Parliamentary questions

Fuel Prices

Thomas P. Broughan

617. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has asked the Competition Authority to examine the level of pricing in the liquid fuels market in view of the considerable and ever-growing financial burden being placed upon families and businesses here by skyrocketing fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38591/12]

Competition Authority Investigations

Thomas P. Broughan

621. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the potential lack of competition in the retail book distribution sector if a recently proposed takeover (details supplied) goes ahead; if he has been briefed by the Competition Authority on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38897/12]

Cloud Computing Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

949. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on recent figures from the European Commission that less than a quarter of computer users across the EU use cloud computing; if he has had any input into the forthcoming new policy, Cloud Computing Strategy for the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39229/12]

Gas and Electricity Disconnections

Thomas P. Broughan

989. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the impact of recently approved gas and electricity prices on families and businesses; if he was briefed by CER on the decision to approve further gas and electricity price rises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38592/12]

Gas and Electricity Disconnections

Thomas P. Broughan

990. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline each approved rise in gas and electricity prices every year since 2009; if he will state the cumulative rise in gas and electricity since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38593/12]

Alternative Energy Projects

Thomas P. Broughan

997. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent European Parliament report entitled Impacts of Shale Gas and Shale Oil Extraction on the Environment and on Human Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39165/12]

Digital Television Service Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

998. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on national digital switch over week and on all other necessary preparations in relation to the switching off of the analogue TV network on 24 October, 2012; if the estimated 200,000 people still using the analogue network will have alternative arrangements in place after that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39166/12]

EU Directives

Thomas P. Broughan

1013. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will report on the recent passing of European Parliament legislation on reducing the sulphur levels in shipping fuels; if it will have any impact on the Irish shipping sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39228/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

1046. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if, in the context of the recent report of the Pyrite Panel, all houses in the 74 identified estates in the report are to be tested for pyrite; and, if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37658/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

1047. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has asked stakeholders to provide an interim report detailing progress made on the pyrite crisis in consultation with pyrite-affected homeowners and their representatives; and, if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37659/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

1048. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if draft legislation has been prepared to impose levies on any stakeholder who has failed to cooperate or implement a required action by an agreed deadline as outlined in the report of the Pyrite Panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37660/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

1049. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will clarify the status of multi-unit developments and apartments in the pyrite remediation and resolution process given that ground floor dwellings are referred to in the Report of the Pyrite Panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37661/12]

Household Charge Collection

Thomas P. Broughan

1127. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of reminder letters that have been sent out to residents in relation to the non-payment of the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39168/12]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas P. Broughan

1184. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any work is being done by the Department on surrogacy births in Ireland and on the recognition of foreign surrogacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37652/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

1185. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the final figures and report on Garda Operation Slowdown will be available; if in the final review there will be a figure for the number of vehicles monitored as well as speeding offences detected; if he will clarify if the Garda traffic corps or GoSafe conducted Operation SlowDown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37662/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

1186. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify if Operation SlowDown was an additional surveillance operation, augmenting the existing GoSafe safety camera programme; if the speed surveillance for OSD was conducted by the traffic corps, GoSafe, or both; if the overall level of speed surveillance during the 24 hours of OSD was higher than usual; if OSD speed surveillance was greater than normal levels; the nature and extent of the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37663/12]

Road Safety Statistics

Thomas P. Broughan

1242. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of single-vehicle fatal and serious collisions since 2009; the number of these that involved learner drivers; the number of these learners that were driving unaccompanied or without L plates at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38537/12]

Road Safety Statistics

Thomas P. Broughan

1243. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of learner drivers without L plates displayed that were involved in a fatal or serious collision each year since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38538/12]

Road Safety Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

1244. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the results of the latest Garda national operation learner driver enforcement day on 5 July 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/12]

Road Safety Statistics

Thomas P. Broughan

1245. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers involved in a fatal or serious road collision that were tested for alcohol from 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2012; the number of fatal or serious collisions that have occurred since January 2012 in which the drivers involved have not been tested for their alcohol level either at the crash scene, in the Garda station or in hospital and the reasons for not testing in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/12]

EU Directives

Thomas P. Broughan

1284. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will be supporting at EU level the recent proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the European Council establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime which includes road traffic victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39164/12]

Garda Deployment

Thomas P. Broughan

1285. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the impact of the recent changes that were implemented to the Garda roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39169/12]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

1872. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if a learner driver who is involved in a serious or fatal collision while driving unaccompanied is fully compliant with the terms of their insurance policy; the implications for other road users if they may not be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39170/12]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

1901. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the number of times in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 that penalty points will not be applied after a road traffic violation because the motorist involved did not hold an Irish driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37682/12]

Penalty Points System

Thomas P. Broughan

1920. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to include penalty points for learners driving unaccompanied in the Road Traffic Bill being drafted at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38541/12]

Penalty Points System

Thomas P. Broughan

1921. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to include penalty points for learners driving without L plates in the Road Traffic Bill being drafted at present; the number of points that he plans to introduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38542/12]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

1922. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to enact section 54(c) of the 2010 Road Traffic Act giving learners only one point for driving unaccompanied, three points if contested in court, and no points for learners driving without L plates; if so, if he will explain the way this will work without first enacting section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 which will ensure that the current loophole does not continue whereby drivers are getting their cases struck out in court by claiming that they did not receive their notice of fine and points in the post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38543/12]

Penalty Points System

Thomas P. Broughan

1923. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce penalty points for learners in the current Bill, in line with the system in Northern Ireland that is three points if driving without a qualified driver and three points for non display of L plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38544/12]

Driving Licence Applications

Thomas P. Broughan

1924. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will report on the Road Safety Authority's role as the national driver licensing authority; if the local authorities now have no function in driver licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38587/12]

Penalty Points System

Thomas P. Broughan

1925. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the progress made of legislation to implement a full graduated driving licence system; the timetable for publishing this legislation; when he expects the new licensing system to be fully operational; the main heads of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38588/12]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Thomas P. Broughan

1926. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he is considering any new measures in terms of enhanced security to protect commuters and staff on public and private transport services in view of the vulnerable position, in particular, of staff; and if he is considering any new legislative measures to make it a specific offence to target public and private transport operators. [38589/12]

Renewable Energy

Thomas P. Broughan

12 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the outcomes of the electric vehicle grant scheme that was introduced in 2009; if the target of achieving 6,000 passenger vehicles in operation by 2012 will be achieved; the percentage of the national car fleet that is powered by electricity; the amount the scheme has cost since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35518/12]

Energy Prices

Thomas P. Broughan

21 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the practice of energy switching or collective community energy bargaining as occurs in Belgium and potentially in Scotland to address the issue of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35519/12]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Thomas P. Broughan

104 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if any action is being taken to ensure that a financial institution (details supplied) has passed on all recent ECB interest rate cuts to hard-pressed mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36335/12]

Ground Rents Abolition

Thomas P. Broughan

581 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will proceed with legislation to abolish ground rents in view of the resurgence of demands in certain ground rents by landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36244/12]

Abbey Theatre

Thomas P. Broughan

26 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has been briefed by the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on the recent discovery of asbestos in the theatre building; if he is satisfied with the proposed programmes of repair to the historic national theatre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35039/12]

Heritage Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

46 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his recent allocation of €712,000 for the protection of vulnerable structures; if he will consider initiating a nationwide audit of vulnerable sites in view of the current status, for example, of sites such as the historic Belcamp College, Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35038/12]

Tax Collection

Thomas P. Broughan

63 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to prevent the loss of VAT income to the State through reclaimed VAT on losses incurred in below cost selling of alcohol products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35922/12]

School Transport

Thomas P. Broughan

110 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary school students in Dublin 5, 13 and 17 who avail of the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35840/12]

School Curriculum

Thomas P. Broughan

111 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce computer science into the second level curriculum in view of the recent international surveys showing a weakness in the Irish educational system in mathematics and closely related subjects like computer science; if the informal computer science initiative for young persons being taken by a Minister in his Department will be extended into mainstream curricula; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35848/12]

Alcohol Pricing

Thomas P. Broughan

141 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to consider introducing a ban on below cost selling of alcohol products and also to prevent the loss of VAT income to the State through reclaimed VAT on losses incurred in below cost selling of alcohol products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35923/12]

Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects

Thomas P. Broughan

179 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently review the greatly reduced level of funding allocated to an addiction rehabilitation programme (details supplied) which will have a very negative effect the level of service offered by the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35847/12]

Planning Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

236 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current progress by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council on the Malahide Road/Clare Hall town centre realignment or bypass; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to plan and construct the realignment to permit the remediation and completion of the Belmayne and Newtown section of the north fringe as per the DCC and Fingals LAPs for the district; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35841/12]

Planning Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

237 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider establishing a strategic development zone for the north fringe of Dublin City and south fringe of Fingal County to oversee the full remediation and completion of the district as a first class new urban region for the counties concerned; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the non-statutory North Fringe Forum urgently needs SDZ management status to strengthen its coordinating and invigilation role carried out since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35845/12]

Property Taxation

Thomas P. Broughan

238 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concluded his deliberations with regard to the structure of the Government’s new house property tax; when he will be in a position to make an announcement to Dáil Éireann; if that tax will impact on the existing second home tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35846/12]

Garda Mounted Unit and Dog Unit

Thomas P. Broughan

266 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of horses in the Garda mounted unit; his plans to increase this number; the number of dogs in the Garda dog unit; his plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35836/12]

Garda Equipment

Thomas P. Broughan

267 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of intoxilser machines in each Garda divisional headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35837/12]

Garda Deployment

Thomas P. Broughan

268 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank attached to stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35838/12]

Garda Investigations

Thomas P. Broughan

269 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has received a detailed report from the Garda Commissioner regarding the trouble which occurred in the Phoenix Park on the 7 July last; if the promoters and relevant local authorities and the Office of Public Works officials were interviewed; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions secured to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35839/12]

Alcohol Advertising

Thomas P. Broughan

276 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will publish and implement legislation establishing a statutory code of practice for the purpose of setting standards for the display, sale, supply, advertising, promotion and marketing of alcoholic liquor including setting out the classes of intoxicating liquor, classes of licensed premises and types of license to which the code will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35920/12]