Parliamentary questions

Beef Industry

Brendan Griffin

403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to promote Irish beef; his views that not enough is being done to promote Irish beef domestically and internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/14]

Agrifood Sector

Brendan Griffin

404. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on below-cost selling of agricultural produce; the way producers could be protected from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26596/14]

Beef Industry

Brendan Griffin

405. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the price of beef; the way he will assist farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26598/14]

Liquor Licensing Laws

Brendan Griffin

498. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will streamline the licensing system for wine, spirits and beer in restaurants in order that only one licence and one application/renewal fee would cover all three areas; if her attention has been drawn to the red tape involved at present under the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27328/14]

Court Accommodation Refurbishment

Brendan Griffin

499. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the acoustics in Dingle courthouse will be improved with an amplification system, as it is difficult to hear proceedings at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27329/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Brendan Griffin

522. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26586/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Brendan Griffin

588. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of lupus sufferers here; if lupus will be recognised on the long-term illness scheme and in medical card eligibility consideration in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26956/14]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Griffin

601. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding residential care staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27018/14]

Road Signage

Brendan Griffin

686. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the spelling of a place name on signage (details supplied) in County Kerry will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27017/14]

Parking Regulations

Brendan Griffin

687. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding parking restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27021/14]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Brendan Griffin

188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will directly intervene to ensure that no top-up payments will be paid to senior executives in voluntary hospitals and health agencies by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26450/14]

Regional Road Network

Brendan Griffin

208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding for local tertiary and cul-de-sac roads (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26371/14]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide maps of the proposed new Ballyvourney to Ovens road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26403/14]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Brendan Griffin

213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a decision has been made on an application for a sports capital grant in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26449/14]

School Accommodation

Brendan Griffin

65. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for temporary classrooms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26321/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Brendan Griffin

190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied); if the medical card in question will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26302/14]

Leader's Allowance

Brendan Griffin

283. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amounts paid to individual Independent Deputies since the beginning of the 31st Dáil under the leader's allowance heading; if any Deputy has returned any of the leader's allowance; the date from which the leader's allowance has to be vouched; the amount Independent Deputies were paid while the allowance was unvouched; if he will abolish the allowance altogether; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25340/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Brendan Griffin

393. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a sign with bus timetables will be erected at a site (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25373/14]

Energy Regulation

Brendan Griffin

406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will establish a multi-departmental task force to progress the Shannon LNG project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25279/14]

Motor Tax Collection

Brendan Griffin

438. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will put in place a fairer motor tax system in order that newer more expensive vehicles pay more than older less valuable vehicles as the current system penalises persons who cannot afford newer cars and allows situations where a person with a brand new Mercedes pays less than the person with a 20-year-old family hatch; his views on the decline in national motor tax receipts due to the emissions-based system and that the figures will continue to decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25404/14]

Farm Safety

Brendan Griffin

500. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to advise farmers on the dangers of slurry gases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/14]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

505. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when details of a 2012 overclaim of single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [25397/14]

TB Eradication Scheme

Brendan Griffin

506. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review and increase the income supplement for farmers who find themselves locked up long term by the district veterinary office in view of the additional financial costs incurred by farmers in this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25424/14]

Beef Data Programme

Brendan Griffin

520. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason proof of postage will not be accepted in respect of a 2014 beef data programme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/14]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Brendan Griffin

534. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the review of a single farm payment overclaim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [25957/14]

Medical Card Appeals

Brendan Griffin

728. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will directly intervene in a unacceptable delay on a medical card appeal in respect of a person ( details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25996/14]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Brendan Griffin

758. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will establish a working group to investigate ways of clearing the long lists of local improvement scheme applicants nationwide; if he will consider proposals like allowing the applicants to contribute a greater amount of the cost if they are willing; if he will ring-fence funding for local authorities for LIS jobs only; if he would allow CCAs to be contributed to LISs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25466/14]

Property Tax Application

Brendan Griffin

76. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce concessions on the local property tax for pensioners who are in receipt of the household benefits package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/14]

National Parks Projects

Brendan Griffin

136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht noting the recent welcome allocation of €100,000, when works on repairing roads in Killarney National Park will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25082/14]

Dairy Equipment Scheme Applications

Brendan Griffin

161. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a combination of purchased and leased quota will qualify a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a dairy equipment scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25073/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

Brendan Griffin

227. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the 80 new nationwide posts allocated to County Kerry Health Service Executive for multidisciplinary services will come on stream; if additional posts will be allocated to County Kerry from the national allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25077/14]

Nursing Staff Provision

Brendan Griffin

228. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a disability nurse will be provided for a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25078/14]

Wild Atlantic Way Project

Brendan Griffin

249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a decision will be made without further delay to include the County Kerry villages of Cloghane and Brandon in the Wild Atlantic Way; if he will ensure that this happens sooner rather than later to allow logistical changes such as signage and GPS information to be updated in order that the persons of these communities can get the optimum benefit from inclusion on the route in the current tourism season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25083/14]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

44. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of May 2014, the position of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who was adversely affected by the changes to the OPFTC in budget 2014 and now faces losing their home and consequently placing a financial burden on the State; if he will look at ways of easing the financial impact of this measure on such persons by introducing a limited credit for secondary carers who do not qualify for the SPCCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24927/14]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Brendan Griffin

54. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review all budgets to see if funding can be found to fix the pier at An Blascaod Mór, County Kerry, in view of the large number of visitors to the island annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24930/14]

State Properties

Brendan Griffin

57. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding access for disabled persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24938/14]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

63. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the living alone allowance for pensioners in view of the huge financial pressure of running a household on one income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24825/14]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Brendan Griffin

79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the scientific evidence available to prove afforestation affects the breeding grounds of the hen harrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24879/14]

Energy Schemes

Brendan Griffin

98. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has grant aided schemes available to businesses to reduce their energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24828/14]

Inland Fisheries

Brendan Griffin

101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 13 May 2014, if some form of stocking will take place at a lake in County Kerry; if he will consider stocking the lake for the months of July and August or some fairer outcome than the complete cessation of stocking; his views that just because the lake is the furthest away from the rearing-on facility that it should not be completely dropped from the stocking schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24925/14]

Inland Fisheries

Brendan Griffin

102. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding fishing licences and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24926/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Brendan Griffin

111. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether householders with septic tanks, whose outflowing water does not go back into the public sewer mains system, where it would have to be treated at a cost, should have to pay less for water as they are less expensive customers to service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24936/14]

Electoral Reform

Brendan Griffin

112. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reduce or limit the use of election posters for future elections or referendums; if he has considered the matter; the number of posters and plastic it is estimated was used nationwide in the 2014 local and European elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24937/14]

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

121. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is entitled to increased entitlements now that they are milking and have moved away from sucklers. [24935/14]

Road Projects Status

Brendan Griffin

172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are ways to finance the completion of the Dingle inner relief road; if he will bundle the project with future planned works on the N86 or if there is some other way of progressing it in view of the fact that the local authority cannot afford to finance the project from its own resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24922/14]

Sports Events

Brendan Griffin

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an up to date position on efforts to bring the Rugby World Cup 2023 to Ireland; if he sees potential for Killarney being a host town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24923/14]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Brendan Griffin

174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to announce allocations under the 2014 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24924/14]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided by the National Roads Authority for a road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/14]

Drugs Crime

Brendan Griffin

156. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he expects the inclusion of the value of illegal drug activity and prostitution in the measure of GDP to impact significantly on the figures; if he is confident that the Central Statistics Office can ascertain an accurate reading in respect of these activities; the way the CSO is researching the levels of activity in drug dealing and prostitution; if he is concerned that the inclusion of these activities in the calculation of GDP somewhat destigmatises them and that some persons involved could see this as the State morally legitimising their actions; his plans to account for other black market activity in GDP calculation; if he was surprised by the scale of the impact of the inclusion of these activities on the UK's GDP figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24213/14]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether income tax cuts-USC reductions-widening of the tax bands in the forthcoming budget would pay for themselves through additional spending in the economy; if so, if he will consider holding a mini-budget before the summer recess to ease the income tax burden on workers and to stimulate the economy by putting money in people's pockets; if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons who believe it is hardly worth their while to go to work anymore and feel they would be better off not working; his views on whether working is not rewarding in many scenarios due to the income tax burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24215/14]