Parliamentary questions

Food Labelling

Holly Cairns

184. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to outline the current requirements for companies to label certain food products as choking hazards for children under five years; if his Department has considered introducing standardised labelling requirements for such products; and if his Department has engagement with the EU on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15769/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Holly Cairns

99. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, following the CRU consultation on electricity generation and system services connection policy, he will support a second annual application window for renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity grid, in order to increase the number of grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Holly Cairns

176. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport in view that CIE RWS Scheme pensioners, receiving an average of €52 per week, have not had a pension increase since 2008, if he will consider increasing it in line with other similar scheme increases; if the cost-of-living element of the pay award given to Irish Rail and Dublin Bus staff will be passed on to retired staff also; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13694/24]

Local Authorities

Holly Cairns

637. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a timeline is set for the process to recruit a Chief Executive Officer to Cork County Council; the term of the contract for the new CEO; and, if applicable, the number of candidates who have so far expressed an interest in the role. [14288/24]

Electoral Process

Holly Cairns

642. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the evidence on which the decision was made to close voting at 8 pm on Whiddy Island for the recent referendum on 8 March 2024, considering the polling officer and polling clerk are residents on the island thus are not limited by bad weather or the ferry timetable, which could be altered as necessary to facilitate voting; to extend voting times for future polling days on Whiddy Island back to 10 pm in line with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14309/24]

Visa Applications

Holly Cairns

876. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice what steps are being taken to alleviate the backlog in visa applications for family reunification; what steps are being taken to streamline the process going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14341/24]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

977. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Greyhound Racing Ireland still has no strategic plan in place almost 15 months after the last one expired, almost a year after it was quoted in a national newspaper claiming that such a strategic plan was in the process of being finalised by consultants (details supplied), and five months after he said a draft strategic plan had been submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14324/24]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

978. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Greyhound Racing Ireland is only now in March 2024 seeking submissions from stakeholders to help it in the process of drafting its strategic plan, almost 15 months after the last strategic plan expired, almost a year after it was quoted in a national newspaper claiming that such a strategic plan was in the process of being finalised by consultants (details supplied), and five months after he said a draft strategic plan had been submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/24]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

979. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what indicators and targets as stipulated in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (details supplied) are being used to measure the performance of the Irish greyhound industry in the absence of a strategic plan for the past 14 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/24]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

980. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monetary figure for the economic and financial contribution of the Irish greyhound industry to the Irish economy based on the figures contained in the industry-commissioned economics report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

1111. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason he excluded the Cherry Orchard Hospital and other hospitals from the redress scheme; if he will reconsider these exclusions with respect to the fact some babies born in qualifying mother and baby homes were hospitalised after birth for several months before returning to an institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14323/24]

Mental Health Services

Holly Cairns

1355. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months for children and adolescents in the North Lee, South Lee, North Cork and Kerry primary care services, in tabular form. [14286/24]

Mental Health Services

Holly Cairns

1356. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months for children and adolescents in the North Lee, South Lee, North Cork and Kerry CAMHS services, in tabular form. [14287/24]

Health Services Staff

Holly Cairns

1357. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of grievance and dignity at work cases currently under consideration by management within the South West Regional Health Area; and the duration of time between submission of each case by the complainant, the arrangement of hearings and the issuing of decisions. [14289/24]

Health Services Staff

Holly Cairns

1465. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the appointment of a consultant neurologist in Bantry Hospital; and if so, the estimated timeline for this appointment. [14701/24]

Hospital Services

Holly Cairns

1466. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issues faced by Bantry Hospital in regard to its neurological services (details supplied); and to outline the measures he and his Department are taking to ensure reliable neurological services are provided to West Cork. [14702/24]

Departmental Funding

Holly Cairns

1724. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding currently available to each local authority for dog wardens and animal welfare inspectors; when dog wardens and an animal welfare inspector will be appointed in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14314/24]

Rail Network

Holly Cairns

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider resurrecting the Bantry line of the west Cork railway; if he will make funding available to run cost-benefit analysis of a west Cork railway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11731/24]

Housing Schemes

Holly Cairns

224. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance whether legally divorced persons who have no legal interest in any property are excluded from the help to buy scheme; and if so, the reasoning behind this policy. [11729/24]

Local Authorities

Holly Cairns

660. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of developments that have requested to be taken in charge by local authorities but have not yet been taken in charge; if additional funding will be made available to enable local authorities to continue taking estates in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12525/24]

Electoral Process

Holly Cairns

701. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to fix all discrepancies and inaccuracies on the electoral register and bring it up to date in advance of the local and European elections in June; if he will provide further funding for local authorities to facilitate this major update of the register; and to detail the plan of action for continually keeping on top of changes. [13102/24]

Visa Applications

Holly Cairns

806. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the measures in place to alleviate the backlog and streamline the visa application process for family reunification. [11728/24]

Legislative Programme

Holly Cairns

828. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice when it is intended to bring forward the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2023 for second stage debate. [12116/24]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

976. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures his Department is taking to ensure animal welfare standards are increased during the transport of live exports; and what measures are being taken to ensure time limits on travel are being adhered to. [11732/24]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

977. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged with any EU officials or lobbied for any measures in relation to excluding sea travel from travel time limits on the export of live animals; if so, the details of these engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11733/24]

Official Travel

Holly Cairns

1022. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of his engagement with South Sudanese officials as part of his St. Patrick's Day visit. [12526/24]

Official Travel

Holly Cairns

1023. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of any discussions he or his officials had with South Sudanese officials in relation to trade opportunities and/or the potential export of milk and non-milk powder; and if such discussions took place, if a human rights and environmental impact assessment has taken place in relation to those exports. [12527/24]

Official Travel

Holly Cairns

1024. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Irish businesses he met with during his trip to South Sudan. [12528/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

1099. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite places available in Cork from 2018 to date for patients aged under 65 years; in tabular form. [11730/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the proposed bill to ban conversion therapy; to the estimated date of publication; and whether it is his intention to pass the bill within this Government's term of office. [11734/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be any exemptions under the proposed Bill to ban conversion therapy; and if so, the justifications for these exemptions. [11735/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1102. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is his intention to provide a legal basis for nonbinary gender recognition; and if so, to provide an update on work carried out within his Department to date on the matter. [11736/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1103. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he or his Department have engaged with representatives from trans organisations in relation to concerns about the national gender service and the formulation of a new model of care; if so, to provide a list of organisations they have engaged with; and if not, whether he will commit to doing so. [11742/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1137. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of currently vacant beds within the IPAS system, by county, in tabular form. [12117/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1138. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of currently vacant beds in accommodation centres contracted for Ukrainians under temporary protection, by county, in tabular form. [12118/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of accommodation providers contracted to provide accommodation for Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection that have been asked to extend their contract provisions to include accommodating international protection applicants, by county, in tabular form. [12119/24]

Care Services

Holly Cairns

1254. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of respite places available in Cork from 2018 to date for patients aged over 65 years, in tabular form. [11730/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Holly Cairns

1255. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the National Gender Service waiting list currently; the number waiting for an initial appointment; and the length of time individuals have been waiting, in tabular form. [11737/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Holly Cairns

1256. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the end of year waiting list numbers for the National Gender Service from inception to date, in tabular form. [11738/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Holly Cairns

1257. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the funding provided to the National Gender Service; and to detail the measures being taken to reduce waiting times. [11739/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Holly Cairns

1258. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the current staffing of the National Gender Service, by role and grade, in tabular form. [11740/24]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1259. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health whether he or his Department have engaged with representatives from trans organisations in relation to concerns about the national gender service and the formulation of a new model of care; if so, to provide a list of organisations they have engaged with; and if not, whether he will commit to doing so. [11741/24]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health whether the National Gender Service has engaged with representatives from trans organisations in relation to concerns about the national gender service and the formulation of a new model of care; if so, to provide a list of organisations they have engaged with; and if not, whether he will commit to doing so. [11743/24]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1261. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the level of stakeholder engagement conducted by the National Gender Service; and to provide a list of organisations they have met with. [11744/24]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1262. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the work that is being conducted in his Department to increase training for GPs in relation to trans healthcare provision. [11745/24]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1263. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients who received gender affirming care abroad and were then denied treatment by the National Gender Service on their return or arrival to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11746/24]

Humanitarian Aid

Holly Cairns

5. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will consider cooperating with other states in conducting air drops of food and other aid into Gaza. [10839/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to prioritising the elderly in the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes, what will the age criteria be; and if survivors will be entitled to redress even if they previously received redress for time spent in a mother and baby home as a person under the age of 18, but not for the time spent in a mother and baby home as an adult. [10837/24]

EU Funding

Holly Cairns

88. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9814/24]

National Car Test

Holly Cairns

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to relocate the NCT centre in Skibbereen; and if so, if he could provide details of the relocation and the rationale for doing so. [9960/24]