Parliamentary questions

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Bríd Smith

290. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has lost entitlement to rent allowance upon being placed on a low paid temporary work scheme by a local Intreo office; why it is not possible for the person to receive support from the local community welfare officer, given that this loss has resulted in an accumulation of rent arrears; and why, if the person and the person's partner were 26 years of age plus, and both in receipt of social protection payments and rent allowance, they would have a greater income than what they have been left with, following the person's placement on this temporary work incentive scheme. [14267/16]

Environmental Policy

Bríd Smith

589. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that climate change is the single most pressing issue for humanity, which will impact on every single aspect of our society and economy; that it is a major mis-step at this time to have effectively abolished the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the new Administration and that, notwithstanding recent reassurances, this suggests to the public that environmental issues will be downgraded; that if he is genuine about joined-up thinking he must reorganise Departments with a view to setting up a Department of environment, climate change and natural heritage, which would have a remit to deal effectively with pressing environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity and with water quality and supply; and if he will give a commitment that the correct urgency will be attached to the priorities of his Ministers concerned with environmental matters, and that they will not be seen as an add on or be relegated in the pursuit of corporate or business interests. [14525/16]

Emergency Departments

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of patients per month who register at emergency departments for treatment but who leave before being discharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13768/16]

Pharmacy Services

Bríd Smith

104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the potential cost savings and benefits to health of introducing a national pharmaceuticals policy which ensures that persons receive quality drugs at the lowest possible price and that doctors prescribe the minimum of required drugs to treat the patient's illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13767/16]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits to the public service in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]

Citizens Assembly

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the citizens' assembly will report to Dáil Éireann on the eighth amendment of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13014/16]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of repealing the financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation and public service pay reverting to 2009 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13013/16]

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]

Third Level Charges

Bríd Smith

343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding university fees. [13511/16]

International Agreements

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he examined the agreement on refugees between the European Union and Turkey prior to signing up to it; if it infringes the European Union Convention on Human Rights with regard to the forced movement of persons in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12129/16]

Diplomatic Representation

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will review its relationship with Egypt considering the brutal crackdown of the Egyptian security services on civil society, non-governmental organisations, trade union activists and other actions which endanger not just Egyptian citizens but European citizens such as persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12127/16]

One-Parent Family Payment

Bríd Smith

35. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will publish the report his Department commissioned and which was prepared by a person (details supplied), given that it was due to be published by August 2015; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11752/16]

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Bríd Smith

221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position regarding Members of the European Parliament not being allowed to access documentation on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12215/16]

Waste Disposal

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to immediately revise the statutory instrument that introduced payment for green bin charges and ensure that, in the interests of the environment, all recycling is incentivised by remaining free of charge by local authorities at bring centres and by waste management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11599/16]

Garda Vetting Applications

Bríd Smith

87. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to investigate and expedite a Garda Síochána clearance query (details supplied). [11699/16]

Constitutional Amendments

Bríd Smith

34. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given the Constitution only recognises the family unit as a married family, when unmarried couples and single-parent families, in particular, will receive the same recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10138/16]

Missing Persons

Bríd Smith

44. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to open an investigation into the disappearance and death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10139/16]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Bríd Smith

120. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to request the office for promotion of migrant integration to enable access by the Amal Group of the Dublin Islamic Foundation of Ireland to the 23 families who are here under the resettlement and relocation programme, in order to provide religious and culturally appropriate support and assistance (details supplied). [10038/16]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

522. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to resource the community employment scheme in order that it can be implemented, such as by using the €10 million European Social Fund funding for the programme for employment inclusion and learning to develop programmes that cross departmental remits. [10123/16]

Youth Guarantee

Bríd Smith

523. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to cancel the decision to exclude persons with disabilities from the Youth Guarantee and the promise of a quality offer of a job placement or training and further education course within four months. [10124/16]