Parliamentary questions

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

61. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a lawsuit (details supplied) in Colombia has been filed by two communities in La Guajira, four national NGOs and three members of the National Congress of Colombia; if the case is being tracked by his Department in view of its connection in Ireland; and if the ESB has been briefed by his Department on the case in view of the fact it buys significant amounts of coal from the mine and the commitments of his Department regarding the National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020. [37240/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

95. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that over 600 political prisoners in Bahrain have undertaken a hunger strike to protest against the degrading and inhumane prison conditions since 17 August 2019 (details supplied); and if the issue will be raised as a matter of urgency with his counterpart in Bahrain. [37280/19]

Public Services Card

Seán Crowe

96. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received a briefing regarding findings of the Data Protection Commission relating to the use of the public services card in view of the fact that the Commission found there was no legal basis for Departments, except for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, to insist persons must obtain a card to access a public service; if a review has been conducted into the use of the card by his Department; if data has been deleted by his Department collected from persons using the card; and if the Passport Office is not requesting applicants to use the card to apply for passports. [37281/19]

Colombian Peace Process

Seán Crowe

97. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent negative developments regarding the peace process in Colombia in that the peace process is under strain and there is an increased risk of renewed violence; the new measures he will take to support the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37282/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

98. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to increased military attacks in Yemen (details supplied); and if he raised the deep concerns of Ireland with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. [37283/19]

Middle East Issues

Seán Crowe

23. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the death in solitary confinement of a person (details supplied) following a number of in-depth interrogations in Israeli holding centres; if he has contacted his Israeli counterpart regarding this death in custody to request an explanation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34683/19]

Ebola Virus Outbreak

Seán Crowe

24. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role and supports Ireland will provide in response to the latest Ebola crisis in view of the recent declaration regarding the outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [34722/19]

Syrian Conflict

Seán Crowe

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to Irish persons aside from a person (details supplied) being held following the conflict in Syria and Iraq. [34723/19]

UN Resolutions

Seán Crowe

39. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he will develop a position on the UN treaty in the context of the publication of a revised legally binding instrument to regulate in international law the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, that is, the UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights; and if Ireland will attend and engage constructively in the fifth session to negotiate the Treaty in order to stop corporate human rights violations. [36082/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

40. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to increased threats and attacks against human rights defenders and the high levels of violence in Chocó, Colombia (details supplied); and if he will raise the lack of protection and intensity in the threats with his Colombian counterpart. [36083/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

41. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Turkish Government has removed three democratically elected Kurdish mayors from office and Turkish authorities arrested more than 400 political activists in August 2019 as part of a deepening crackdown on Kurdish political parties (details supplied); his views on this development and the worsening human rights and democratic situation in Turkey; and if he will raise the issue with his Turkish counterpart. [36084/19]

Brexit Preparations

Seán Crowe

709. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the fact that InterTradeIreland has found that most businesses are choosing to disregard the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement (details supplied); and the steps she is taking to help such traders prepare for and deal with a no-deal crash out Brexit. [36085/19]

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Seán Crowe

815. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issues facing persons with thalidomide-related injuries, both those acknowledged by the State and those who remained unacknowledged, in view of the fact they have sustained significant adverse injury consequences. [34808/19]

Naval Service Vessels

Seán Crowe

43. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason for the decision to send the LÉ Eithne and LÉ Orla to port; and the impact personnel shortages within the Naval Service had on the decision. [31737/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Seán Crowe

537. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the school places available in primary and secondary schools in the Dublin area that have units and places open to children on the autism spectrum; the number of spaces needed to fulfil demand; his plans to address the shortfall; and the advice for parents that are seeking a space for their child or children in the locality. [33288/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Seán Crowe

538. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the school places available in primary and secondary schools in south-western areas of Dublin that have units and places open to children on the autism spectrum; the number of spaces needed to fulfil demand; his plans to address the shortfall; and the advice for parents that are seeking a space for their child or children in the locality. [33289/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Seán Crowe

1114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decision to grant Spinraza to 25 persons under 18 years of age while 18 other adults are denied access to the drug. [31736/19]

Rehabilitative Training Allowance

Seán Crowe

1461. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason for the proposal to end the rehabilitation training allowance for new entrants with an impairment from September 2019. [33059/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Seán Crowe

1462. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the staff shortages in personnel awaiting to be filled in view of the fact that there is an almost 60% shortage in child and adolescent mental health services in the south-west area of County Dublin; the impact this is having on waiting lists; the waiting times to access services; and the measures being introduced to recruit new personnel. [33060/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Seán Crowe

1463. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for a child seeking supports in a catchment area in view of the growing waiting list for children with profound speech and language difficulties in the CHO 7 area; the key staff posts or personnel required to fill vacant positions; and the measures being applied to deal with the lengthening waiting times. [33061/19]

Legislative Measures

Seán Crowe

1593. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce new legislation that will address the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance particularly for drivers that have a physical impairment in view of the commitment given when the original scheme was scrapped. [33464/19]

Commemorative Events

Seán Crowe

3032. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to have the remains of persons (details supplied) exhumed and re-interred in Glasnevin Cemetery. [33287/19]

Foreign Policy

Seán Crowe

118. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 18 June 2019, if he has met with the ESB to discuss issues regarding a mine (details supplied). [30652/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

119. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of his Department’s work on the national action plan on business and human rights; the achievements to date; and the priorities for the rest of 2019. [30653/19]

State Pensions Reform

Seán Crowe

898. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons negatively impacted by the changes in the criteria contributions for the State (contributory) pension. [30654/19]

United Nations

Seán Crowe

164. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions regarding the murder of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27668/19]

Foreign Policy

Seán Crowe

61. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent protests in Hong Kong against an extradition Bill (details supplied) that would allow the authorities in Hong Kong to extradite persons to mainland China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25923/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Seán Crowe

177. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact Inland Fisheries Ireland is refusing to communicate with an association (details supplied) and is refusing to allow members of the association attend meetings of the fish farms working group and that no IFI officers attended the AGM of the association in February 2019 for the first time in many years; and if he has discussed the issue with IFI and the association. [25925/19]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Seán Crowe

178. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an association (details supplied) has deep concerns over the increased costs in purchasing trout from Inland Fisheries Ireland facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25926/19]

Colombian Peace Process

Seán Crowe

35. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on increased attacks and the killing of community and political activists in Colombia; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since 2016 more than 500 political and community activists have been assassinated and include Afro-Colombian activists, indigenous leaders, human rights defenders and former FARC guerrillas among others; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that these attacks are damaging the peace process in Colombia; and if he has discussed the increased attacks on community and political activists with his Colombian counterpart. [25142/19]

Israeli Settlements

Seán Crowe

42. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to an advertisement in this regard; his views on the fact that the Israeli authorities are dismantling EU humanitarian aid projects for Palestinians, ignoring EU calls to put them back and seeking to make a profit by selling the EU-funded structures at auction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25100/19]

Northern Ireland

Seán Crowe

43. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that thousands of persons marched in a rally (details supplied) in respect of certain mechanisms; and the steps he is taking to ensure that the British Government ceases stalling and delaying the legislation to give effect to these mechanisms. [25103/19]

EU Migration Crisis

Seán Crowe

66. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the UN Refugee Agency has indicated that the Mediterranean Sea will soon be a sea of blood due to a lack of NGO rescue ships and the conflict in Libya hastening departures at an alarming rate (details supplied); and if he will urgently speak to his European counterparts to review and reverse the policies of the EU before thousands more drown in the Mediterranean. [25102/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

67. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent events (details supplied) in Sudan; his views on violent attacks on peaceful protesters and reports of rape and sexual assaults; and if he has raised condemnation of these killings and attacks with the Sudanese Government. [25099/19]

UN Committees

Seán Crowe

72. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a recent report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that called for the immediate release of persons (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the UN report is a clear condemnation of a breach of fundamental human rights by Spain; and if he will raise the issue with his Spanish counterpart and urge the Spanish Government to abide by its conclusions and immediately free these political prisoners. [25101/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

122. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the increase in serious security incidents against members of an organisation (details supplied); his views on the situation; if he will request information on actions that the Government of Guatemala plans to take to guarantee the life and safety of the persons threatened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23238/19]

Special Educational Needs Data

Seán Crowe

82. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school places for students with autism in both primary and secondary schools in Dublin by location; and the steps he is taking to address the shortage of school places for students with autism in Dublin. [22952/19]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Seán Crowe

107. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the building of a new HSE nursing home (details supplied) in Dublin 24 has caused significant issues for residents living in an area; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the construction of the nursing home is ongoing and the lights in the facility are being left on all night each night; the reason for same; and the amount the HSE is spending each week on electricity for the building. [22951/19]

Overseas Development Aid

Seán Crowe

122. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if funding will be maintained to the United Nations Population Fund in 2020 at current levels; if funding to the fund will increase between 2020 and 2030 in addition to overall overseas development assistance budget increases; if funding will continue to be provided to the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme to eliminate female genital mutilation; and his plans for multi-year funding plans for UNFPA thematic funds rather than sporadic funding commitments. [21637/19]

Overseas Development Aid

Seán Crowe

123. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will prioritise sexual and reproductive health in bilateral overseas development assistance to countries negatively affected by the expansion of the global gag rule of the United States of America, which is having a devastating effect on funding to vital sexual and reproductive health programmes around the world. [21638/19]

Overseas Development Aid

Seán Crowe

124. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will attend the high-level conference to advance the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development, ICPD, programme of action that will take place in Nairobi from 12 to 14 November 2019; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the ICPD which took place in Cairo in 1994; his views on whether Ireland needs to play an important role in ensuring that the ICPD programme of action is urgently implemented and sexual and reproductive health rights are realised across the globe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21639/19]

Consular Services Data

Seán Crowe

130. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of cases the consular division dealt with in each of the years from 2013 to 2018 regarding the death of an Irish citizen abroad, particularly citizens who were resident here and were, therefore, abroad for holidays or work reasons. [21892/19]

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Seán Crowe

131. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is still a commitment to reach the target of spending 0.7% of gross national income on overseas development assistance; when he expects to achieve this target; the increase in overseas development aid spending it will require; and the way in which it is expected to reach this target in the coming years. [21963/19]

Road Projects

Seán Crowe

573. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding is being provided to allow for the completion of the Athy southern distributor road; and if the funding will be affected by the high cost overruns of the national broadband plan. [21556/19]

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

44. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 8 May 2019, if he will request the United Arab Emirates authorities to ensure conditions are improved for the person. [21276/19]

Passport Data

Seán Crowe

77. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued to persons over 65 years of age in each of the years 2012 to 2018; and the estimated cost per year if free passports were reintroduced for persons over 65 years of age. [18491/19]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

78. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will work with other countries to table a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn continued and worsening human rights violations in the Kingdom of Bahrain especially against political prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18527/19]

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

85. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he has raised the issue with his Emirati counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18753/19]

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

90. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he has raised the case with his Israeli counterpart. [19112/19]

Passport Applications Administration

Seán Crowe

96. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to challenges Irish citizens face in securing passports in insecure environments (details supplied); and if the policy regarding same will be reviewed. [19686/19]