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]

Alcohol Pricing

John Paul Phelan

117. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the expected impact on Exchequer revenues of a reduction in VAT on zero alcohol beers from 23% to 13.5%; the expected impact of such a change on consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5631/24]

Disability Services

John Paul Phelan

461. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that are being taken to reduce the CDNT waiting list of the CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5632/24]

Tax Yield

John Paul Phelan

198. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the total revenue generated from VAT and excise duties on alcoholic beverages sold in off licences in each year from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2374/24]

Tax Yield

John Paul Phelan

199. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the total revenue generated from VAT and excise duties on alcoholic beverages sold in public houses in each year from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/24]

Tax Yield

John Paul Phelan

200. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the total revenue generated from VAT and excise duties on alcoholic beverages sold in licenced restaurants in each year from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2376/24]

Flexible Work Practices

John Paul Phelan

267. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if school principals and deputy principals are permitted to work from home; to outline in general terms her Department's policy on this issue including the maximum number of days which can be worked from home; and to outline how she feels that it is possible to carry out the duties of principal or deputy principal from home given the importance of these positions in enforcing school policies on-site on a day-to-day basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2378/24]

Wildlife Conservation

John Paul Phelan

332. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the first meeting of the 'Sustainable Hunting of Wild Birds Stakeholder Forum' will take place; the details of the forum membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2929/24]

Social Insurance

John Paul Phelan

376. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated revenue which will be generated in 2024 and 2025 by the increases in PRSI which were announced as part of Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2377/24]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

John Paul Phelan

669. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the reason an education company (details supplied) has not yet received payment from her Department for a summer programme scheme which it supplied in Summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1656/24]

Disease Management

John Paul Phelan

591. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has appointed a rare disease liaison within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52093/23]

Disease Management

John Paul Phelan

592. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the formulation of an updated national rare disease plan; if the plan will be published within the lifetime of this Government as per the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52094/23]

Disease Management

John Paul Phelan

593. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to publish the number of unimplemented actions from the National Rare Disease Plan 2014-2018; to outline each unimplemented action, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52095/23]

Disease Management

John Paul Phelan

594. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health how his Department in reviewing the unimplemented actions of the National Rare Disease Plan 2014-2018; whether he intends to publish this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52096/23]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

595. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he intends to support the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021 to provide for a dedicated pathway for the reimbursement of orphan medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52097/23]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

596. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health his views on an indicator survey (details supplied) showing Irish patients are waiting an average of 877 days to access EMA-approved orphan medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52098/23]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

597. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the next steps of a working group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52099/23]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

598. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether legislative change is required to improve Ireland's reimbursement system for orphan medicinal products. [52100/23]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

599. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he supports interim access reimbursement models which allow early access to rare and ultra-rare disease medicines, as utilised in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52101/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Paul Phelan

213. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the reason an approved extension development for a school (details supplied) was withdrawn; the reason no reason for the withdrawal was given to the school; to outline the proposals her Department has for increasing the school capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51722/23]

National Minimum Wage

John Paul Phelan

42. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach the number of people who are being paid at the current minimum wage of €11.30 per hour. [49384/23]

Social Welfare Payments

John Paul Phelan

287. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to state for each category of welfare payment administered by her Department in 2022, the total amount paid in cash; the total amounts paid directly to a bank account; the amounts lodged directly to an account at a post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49382/23]

Social Welfare Payments

John Paul Phelan

288. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of single people with no dependents who received more than €24,000 in social welfare payments administered by her Department during 2022; to provide a breakdown of those recipients by the total amount received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49383/23]

Electricity Generation

John Paul Phelan

147. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when commercial customers generating electricity from solar panels will get paid for their surplus production that is currently been fed in to the grid free of charge, and subsequently being charged out to the same customer at full rate in the following days. [47672/23]

Special Educational Needs

John Paul Phelan

234. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the reason no reply was issued to a person (details supplied) regarding a place in a primary school for an autistic child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44870/23]

Angling Sector

John Paul Phelan

28. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the specific conservation limits for the Nore and Suir rivers for 2018-2022, inclusive, in relation to snap net salmon fishing. [43806/23]

Angling Sector

John Paul Phelan

29. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of salmon recorded by anglers for the Nore and Suir rivers for 2018-2022, inclusive, in relation to snap net salmon fishing. [43807/23]

Angling Sector

John Paul Phelan

30. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the allowances that were given for the dry summers of 2018, 2019 and 2022 for the rivers Nore and Suir, inclusive, in relation to snap net salmon fishing. [43808/23]

Angling Sector

John Paul Phelan

31. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the allowances that were given for the Covid years of 2020 and 2021 for the rivers Nore and Suir regarding snap net salmon fishing. [43809/23]

Angling Sector

John Paul Phelan

32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the exploitation rates were used to determine the total allowable catch for the Nore and Suir rivers for the years 2018-2022, inclusive, regarding snap net salmon fishing. [43810/23]

Tax Data

John Paul Phelan

103. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of a recent report (details supplied) on total tax revenue as a proportion of national income in the United Kingdom; if his Department monitors any similar measure of the overall level of taxation in Ireland; and if so, to outline the findings of any such research in recent years. [43720/23]