims in each of the years 2016 to 2018. [43874/19]

Insurance Data

Seán Crowe

349. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of active insurance claim cases each county and city council is currently involved in. [43875/19]

Religious Persecution

Seán Crowe

121. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to statements from the UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Daniel Kravetz, on the situation of human rights in Eritrea; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that members of Christian denominations have recently been targeted for harassment by the authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Seán Crowe

122. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the imprisonment of nine Catalan political and civil society leaders for between 9 and 13 years by the Spanish Supreme Court in Madrid; if he has raised the case with his Spanish counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42985/19]

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

127. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Israeli Minister of the Interior has stated that they are taking action to force a person (details supplied) out of Israel; if he has raised the case with his Israeli counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43031/19]

Colombian Peace Process

Seán Crowe

128. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent attacks in Colombia (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43032/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Seán Crowe

203. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vehicles Inland Fisheries Ireland purchased in 2018 and to date in 2019; the type of vehicles purchased; the cost of each vehicle; and the cost of installing IFI logos on the new vehicles. [42421/19]

Syrian Conflict

Seán Crowe

113. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a planned Turkish invasion of northern Syria; his views on whether such an invasion by the Turkish military poses a threat to the Kurdish community and minority ethnic and religious groups in the region; his further views on whether such an invasion will also hamper the fight against Daesh-ISIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41742/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong and the escalating tensions and violence; if he has discussed the situation with his Chinese counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41743/19]

EU Issues

Seán Crowe

115. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the questioning of the designate EU high representative and vice-president for foreign affairs and security policy Mr. Josep Borrell by the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament; his views on his comments on the need to reinforce the military capacity of the EU and his desire to conduct overseas military missions by majority and to redivert the €10.5 billion European peace facility to pay for EU battlegroups to go into action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41744/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

116. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Saudi-led coalition has illegally stopped all commercial ships, including those carrying food and fuel, from entering the Yemeni port of Alhodeidah (details supplied); and if he will raise this urgent issue with his Saudi counterpart. [41745/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

117. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether lack of compliance by Ireland with the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities due to the fact that a number of sections of the Mental Health Act 2001 do not meet the standards of either convention is damaging the international reputation of Ireland; his further views on whether this lack of compliance hinders Ireland's ability to speak with authority on respect for human rights and the European Convention on Human Rights; his further views on whether it is damaging to the campaign for election to the UN Security Council in 2020; and the steps he is taking to ensure Ireland is in compliance with international obligations. [41746/19]

Regional Enterprise Development Fund

Seán Crowe

116. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the Athy enterprise hub will be completed; and the funding provided towards the construction of this hub. [40284/19]

Motor Insurance

Seán Crowe

289. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with the EU Commission regarding agreeing, under article 8(2) of the motor insurance directive, a mechanism to avoid the need for green cards for cross-Border drivers in view of Brexit; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40285/19]

Light Rail Projects

Seán Crowe

303. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a feasibility study on extending the proposed MetroLink to Firhouse, Dublin 24, will be authorised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40280/19]

Bus Services

Seán Crowe

304. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents of south west County Dublin that BusConnects by itself will not provide adequate public transport capacity for the area; his plans to improve public transport in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40281/19]

Sports Capital Programme

Seán Crowe

305. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a special stream of funding for sports clubs that want to install disabled access to their facilities. [40282/19]

Road Projects Status

Seán Crowe

306. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Athy southern distributor road construction; the amount spent on the road to date; if the construction of the road will be funded until its completion; and when it is due to be completed. [40283/19]

Departmental Bodies Reports

Seán Crowe

58. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the minutes of the first working meeting of the business and human rights implementation group that took place on 3 April 2019 will be published on the website of his Department in view of the fact that the minutes of the inaugural meeting of the group in January 2019 are available on the website. [39130/19]

Energy Data

Seán Crowe

157. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of gas the Corrib gas field has produced each month in 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39145/19]

Energy Data

Seán Crowe

158. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of the State’s energy supply currently provided by gas; and the percentage of this gas which is imported from abroad. [39146/19]

Ministerial Meetings

Seán Crowe

51. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a report will be provided on his meeting with the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on 17 September 2019; if he offered further support from Ireland to the Colombian peace process; if concerns were raised regarding the increase in attacks and assassination of social and political leaders in Colombia; if he shared his concern that the attacks and assassinations are happening with impunity and undermining the peace process; and if he raised concerns with the minister regarding human rights abuses and environmental degradation at the Cerrejón coal mine, which provides a significant amount of coal for Moneypoint power station, County Clare. [38953/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Seán Crowe

2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to stop the exodus of personnel from the Defence Forces; if 70 personnel left the Defence Forces in July 2019, including seven officers and 16 trainees; his views on whether 2019 is likely to be a record year for personnel leaving the Defence Forces; his further views on whether recruitment and retention efforts are clearly not working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38535/19]

Trade Union Membership

Seán Crowe

4. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has formally applied to affiliate to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; if he has met the organisation to discuss this issue; if he has met the ICTU to discuss the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38536/19]

Overseas Missions

Seán Crowe

7. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the deployment of the Army Ranger Wing to Mali; the work undertaken to date; and when the mission will come to an end. [38458/19]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Seán Crowe

10. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Defence Forces increased spending on the anti-malaria drug, Lariam, by 50% in 2018, despite the fact that more than 85 soldiers are taking legal action against the Defence Forces over the devastating mental health side effects they claim they have suffered as a result of taking Lariam while serving abroad; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a motion was passed in Dáil Éireann on 28 June 2017 calling for an end to the use of Lariam by the Defence Forces; the steps he is taking to end the use of Lariam by the Defence Forces. [38460/19]

Defence Forces Strength

Seán Crowe

12. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the current strength of the Defences Forces is 8,724; his views on the fact that this is below the minimum strength of 9,500 that it is supposed to have (details supplied); his further views on the contention that this is a retention and recruitment crisis that is undermining the very viability of the Defence Forces; and the measures he is taking to tackle same. [38462/19]

Naval Service Staff

Seán Crowe

24. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to tackle the retention and recruitment crisis in the Naval Service in view of issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38461/19]

Brexit Preparations

Seán Crowe

174. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if all oil reserves held in Britain have now been relocated to Ireland as part of no-deal Brexit contingency plans by his Department. [37781/19]

Brexit Issues

Seán Crowe

38. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of his discussions with the European Commission in the event of a no-deal Brexit; if he has discussed the introduction of a border in Ireland with the European Commission; and the status of his contingency plans in the event of a no-deal Brexit. [37659/19]

Departmental Staff Safety

Seán Crowe

49. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is seeking to hire a private security company to provide bodyguard services, armoured transportation, vehicle tracking and route planning for diplomatic staff; if so, the reason he is seeking private security assistance and not using An Garda Síochána or personnel from the Defence Forces for same; the value of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37236/19]

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

51. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent attacks by Israel in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq; his views on the attacks and the increased tension on the border with Israel and Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37237/19]

Climate Change Policy

Seán Crowe

54. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the unprecedented forest fires in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon rainforest (details supplied); and the steps he is taking to ensure that the Amazon, the indigenous population that live there and its unique ecosystem are protected. [37239/19]

EU Migration Crisis

Seán Crowe

56. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the refusal of Italy and Malta to allow ships carrying asylum seekers to dock at their ports (details supplied); and the steps he is taking in response to this humanitarian crisis. [37238/19]