Parliamentary questions

Foreign Policy

John Paul Phelan

133. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reasons the Government is willing to recognise the independence of Palestine but not the independence of Taiwan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17199/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

153. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of X-ray scanners used to detect illicit trade and smuggling at ports and airports; the number of dates on which they were deployed and used at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the number of X-ray scanners in use at ports and airports. [17172/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

154. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of sniffers dogs being used to detect illicit trade and smuggling at ports and airports; the number of dates on which they were deployed and used at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the number of sniffers dogs in use at ports and airports. [17173/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

155. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff and other resources being deployed and used at ports and airports to detect non-compliance by individuals with duty-free travel allowances; the number of inspections carried out at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the resources in use at ports and airports for this purpose. [17174/24]

Control of Firearms

John Paul Phelan

252. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the reason the Firearms Consultative Panel, which had been established by her predecessor in 2015, has been discontinued; and if she will re-establish the panel to provide a much-needed, inclusive forum for consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. [17171/24]

Referendum Campaigns

John Paul Phelan

32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government still intends to hold a referendum for Ireland to join the Unified Patent Court on 7 June 2024; whether an alternative date is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

171. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address delays by ESB Networks in providing grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to deploy the use of battery technology to support the installation of EV charging infrastructure along the comprehensive road network in response to delays in grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to unblock potential barriers and streamline the process for the private sector companies to access grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/24]

Transport Policy

John Paul Phelan

315. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will simplify the VAT code on car sharing, noting the current dual-rate system is unnecessarily complex and discourages car rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15320/24]

EU Directives

John Paul Phelan

316. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reducing the rate of VAT to hire e-bikes to encourage people making the transition to sustainable alternatives, noting the relevant EU Directive permits a reduced rate in the range of 9% to 13.5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15321/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

1594. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if it is his intention to propose a ban on smoking and vaping in outdoor areas attached to pubs and restaurants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15319/24]

Electoral Commission

John Paul Phelan

228. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to state whether the statutory functions of the Electoral Commission include the power to review the contents of pole posters or statements made by elected representatives and to communicate with the public in relation to their conclusions of any such review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13467/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

219. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans to commission an independent assessment of the extent to which tobacco excise increases in recent years are leading to increased illicit market activity, evidenced by the recent detection of a large-scale illegal cigarette factory in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11619/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

225. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the measures being taken, and additional resources being provided to the Revenue Commissioners to detect and crack-down on the production and sale of illegal tobacco products in Ireland, following the recent detection and closure of a large-scale illegal cigarette factory in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11770/24]

Departmental Schemes

John Paul Phelan

130. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what will happen to funds gathered under the new deposit return scheme that are not reclaimed by the purchaser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7433/24]

Flexible Work Practices

John Paul Phelan

250. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 23 January 2024, whether she believes it is desirable or appropriate for principals or deputy principals to work from home, given their responsibility for enforcing school policies on a day-to-day basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7431/24]

Sports Funding

John Paul Phelan

326. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline all of the funding streams that are available to any sports club wishing to embark on a development project that is in excess of €500,000 excluding land purchase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7434/24]

Tax Collection

John Paul Phelan

365. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue which will be generated in 2024 from the increases to PRSI announced as part of the Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7432/24]

Wildlife Protection

John Paul Phelan

222. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that the proposed stakeholder forum on the sustainable hunting of protected wild birds will include all relevant stakeholders in its membership, including game conservation organisations (details supplied). [5914/24]