Parliamentary questions

Planning Issues

Anne Ferris

233. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given section 5.2 of the planning guidelines for local authorities, which he issued in June 2013, obligating planning authorities to seek to promote active and healthier lifestyles by ensuring that the exposure of children to the promotion of foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar is reduced through careful consideration of the appropriateness and location of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools and parks, if the most transparent and democratic method for local authorities to achieve this objective is through amending county development plans to incorporate so-called no-fry zones around schools and parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1686/16]

Legislative Process

Anne Ferris

529. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the safeguards that exist within his Department to ensure that no bias, either subjective or objective, is allowed to taint decisions around legislative drafting and prioritisation, including for example, procedures to ensure that no person who is profoundly adverse to the idea of providing identifying information to adopted persons is able to influence the ongoing and unacceptable delay in bringing the adoption information and tracing Bill to final stages, to the point that this legislation which is so important for so many persons is now at grave risk of not being enacted; the steps he is taking to ensure that the legislation will be brought to Dáil Éireann before the election is announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46891/15]

Middle East Issues

Anne Ferris

519. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the Israeli ambassador to Ireland the issue of safety for Irish volunteers working in the West Bank, given the increasing reports of settler intimidation and threats towards international volunteers and human rights observers, for example, volunteers working with the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme, some of whom are Irish and were praised in recent weeks at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade; the steps he will take to ensure the safety of such humanitarian volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45854/15]

Customs and Excise Controls

Anne Ferris

65. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the status of customs officials conducting spot-checks on the contents of aeroplanes landing at Irish airports for refuelling purposes to ensure they are not carrying goods or munitions that make the landing contrary to Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45482/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Anne Ferris

105. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of An Garda Síochána conducting spot-checks on the contents of planes landing at Irish airports for refuelling purposes to ensure that they are not carrying goods or munitions that make the landing contrary to Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45480/15]

Human Rights

Anne Ferris

136. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will recommend to the Government to invite the European External Action Service to oversee the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied) and any Egyptian trial that may happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45541/15]

Human Rights

Anne Ferris

137. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will request the Egyptian authorities to allow Irish family members of a person (details supplied) to accompany Irish Embassy officials on their visits to the Egyptian prison where this Irish citizen is detained as a similar arrangement was facilitated for the family members of an Australian journalist detained under similar long-term circumstances and subsequently returned to Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/15]

Human Rights

Anne Ferris

138. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that no trial process for an Irish citizen (details supplied) has actually commenced in Egypt and, in that respect, any action taken by the Irish Government now may not be viewed as an interference in a foreign judicial process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45543/15]

Human Rights

Anne Ferris

139. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has examined all options for seeking the extradition of a person (details supplied) to stand trial here, given the extraordinary long period of pre-trial detention already sanctioned by the Egyptian authorities; if he has already formally made a request under rule 140 of the Egyptian presidential code for the deportation of this Irish citizen to stand trial here; if he has issued frequent reminders to the Egyptian Government regarding the urgent need for a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45544/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Anne Ferris

175. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of airport security services conducting spot-checks on the contents of planes landing at Irish airports for refuelling purposes to ensure that they are not carrying goods or munitions that make the landing contrary to Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/15]

Adoption Legislation

Anne Ferris

357. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 341 of 8 December 2015, if he will ensure that the adoption information and tracing bill is brought before Dáil Éireann before the end of this Government, as he did not reply to that aspect of the parliamentary question; his views on the unacceptable nature of the delay that this legislation has encountered within his Department; if he will initiate an inquiry into the matter to rule out the possibility of any administrative bias against adopted persons within the process, given the extraordinarily slow rate of progress since this Bill was first proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45087/15]

Legislative Programme

Anne Ferris

341. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the delay in progressing the adoption (information and tracing) Bill, if he is aware of the effect this delay is having on tens of thousands of persons awaiting personal information and connection with natural family members, if he will ensure that this Bill is enacted during the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43894/15]

Marine Plan Implementation

Anne Ferris

264. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the marine spatial plan; if it will include areas deemed favourable for the location of offshore wind farms; if designations will be preceded by visual impact studies from the shore; if in making such designations the Marine Institute will take on board the tourism value of views off areas such as Bray Head and Greystones in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43339/15]

Human Rights

Anne Ferris

484. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) who is imprisoned in Egypt in a manner contrary to the Irish Constitution; if he considers the ongoing and prolonged detention without trial of an Irish person to be acceptable to him as Minister and to the Government and the people of Ireland; the action he will take in response to this slight by a foreign nation on our Constitution and national values; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42756/15]

Coillte Teoranta Lands

Anne Ferris

205. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Coillte's plans for the ongoing use of the walled garden at Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow; if those plans include the return of this historic garden and its mature trees to their rightful use as an important contextual element of the adjoining Kilmacurragh Arboretum; if such a transfer will be expedited in the interest of tourism in County Wicklow and Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41318/15]

Local Authority Functions

Anne Ferris

532. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to issue guidance or direction to local authorities regarding the removal of hundreds of out of date public infrastructure development signs littering the countryside, much of it dating back two decades or longer, given that the signage materials and poles are manufactured from metal that has a recycling value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41316/15]

Road Network

Anne Ferris

577. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the interim strategy for managing traffic volumes on the N11 from Bray north to the commencement of the new stretch of motorway at Rathnew in County Wicklow, being a section of national road that is operating significantly above capacity at peak hours, leading to long tailbacks, increased driver frustration, higher accident risk, and reduced productivity for businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41317/15]

Medical Card Data

Anne Ferris

421. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost of providing an enhanced medical card for hepatitis C sufferers; how this compares with the annual cost of providing a standard medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40439/15]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Anne Ferris

436. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the long delays being experienced with the registration process in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and the pressure these delays are putting on health care service providers; the reason for these delays; if he will ensure that the applications submitted by persons (details supplied) are expedited as quickly as possible, given that they applied for registration nine months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39424/15]

Vaccination Programme

Anne Ferris

453. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health in view of the explanation he provided to Seanad Éireann on 3 November 2015 regarding the extent to which parental consent for the human papillomavirus vaccine can be considered informed consent, how his Department reconciles the requirement to satisfy average or below-average levels of adult literacy with the obligation placed on parents to navigate an Internet website in order to receive specific scientific information regarding the side effects; and, in turn, his view on the effectiveness of the requirement for the Health Service Executive to obtain informed consent, which might have to be obtained in areas of poor or no broadband access, since the introduction of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39583/15]

Vaccination Programme

Anne Ferris

853. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the consent procedures afforded to parents of schoolgirls who are offered the human papilloma virus vaccine; the extent to which the consent procedures currently and previously included access to information on known side effects of the drugs in question; his views on the matter of consent procedures connected to the human papilloma virus vaccine; and the extent to which the Health Service Executive may be considered to be seeking fully informed parental and guardian consent. [38361/15]

Vaccination Programme

Anne Ferris

854. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the extent and content of any interaction between his Department and the European Medicines Agency, regarding the review of human papilloma virus vaccines announced in July 2015; the interaction between the agency and any other State body on this review; the likely duration and scope of the review; his plans to publicise the review by the agency more widely, in order to invite comments from parents and vaccinated girls and women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38362/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Anne Ferris

1140. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of any local authority which, further to the publication of the national broadband strategy, has completed and submitted a county broadband strategy to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38135/15]

School Curriculum

Anne Ferris

493. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to preserve Hiberno-English through its use in schoolbooks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32737/15]

Internet Safety

Anne Ferris

601. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position in relation to future and likely policy developments on Internet privacy and data protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32736/15]

Architectural Heritage

Anne Ferris

248. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Office of Public Works' plans to conserve, protect, and restore the rare and historic Killmacurragh House in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29927/15]

Garda Deployment

Anne Ferris

159. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the figures by Garda Síochána district for Garda numbers and Garda car numbers in the districts covering Counties Wicklow, Carlow, Kildare, Wexford and Dublin, for 2010 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29320/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance

Anne Ferris

306. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has reviewed the case of the Parknasillogue social housing development in Enniskerry in County Wicklow, including the departure from building standards during construction necessitating the retrofitting of wall insulation, the refitting of guttering, and other significant repairs, including internal remediation; if any financial bond was in place to compensate the local authority, taxpayer, and tenants for the costs associated with the lapses in building standards; if he will outline the remaining work to be completed; the timeframe for completion, including any proposals for damp proofing the dwellings; if a report has been compiled of the full financial implications of the failures associated with this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29276/15]

Planning Issues

Anne Ferris

312. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any guidelines to local authorities are in place regarding the taking in charge of roads and public utility infrastructure on private housing estates; if there is a consistent position nationally on the provision of grass cutting and other landscaping services by local authorities, in connection with the road verges and other green areas associated with roads taken in charge within housing developments; if, in the case of local authorities that implement policies of refusing to assume grass-cutting duties, there is consideration given to such long-term policies at planning approval stage, where ambitious high-maintenance landscaping plans are often approved by planning authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29431/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Anne Ferris

324. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's plans to re-surface the stretch of the Vevay Road in Bray in County Wicklow, beginning at Kate's Corner and ending at Saint Cronan's national school; the likely timeframe for such re-surfacing, given the deteriorating condition of the road; the risk of further deterioration over the autumn and winter months; the risk this poses to road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29432/15]

Public Transport

Anne Ferris

326. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Dublin Bus has any official or unofficial policy of asking apparently older customers to avoid taking seats on the upper decks of buses; if any policy of segregating customers on buses exists for health and safety or other reasons; if bus drivers are briefed on the need to avoid targeted age discrimination in the implementation of any segregation policy on buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29322/15]

Child Care Services Provision

Anne Ferris

60. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity on the financial and community child care supports available on the transitionary path to employment from the one-parent family payment, for parents of children over seven, and, in particular, how it is proposed for transition to employment to be determined by free choice, rather than by economic necessity; the way the changes are to be implemented within the framework of the archaic though legally binding provisions of Article 41.2.2 of the Constitution; the financial safeguards and public communications processes that are in place to ensure that women could not in any circumstance face a situation of feeling compelled to have additional pregnancies to maintain welfare, supports out of a perception of financial necessity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27941/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Anne Ferris

77. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the full programme of works for the River Dargle flood prevention works in Bray in County Wicklow, up to and including the date of substantial completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27853/15]

University Visitor System

Anne Ferris

198. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the use of the university visitor system as described under section 20 of the Universities Act 1997, including the number of occasions on which this provision has been used since the 1997 Act commenced and the names of the universities to which any such visitations applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27850/15]

Alternative Energy Projects

Anne Ferris

237. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Comptroller and Auditor General has, in recent years, made reports to his Department regarding the long-term cost effectiveness and viability of the investment of public funds in renewable wind energy projects promoted by State bodies, including Coillte, Bord na Móna and the Electricity Supply Board; the financial effectiveness of such bodies as renewable energy promoters; the general level of State and governmental oversight and transparency in respect of such capital expenditure, including from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27851/15]

Planning Issues

Anne Ferris

547. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will revisit previous parliamentary replies (details supplied) in relation to directing or instructing local authorities on granting planning permission to fast food outlets in close proximity to schools, by regulation, in view of the recent decision by An Bord Pleanála on this issue regarding a second appeal in Navan on a planning application; if he is aware that the persons in Greystones are appealing a decision by Wicklow County Council to An Bord Pleanála regarding a fast food outlet approximately 50 m from three schools, for the second time in 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27531/15]

Bus Éireann Services

Anne Ferris

572. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the tendering process for bus services to be privatised will include a requirement for successful bidders to accept the free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27156/15]

Third Level Institutions

Anne Ferris

205. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Comptroller and Auditor General has reported on the auditing of the accounts of University College Dublin in recent years; the outcome and recommendations of any such audit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26784/15]

Light Rail Projects

Anne Ferris

286. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on proposals for the extension of the Luas line to Bray in County Wicklow; the preferred route for the extension; the time frame of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26501/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Anne Ferris

246. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance in view of the ongoing financial pressure on variable rate mortgage holders, if he will outline the consequences for Bank of Ireland if it refuses to reduce its interest rate for variable rate mortgage holders after 1 July 2015 deadline; the progress made with other banks in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26034/15]

Prison Visiting Committees Appointments

Anne Ferris

370. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process in place for filling the 31 vacancies on prison visiting committees; the timeframe within which she wishes to see these positions filled, in view of the importance of this function to ensuring that prisoners receive their human rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26061/15]

Free Travel Scheme Review

Anne Ferris

72. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 289 and 290 of 1 April 2014, if the working group referred to in her reply has concluded its work yet; if there is a report available from the working group; if the working group considered whether bus passes will continue to be accepted on Dublin Bus routes 17, 17a, 18, 75, 76, 76a, 102, 104, 33a, 33b, 45a, 59, 63, 111, 114, 161, 184, 185, 220, 236, 238, 239 and 270, once they are put out for tender under a public service contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25550/15]

National Gallery

Anne Ferris

257. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the issue of any remuneration or payment of any fees to the current or previous directors of the National Gallery in connection with their positions as board members of the Alfred Beit Foundation, paid either by the National Gallery or the Alfred Beit Foundation, has been discussed during the quarterly liaison meetings between her Department officials and the senior management team of the National Gallery, at any time since 1974; the content of any such discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25554/15]

National Gallery

Anne Ferris

258. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a list of her Department or Government circulars relevant to the appointment and remuneration of the director of the National Gallery; the extent to which participation in other corporate structures by the director is facilitated by the terms and conditions of employment, as sanctioned by her Department; if, while travelling to or attending meetings of the Alfred Beit Foundation, the director may be paid salary and expenses by the National Gallery or the Alfred Beit Foundation; if any cost incurred by the National Gallery in supplying a board member to the Alfred Beit Foundation is recoverable from the foundation either through direct payment to the director or to the National Gallery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25555/15]

National Gallery

Anne Ferris

259. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the subject of the export licensing or private sale by the trustees of the Alfred Beit Foundation of a painting by Jacques de Lajoue entitled, the "Cabinet of Physical Sciences" has been discussed at any of the quarterly liaison meetings between her Department officials and the senior management team of the National Gallery of Ireland, or indeed the export licensing and-or sale of any of the Alfred Beit Foundation trust assets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25556/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Anne Ferris

57. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine an appeal under the domiciliary care allowance scheme in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25227/15]

Adoption Legislation

Anne Ferris

184. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will acknowledge the distress and other negative effects being caused by the ongoing delay in the introduction of adoption and tracing legislation; if he will confirm the existence, or not, of any new or previously unknown constitutional and legal questions that may have arisen in relation to this matter within the past 12 months, that might have contributed to this excessive delay; the amount of legislative drafting time, in hours, that has been dedicated to this task by his Department officials since the present Minister took office, and in the three years prior to the tenure of the current Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25432/15]

Third Level Institutions

Anne Ferris

238. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the role of the applied language centre in University College Dublin in the education of language teachers, the teaching of the English language to foreign students and the provision of language graduates for the business sector; the number of students, teachers and host families involved; the success of the centre's programmes in this regard; the role of her Department in terms of funding, departmental oversight and other support or guidance in helping to deliver the centre's public educational objectives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25431/15]

Legislative Programme

Anne Ferris

359. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill 2014 which is to legislate for the criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services; the likely timing of any enactment of this legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24681/15]

Prison Visiting Committees

Anne Ferris

360. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison visiting committees; the number of persons who serve on these committees; the process of appointment of prison visitors; the number of current vacancies on prison visiting committees; the timeframe within which she plans to fill any such vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24682/15]