Parliamentary questions

Middle East Peace Process

Bríd Smith

481. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the actions he will take in view of Palestine's Call, the open letter sent to all Oireachtas Members from Palestinian civil and political groups. [21956/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Bríd Smith

482. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address the issues raised in Palestine's Call, the open letter recently sent to all Oireachtas Members from Palestinian civil and political society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21957/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Bríd Smith

483. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the way in which he will respond to the open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas Members, Palestine's Call; and the action he will take to exert pressure on the state of Israel, through the use of sanctions and other parliamentary actions, to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant Palestinian people their rights in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international law, as requested in the letter. [21958/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Micheál Martin

484. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the actions he will take in response to Palestine's Call, the open letter sent to all Houses of the Oireachtas Members from Palestinian civil and political groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21988/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Niall Collins

485. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the action he will take in view of Palestine's Call, the open letter sent to all Houses of the Oireachtas Members from Palestinian civil and political groups. [22005/16]

Human Rights Investigations

Mick Wallace

486. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has concerns regarding the recent reports by Human Rights Watch (details supplied) documenting serious human rights abuses including physical and sexual violence and extrajudicial killings as a direct result of the EU's efforts to stem migration from Libya, and, in particular, Operation Sophia. [22390/16]

Passport Data

Eamon Scanlon

487. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Passport Office can confirm that the details pertaining to the passports of persons (details supplied) were used illegally by a third party elsewhere in Europe; if the United States authorities referred this matter to the Passport Office as the passport holders were denied a visa to visit the United States of America on the basis of the attempted illegal use of this passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22574/16]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Clare Daly

488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 429 of 12 July 2016 to outline the reason for the landings and the exercises or operations the aircraft were involved in. [22608/16]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

489. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out the status of the proposed immigration reform legislation in the US; if he made contact with Senators or Members of the House of Representatives since the recent United States Supreme Court decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22613/16]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

490. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the discussions he has had with the United States authorities and Irish emigrant support groups following the decision of the US Supreme Court on the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22614/16]

Foreign Conflicts

Thomas P. Broughan

491. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the action being taken by the Government to secure the release of persons (details supplied) in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22673/16]

Syrian Conflict

Thomas P. Broughan

492. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role, if any, of the Government to accelerate a Syrian peace process and consideration of proposals to bring forward a Syrian governance structure with full protection for all ethnic and religious groupings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22674/16]

Ministerial Staff

Seán Sherlock

493. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of politically appointed staff working in his Department, including the names, roles and salaries of each staff member; in the case of special advisers, their qualifications and experience relevant to their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22733/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Róisín Shortall

494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline his views on correspondence from a group (details supplied) that made a recent submission to his Department; the actions he will take to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22757/16]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

David Cullinane

495. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff who entered the public service after 1 January 2011 in his Department and by year of entry to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/16]

Public Procurement Regulations

Niall Collins

496. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all provisions from EU directives pertaining to increasing the share of public procurement contracts by SMEs have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/16]

Coastal Erosion

Lisa Chambers

497. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding available for coastal erosion both nationally and for County Mayo; the funding which has been made available for Mayo County Council each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/16]

Office of Government Procurement

Eoin Ó Broin

498. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the local authorities and associated housing bodies that have applied to use the framework agreement for integrated design team services to assist with social housing delivery. [22228/16]

Flood Risk Management

Anne Rabbitte

499. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of meetings held by the Shannon river basin management co-ordination group to date; the details and agencies of those who have attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22376/16]

Flood Risk Management

Anne Rabbitte

500. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Shannon river basin management co-ordination group has reported to the Cabinet committee on climate change; if the group has put forward any legislative and policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22377/16]

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

John Lahart

501. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to consider including local authorities in the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/16]

Public Sector Pay

David Cullinane

502. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the year-on-year savings or costs achieved through the implementation of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation and collective agreements from 2009 to 2016 to date, broken down by each separate FEMPI Act and each agreement; to outline a summary of changes introduced under each Act and or agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/16]

Fiscal Data

David Cullinane

503. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the years 2002 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22073/16]

Public Sector Pay

David Cullinane

504. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of implementing a pay increase to all those employed under the remit of his Department post 1 January 2011 of 2%, 4% and 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22074/16]

Haddington Road Agreement Implementation

David Cullinane

505. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the merging or making changes to increment bands for those employed in the public service from 1 January 2011, as agreed under the Haddington Road agreement, for the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22075/16]

Civil Service Staff Data

David Cullinane

506. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff who entered the Civil Service post 1 January 2011 in his Department and by year of entry to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22076/16]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Pearse Doherty

507. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons, in increments of €5,000, in receipt of public service pensions; and the corresponding amount of annual individual pension payments within the same category. [22094/16]

Office of Public Works Properties

Fiona O'Loughlin

508. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for a list of Office of Public Works buildings in Dublin that are not currently in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22141/16]

Leader's Allowance

Niall Collins

509. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Ministers in Cabinet and Ministers of State in the Thirty-second Dáil who are eligible for annual funding under the leader's allowance scheme; the maximum amount that can be paid to each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/16]

Public Procurement Regulations

Jan O'Sullivan

510. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will introduce measures to include social value issues in public procurement; if, in advance of such a measure, he will delay the tender for public libraries that is due to be conducted by the education procurement service to incorporate such a provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22278/16]

Interdepartmental Working Groups

David Cullinane

511. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the flood management policy interdepartmental co-ordination group met in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; the reports it has made to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22303/16]

Flood Risk Management

David Cullinane

512. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the national catchment flood risk assessment and management programme steering group has met in the years since it was created to date, broken down by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/16]

Flood Risk Assessments

David Cullinane

513. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pilot projects identified since 2005 to date to prepare flood maps and flood risk management plans for a river basin projects; the delivery date of each project; the estimated cost at inception; the estimated cost if delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22305/16]

Flood Risk Assessments

David Cullinane

514. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood risk and flood hazard maps which have been submitted to the OPW; the number which met the due date deadline in 2014; the number which are outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22306/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

David Cullinane

515. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount which has been spent on flood relief schemes here from 2004 to date, broken down by county and by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22307/16]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

David Cullinane

516. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the outworking of the memorandum of understanding between the Office of Public Works and the representative body of the insurance industry; the level of exchange of flood defence data; if changes have led to a new commitment to provide insurance cover to those unable to obtain insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22308/16]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Michael McGrath

517. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his progress in ensuring flood insurance cover is available to households in areas where remedial works have been carried out by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22559/16]

Flood Risk Management

Eugene Murphy

518. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the development of the CFRAM flood risk management plans; the timeframe for their completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22560/16]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Michael McGrath

519. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the transfer of information between the insurance industry and the CFRAM programme; the timeframe on the future implementation of information exchanges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22561/16]

Interdepartmental Meetings

Eugene Murphy

520. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group per annum from 2011 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Eugene Murphy

521. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of flood relief capital allocation from 2011 to 2016 to date; the total drawdown per annum from 2011 to 2016 to date for each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/16]

Interdepartmental Working Groups

Eamon Ryan

522. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects to receive the report of the interdepartmental working group on fuller working lives, examining the issues of retirement and pension ages; and if he will publish the report. [22605/16]

Ministerial Staff

Seán Sherlock

523. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of politically appointed staff working in his Department including the names, roles and salaries of each staff member; in the case of special advisers, their qualifications and experience relevant to their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22737/16]

Drainage Schemes Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

524. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a new pipe being provided at Fenit Island, County Kerry, to widen the sluice (details supplied). [22886/16]

Bullying in the Workplace

John McGuinness

525. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he has not resolved the complaints of bullying lodged by three persons (details supplied); the reason the Office of Public Works has not accepted the outcome of the independent investigation; the reason the recommendation of the Rights Commissioners of 12 March 2015 has not been adhered to; the cost of the report and the process to date; the cost of a report by a company (details supplied); his views on whether his Department is in breach of sections 8.9 and 8.10 of the positive working environment policy for State employees; and if he will expedite a resolution to the problems. [22900/16]

Post Office Network

Thomas Pringle

526. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons the group examining developing post offices as hubs has not yet convened; when it is due to convene; the level of commitment on behalf of the Government to developing post offices as social hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22127/16]

Departmental Investigations

Brendan Griffin

527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will investigate an allegation (details supplied); the reason a substantive response has not issued to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22028/16]

Departmental Reports

Éamon Ó Cuív

528. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22030/16]

Departmental Legal Cases

Peadar Tóibín

529. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department or any other Department has a non-disclosure agreement with Meath Partnership. [22156/16]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

530. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of Meath Partnership-related contracts that have been won by companies (details supplied) in the past ten years. [22157/16]