Parliamentary questions

Work Permit Applications

Seán Kyne

310. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if work is on-going on the creation of a visa for professionals in the ICT sector which is necessary in order that the world's top ICT companies can continue to be attracted and retained here. [43439/12]

Social Insurance Payments

Seán Kyne

314. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration can be given to introducing a new PRSI class of payment in Budget 2013 for self-employed persons in view of the fact that such a voluntary or optional contribution class would help provide supports for the self-employed who are currently unable to apply for most of the social welfare benefit-type schemes. [43441/12]

Election Management System

Seán Kyne

433. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he can confirm whether a directive has been issued in relation to reducing the number of polling stations for the forthcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43425/12]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Seán Kyne

483. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting times of persons in the direct provision system as overseen by the Reception and Integration Agency of his Department. [43428/12]

Bank Charges

Seán Kyne

140. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned regarding the impact of banking charges being introduced by State and non-State owned banks, the design of which appears to depend on income levels and monthly lodgement amounts which have a disproportionate affect on those with lower incomes or social welfare recipients and therefore are unfair as those with higher income can avoid the charges. [42071/12]

Irish Language Issues

Seán Kyne

203. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to rolling out free or subsidised courses in Irish, in the form of lifelong, continuing and or adult education, which would encourage citizens to improve their command of, or reconnect with, the Irish language, particularly as such an incentive would help achieve the stated objective of the 20 year strategy for the Irish Language of increasing the number of people who speak Irish on a daily basis from 83,000 to 250,000. [42070/12]

Commonage Framework Plans

Seán Kyne

334. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for a complex (details supplied) in County Galway in terms of restocking and compensation measures in 2013. [41987/12]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Seán Kyne

335. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if appeals processes will be enacted on particular special areas of conservation/natural heritage areas when concerns appear over the criteria used to designate lands; his views on whether such a process would be well received in many communities where concerns exist on the fairness of original designations. [41991/12]

Courts Service Issues

Seán Kyne

337. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has been consulted by the Courts Service in relation to plans for court services in the Connemara Gaeltacht considering the importance of ensuring a continued court service through the medium of An Ghaeilge and also given the acceptance and commitments contained within the twenty year strategy on the Irish language. [42073/12]

Turbary Rights

Seán Kyne

338. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the legal position of his Department regarding cutting domestic turf on National Heritage Areas; if these sites are entirely under the jurisdiction of his Department; the role the EU has in relation to the NHAs in the context of said activity and where relocation to an National Heritage Areas from an Special Area of Conservation bog which is closed would be permitted. [42074/12]

Local Authority Services

Seán Kyne

391. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will report on the progress of the Keeping Communities Safe document, the publication of which local authorities have indicated is necessary as it will inform local fire safety strategies. [41986/12]

Septic Tank Registration Scheme

Seán Kyne

402. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of private residential septic tanks, if any, that were grant funded or aided by his Department in the period 2007 and 2011 in order to comply with Environment Protection Agency guidelines from 2006 and 2009; and his views on the demands from some to provide 100% funding for the same in the future. [42075/12]

Crime Prevention

Seán Kyne

435. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the concerns of persons in rural locations such as Connemara, County Galway, regarding the effectiveness of An Garda Síochána at crime prevention and the upholding of the law and public order in the face of possible closure of rural Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41982/12]

Courts Service Issues

Seán Kyne

436. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that irrespective of the reconfiguration or rearrangement of Court Service facilities that court proceedings through the medium of Irish must continue to be available to residents of Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41984/12]

Garda Divisional Headquarters

Seán Kyne

437. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the time-frame for the development of the new Garda Divisional Headquarters in Galway as announced in the recent stimulus plan. [41992/12]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Seán Kyne

479. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the licensing of salmon farming off the Aran Islands in Galway bay; if his attention has been drawn to the possible threats to wild fish stocks due to possible disease or sea lice emanating from these farms. [41983/12]

Departmental Offices

Seán Kyne

480. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will confirm the plans to relocate the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, AES, veterinary office from Dockgate buildings in County Galway; the timeline for relocation and the new locations under consideration. [41985/12]

Live Exports

Seán Kyne

481. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has engaged in discussions with Egypt and Libya and the Lebanon on the issue of live cattle exports. [41990/12]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Seán Kyne

504. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date regarding the bilateral agreement with Russia on the issue of adoptions. [41988/12]

Tax Code

Seán Kyne

130. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given, in view of the increased challenges a person with a disability faces to obtain employment, to the extension of the revenue job assist tax allowance into a more long term tax allowance which would support persons with a disability in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40631/12]