Parliamentary questions

Mortgage Lending

Eoghan Murphy

530. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has raised with the Central Bank the activities undertaken by a bank (details supplied) in relation to mortgage customers whose mortgages were securitised without their knowledge leading to their mortgage payments being collected by a different entity; if the rights of these customers have not been affected as a result; his views on whether such activities by the bank are within the scope of the legislation as intended; and if not, if the legislation will be amended. [20559/21]

Financial Services Sector

Eoghan Murphy

92. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to moves in the UK to bolster its financial technology offering following a review into the industry; and if he is considering similar actions here to build upon Irish capacity given the opportunities as a leader in the EU. [17083/21]

Financial Services Sector

Eoghan Murphy

133. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the status of his strategy to bolster Ireland's offering as a financial technology destination both in terms of supporting indigenous companies and attracting global investment. [17084/21]

Driver Licences

Eoghan Murphy

295. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a licence can be renewed online in circumstances in which a person with an Irish driver licence is abroad and that licence is due for renewal given that the extension offered by way of a letter from the NDLS may not be recognised by local police and road authorities in other jurisdictions. [17043/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Eoghan Murphy

253. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the interactions he has with the Commissioner for Energy Regulation; if the challenges caused by Covid-19 have been discussed in these engagements; and if the particular point of fixed energy charges for businesses that have been closed has been discussed. [15473/21]

Tourism Industry

Eoghan Murphy

713. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to engage with local authorities on the reduction or removal of the so-called sunshine tax for hospitality businesses. [15472/21]

Third Level Admissions

Eoghan Murphy

1161. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional places created for those intending to study medicine this academic year in order to manage the unintended consequences arising from the calculated grade process inter alia grade inflation; and the number that will be created for the students entering university in September 2021. [15475/21]

Student Support Schemes

Eoghan Murphy

1162. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports he is considering for students visiting Ireland that came on the understanding that there would be blended and in-person delivery of their course and in view that there has not been access to libraries or adequate study facilities and no prospect of a part-time job due to the closure of the hospitality sector for same while the universities continue to charge full fees (details supplied). [15476/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Eoghan Murphy

1799. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assessment of needs waiting times (details supplied). [15474/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

5. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the length of time shops selling essential items including children’s clothes which are not easily purchased online can remain closed without having a disproportionately negative impact on young families. [13748/21]

Electricity Grid

Eoghan Murphy

14. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions being taken to prepare the electricity network for the increase in the use of electric vehicles and the need for more charging points. [13746/21]

Electric Vehicles

Eoghan Murphy

19. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle charging points that will be added in Dublin by the end of 2021. [13745/21]

Dublin Bus

Eoghan Murphy

26. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the effect the reduction in services and revenue of Dublin Bus has had on its finances to date in 2021 compared to 2020. [13747/21]

Interest Rates

Eoghan Murphy

50. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the steps that can be taken to assist solicitors and other businesses being charged negative interest rates on money held in client accounts given such money is often borrowed as for example in the case of a mortgage to buy a home and therefore already subject to bank charges (details supplied). [13749/21]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Eoghan Murphy

175. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if there has been a significant rise in occurrences of antisocial behaviour in the area of Grand Canal Dock, Dublin. [13742/21]

Legislative Reviews

Eoghan Murphy

176. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice when her Department will complete its analysis of the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020. [13743/21]

Environmental Policy

Eoghan Murphy

53. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has taken action to protect the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, the only gold reserve in the northern hemisphere, from light pollution and other forms of interference. [13092/21]

Environmental Policy

Eoghan Murphy

98. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has concerns regarding potential negative impacts on the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, the only gold reserve in the northern hemisphere from the siting by a company (details supplied) of its pilot communications antennae project. [13091/21]

Cycling Facilities

Eoghan Murphy

223. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the implications of the approval of planning permission for a cycleway on the Malahide estuary in terms of the new possibilities this opens up for the Sandymount cycle route; and if he has discussed same with the city manager. [12744/21]

Bus Services

Eoghan Murphy

224. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the adjustments that have been made to the BusConnects plan in view of the likelihood of a significant number of persons working from home in the future. [12745/21]

Third Level Education

Eoghan Murphy

666. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to increase resources for research into virology on an ongoing basis; and if there will be an increase in funding for relevant college courses. [12746/21]

Court Sittings

Eoghan Murphy

708. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the impact the pandemic has had on court proceedings; and the level of backlog this is likely to cause for the future. [12743/21]

Vaccination Programme

Eoghan Murphy

800. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health the capacity available to administer the Covid-19 vaccine as one million doses per month are received; and if there is a contingency plan to scale up capacity if more doses become available. [12739/21]

Vaccination Programme

Eoghan Murphy

801. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the Austrian led First-Movers vaccination group. [12740/21]

Health Services Provision

Eoghan Murphy

802. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health if medical consultations in the public system have become virtual consultations; and if it is planned to continue this practice beyond the pandemic. [12741/21]

Food Imports

Eoghan Murphy

1010. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the food import supply issues that have arisen due to Brexit; and if he will provide a detailed list of those items being delayed or no longer available to the Irish market. [12742/21]

Tourism Industry

Eoghan Murphy

1102. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration was given to potential negative impacts on the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, the only gold tier reserve in the northern hemisphere, in its discussions with a company (details supplied) on the siting of its pilot communications antennae project. [12038/21]

National Broadband Plan

Eoghan Murphy

69. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which decisions are made regarding the order of areas to be connected in the rural broadband plan; and if this list is reviewed on an ongoing basis. [10421/21]

National Broadband Plan

Eoghan Murphy

70. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic have altered aspects of the roll-out of the national broadband plan. [10422/21]

Flood Prevention Measures

Eoghan Murphy

235. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has investigated the need for tidal defences in the River Liffey including the possibility of a retractable barrier. [9449/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

370. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of discussions his officials have had with their European counterparts regarding intercountry travel following vaccine roll-out, for example, the percentage of the population that would need to be vaccinated before returning to regular travel practices. [10425/21]

School Admissions

Eoghan Murphy

511. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education if the deadline for schools to publish their amended admissions policies remains September 2021. [10424/21]

Early Years Sector

Eoghan Murphy

599. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of early learning initiatives funded by his Department; the changes that have been made in the context of Covid-19; and the funding commitment and arrangements for 2021. [9450/21]

Parental Leave

Eoghan Murphy

600. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the extension to parental leave to be implemented. [9451/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

1021. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 17 February 2021, his views on whether it is possible and if he considers it urgent to arrange for safe transport to places of quarantine for travellers arriving from category-2 countries to avoid introducing more deadly Covid-19 variants. [10423/21]

Waste Management

Eoghan Murphy

35. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the strategy on single use plastics; and the way the strategy has been affected by the pandemic, and changes in behaviour resulting from same. [8074/21]

Flood Prevention Measures

Eoghan Murphy

190. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of coastal flood defences in Dublin Bay; and the amount that has been allocated to improving coastal defences over the next five years. [8073/21]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes

Eoghan Murphy

559. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is an opportunity for Safepass courses to be run online during level 5 restrictions. [8072/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

693. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which visitors coming into Ireland are expected to travel from the airport to their place of quarantine; and if he plans to arrange safe transport for this purpose as has been done in the UK and other countries. [8071/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

67. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if reports of reduced quality or availability of Internet connectivity due to increased demand since March 2020 have been brought to his attention. [6712/21]

Flood Prevention Measures

Eoghan Murphy

244. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Dodder flood alleviation scheme. [6711/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Eoghan Murphy

263. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when applicants seeking funding through the tourism business continuity scheme will be informed if they have been successful; and the expected time between first application and receipt of funds. [6709/21]

Sports Capital Programme

Eoghan Murphy

264. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase funding available to local authorities for improving or creating sea swimming amenities given the increase in the use of such areas, for example, new points of access and building of changing shelters. [6710/21]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Eoghan Murphy

16. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if studies are being carried out focusing on the changes to environmental factors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the way in which Ireland may learn from these to improve policies aimed at tackling climate change. [4657/21]

Travel Insurance

Eoghan Murphy

46. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has had engagement with the insurance sector regarding the availability of travel insurance for citizens that have received a Covid-19 vaccine. [4659/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Eoghan Murphy

47. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering expanding the eligibility criteria for the Covid restrictions support scheme to allow businesses that are impacted by the restrictions but do not ordinarily operate from a fixed business premises to apply for the scheme (details supplied). [4660/21]

Swimming Pool Programme

Eoghan Murphy

74. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase funding available to local authorities for improving or creating swimming facilities given the increase in the use of such facilities. [4654/21]

Travel Trade Sector

Eoghan Murphy

77. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department is preparing detailed plans to promote international and domestic travel in order that Ireland will be competitive as a tourism destination when restrictions on travel lift. [4658/21]

Overseas Development Aid

Eoghan Murphy

122. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland’s overseas aid commitments; and if these have altered or been adjusted due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. [4655/21]

Human Rights

Eoghan Murphy

123. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the determination by the Government of the United States of America that China is currently committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic groups within the country. [4656/21]