Parliamentary questions

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Brendan Howlin

47. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to allow alcohol to be sold on Good Friday; if the sale of alcohol Bill contains measures regarding Good Friday licensing laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32404/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Brendan Howlin

193. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ratify the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32436/16]

Programme for Government

Brendan Howlin

364. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made within his Department on the establishment of a dedicated prevention and early intervention unit; the detail of the work programme planned for that unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31579/16]

Legal Services Regulation

Brendan Howlin

173. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 159, 161, 163 and 174 of 16 September 2016, when the provisions implementing sections 149 to 161 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30813/16]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Howlin

512. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the actions taken by the HSE to date to enforce amongst all HSE services the ruling of the European Court of Justice which determined that time spent travelling to and from first and last appointments by workers without a fixed office as working time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30797/16]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Brendan Howlin

642. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action which has been taken to enforce here the ruling of the European Court of Justice which determined that time spent travelling to and from first and last appointments by workers without a fixed office as working time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30796/16]

Judicial Appointments

Brendan Howlin

42. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of judicial vacancies that exist currently in each of the courts; the timescale envisaged to fill these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29782/16]

Public Private Partnerships

Brendan Howlin

310. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position regarding the revised Manual on Government Deficit and Debt, MGDD, published by EUROSTAT on 4 March 2016; the implications of these guidelines for the treatment of existing and future public-private partnerships, PPPs; the implications for future profit sharing between the State and PPPs; if he has had any discussion with the European Commission on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29638/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

129. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the reason persons (details supplied) in County Wexford cannot be granted a concessionary bus ticket for school; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28023/16]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

632. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when the Wexford satellite dialysis unit will be in operation; if he is aware that the current location is experiencing planning difficulties; if he will seek to find an alternative site for this urgently needed facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26773/16]

Legal Services Regulation

Brendan Howlin

159. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the provisions implementing sections149 to161, inclusive, of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 will be brought into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25763/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Howlin

1279. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list will receive the hospital treatment they require. [25571/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Howlin

1319. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list will receive the hospital treatment they require. [25705/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Howlin

1320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list will receive the hospital treatment they require. [25706/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Howlin

1321. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is on a waiting list will receive the hospital treatment they require. [25707/16]

Research and Development Grants

Brendan Howlin

861. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on concern within the research community regarding possible reforms to the system used to allocate research grants; the specific plans, if any, to divest her Department’s control of the programme for research in third-level institutions, PRTLI, to Science Foundation Ireland; and her views on the fact that any potential divestment to Science Foundation Ireland would include measures to ensure that the PRTLI's traditional focus on capital, research infrastructure and students will remain and that PRTLI will retain its traditional role of enabling all areas of research. [24026/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had with the British Prime Minister, the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland and the First Minister of Scotland on the British exit from the EU. [21101/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach for an update on the discussions he has had on the Border issue with the British Prime Minister and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland since the decision on Brexit by the British people, and if there will be some mechanism for political parties across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to participate in developing Ireland's strategy for dealing with the impact of Brexit. [22492/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

13. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. [22491/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

21. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when he is scheduled to meet the new British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May; the contacts he has had with the new Prime Minister since her appointment; his plans to meet the new United Kingdom Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Mr. David Davis; and if he has instructed any of his Ministers to make contact with the new Secretary of State. [22820/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Howlin

23. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has made contact with the leaders of the main political groupings across the European Union, including the group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the group of the European People’s Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, in the context of Ireland's post-Brexit strategy. [22493/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

25. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to report on the new Cabinet committee on Brexit. [22821/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

26. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to reorganise his Department in response to Britain's exiting of the European Union; if this will involve the transfer of departmental functions or staff from other Departments; and the number of staff who will be working on Brexit exclusively in his Department. [22822/16]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Howlin

1. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on justice reform was last convened. [19812/16]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Brendan Howlin

140. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, further to the request of the Garda Commissioner in her press statement of 25 May 2016 and pursuant to her powers under the Garda Síochána Acts, she has referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, for the purpose of an investigation in the public interest, the matter of whether two senior Garda officers had sought to misrepresent before the O’Higgins commission of investigation the contents of a meeting they held with a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22700/16]

JobsPlus Scheme

Brendan Howlin

444. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an elected member of a local authority, who is currently in receipt of jobseeker's assistance, qualifies to take up employment through the JobsPlus scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22379/16]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Brendan Howlin

381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20807/16]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to report on the European Council meeting; and his agenda for European Council discussions in terms of the Government's strategy for dealing with the vote to exit the European Union by the electorate of the United Kingdom. [19375/16]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Brendan Howlin

65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the allocation of ministerial powers at both Cabinet and Minister of State level; if all ministerial powers have been transferred to reflect the reorganised ministerial portfolios; if not, the powers which have not been transferred and the reason there has been a delay; when they will be transferred; and the delegated powers of each of the Ministers of State. [19810/16]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Brendan Howlin

66. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the sections of staff that have been assigned or transferred between Departments as a consequence of changes to ministerial or departmental structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19811/16]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has considered setting up a Cabinet sub-committee to deal with the potential impact of Brexit on the economy. [19376/16]

EU Issues

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to meet the British Prime Minister to discuss post-Brexit relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom; if he has also met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on the same matter; and his plans to meet the Scottish First Minister. [19377/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Brendan Howlin

25. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he envisages his strategy following a British withdrawal from the European Union will involve opposition parties; the formal arrangements he will put in place to facilitate this and to work with political groupings across the European Union including the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Group of the European People’s Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19758/16]

Drugs Crime

Brendan Howlin

88. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drug detection dogs available to An Garda Síochána; the location of such dogs; and her plans to deploy more drug detection dogs across the country. [19242/16]

Garda Complaints Procedures

Brendan Howlin

90. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the statutory inquiry into allegations of Garda misconduct made by the former chief executive of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association; the timeframe she envisages for this inquiry; the terms of reference for the inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19258/16]

Customs and Excise Controls

Brendan Howlin

126. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of drug detection dogs available to the customs service; the location of such dogs; his plans to deploy more drug detection dogs at the points of entry into this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19243/16]

Social Partnership Meetings

Brendan Howlin

397. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline his plans to establish a process of dialogue with the social partners. [15847/16]

Social Partnership Meetings

Brendan Howlin

398. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline his plans to establish a process of dialogue with the social partners. [17134/16]

Prisoner Complaints Procedures

Brendan Howlin

27. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the report of the Inspector of Prisons on the prisoner complaints system review, evaluation and analysis of the operation of the present Irish Prison Service complaints procedure, which identified a number of significant concerns regarding the implementation of the complaints procedure in prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17141/16]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Brendan Howlin

45. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress on the new scheme of access to independent legal and financial advice for those in home mortgage arrears announced in January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17140/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Brendan Howlin

51. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans in respect of commencing the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17139/16]

Paternity Leave Scheme

Brendan Howlin

65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she intends that the Bill to introduce two weeks of paid paternity leave will be a step along the road to introducing a year’s paid parental leave to be shared between mothers and fathers; the timetable for proposed further developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17143/16]

Immigration Policy

Brendan Howlin

96. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of Ireland's contribution to the EU's response to the migration crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17635/16]

Constitutional Amendments

Brendan Howlin

62. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the constitutional referendums he will hold in the next 12 months. [15849/16]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Brendan Howlin

64. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the elements of the programme for Government for which he is responsible. [15843/16]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Howlin

65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for the staffing and structure of his Department. [15845/16]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Brendan Howlin

78. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her progress in refurbishing Fitzgibbon Street Garda Síochána station in Dublin 1; her plans to reopen the station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16328/16]

Tobacco Control Measures

Brendan Howlin

87. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that he and his team of Ministers are fully committed to implementing the Tobacco Free Ireland policy by 2025; and if he has rejected any proposals to roll back measures currently in place on smoking in the workplace. [13744/16]

Ambulance Service

Brendan Howlin

96. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that he has accepted all the recommendations of the recently published capacity review of the national ambulance service; when he expects these recommendations to be implemented; and the additional funding that may be required for the service. [13743/16]

Programme for Government

Brendan Howlin

33. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has costed the agreements made with Independent Teachtaí Dála and with Fianna Fáil to maintain the Government; the total costs involved; the impact for the 2016 Estimates of Expenditure; if he envisages alterations in expenditure limits for any Department in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/16]

Public Private Partnerships

Brendan Howlin

550. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received a response from the European Commission to his predecessor's letter of 3 May 2016, expressing serious concerns at the changing approach taken by EUROSTAT to the balance sheet classification of public private partnership; his future strategy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12744/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Brendan Howlin

154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for funding for an additional classroom; if he will provide funding in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11358/16]

Commissions of Investigation

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the handling of the allegations made by a person (details supplied), the investigation by a person (details supplied), the actions of her predecessor as Minister and the consequences that resulted for her predecessor and the former Garda Commissioner given the findings of the final report of the Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters Relative to the Cavan/Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána). [10529/16]