Parliamentary questions

Deportation Orders Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

94. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time it takes to provide decisions on applications for leave to remain; his plans to ensure that these applications are resolved in a speedy manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54487/12]

Court Orders

Michelle Mulherin

95. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he proposes to provide for the commencement of the section 15 the Fines Act 2000 dealing with the payment of fines by instalments; his plans to deduct fines by instalments from State payments such as social welfare or wages made to a convicted person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54357/12]

Penalty Point System

Mick Wallace

96. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to alter the method in which motoring offences are followed up by the Gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54497/12]

Judicial Appointments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

97. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce an independent Judicial Appointments Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54461/12]

Garda Deployment

Bernard Durkan

98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which he continues to monitor the deployment of Garda numbers at various stations throughout the country with a view to ensuring a strong and visible deterrent to all forms of crime but with particular reference to organised criminality; if he will ensure that the network of Garda stations is retained in such a way as to represent best practice in the fight against crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54505/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Derek Keating

99. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider introducing a free flow traffic management programme under the auspices of the Garda Traffic Corps; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the main N4 and N7 motorways regularly have minor incidences which lead to delays at extremely busy commuter times particularly in the morning and the effect that this is having on commuters getting to work, commerce and indeed shopping in the city area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54350/12]

Prisoner Releases

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

100. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce a single piece of legislation dealing with the matters of remission, temporary release and parole law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54467/12]

Crime Levels

Bernard Durkan

101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the number of crimes committed by prisoners while on bail continues to monitored by his Department; the number of such incidence recorded in each of the past five years to date; the number of recidivistic incidents; the action taken or intended to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54506/12]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

102. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will have the case of the murder of Garda Richard Fallon on 3 April 1970 independently reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54354/12]

Domestic Violence Incidence

Gerry Adams

103. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he will introduce a consolidated Bill on domestic violence. [54463/12]

Penalty Point System

Clare Daly

104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he received information regarding the write off of substantial numbers of motoring offences by some Gardaí. [54507/12]

Prison Accommodation

Martin Ferris

105. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that countries such as France have made use of collective pardons to tackle overcrowding in prisons, rather than having recourse to the time-consuming early release mechanism; if he has considered the making use of the right of pardon and the power to commute or remit punishment to bring the prison population within the safe custody limits recommended by the Inspector of Prisons for appropriate prisoners. [54470/12]

Court Procedures

Jonathan O'Brien

106. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to amend in camera rules for court hearings in family law cases; and the timeline in which he intends to complete same. [54473/12]

Human Rights Issues

Pearse Doherty

107. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 29 (1930) and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights requires forced labour to be punishable as a criminal offence; in view of the fact that there is no law here that makes forced labour a criminal offence, his plans to rectify same. [54484/12]

Constitutional Convention

Robert Dowds

108. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the expected cost of the Constitutional Convention to take place this year and next year. [55225/12]

Public Services Provision

Mary Lou McDonald

109. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55438/12]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Richard Boyd Barrett

110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the way he is monitoring progress on his Department's strategic priorities as set out in his Department's strategy statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55522/12]

Social Partnership

Richard Boyd Barrett

111. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on any recent or planned meeting with social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55523/12]

Social Partnership

Richard Boyd Barrett

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on any recent or planned social dialogue with civil society groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55524/12]

Social Partnership

Richard Boyd Barrett

113. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of the groups he plans to meet as part of his commitment to social dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55525/12]

Visa Applications

Dominic Hannigan

114. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to increase the number of countries that the Irish passport is visa free to enter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55374/12]

Foreign Conflicts

Finian McGrath

115. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the case of a person (details supplied) who has refused to take part in the war against the Palestinian people by refusing to serve with the Israel Defence Force. [55077/12]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Terence Flanagan

116. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a query regarding overseas aid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55101/12]

Human Rights Issues

Micheál Martin

117. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the status and whereabouts of Ayman Taleb Abustah a prisoner in the Israeli prison system with the Israeli authorities. [55115/12]

Human Rights Issues

Michael Conaghan

118. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made any representations to the Ugandan Government regarding the proposed creation of a legal offence of aggravated homosexuality which includes long prison sentences and even the death penalty; if this will be raised in Ireland's capacity as a member of the UN Human Rights Council; if this will be a consideration in any future allocation of development aid to the Ugandan Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55187/12]

Human Rights Issues

Bernard Durkan

119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which it has been found possible directly or in consort with his EU or UN colleagues to ascertain the basis on which an Irish citizen (details supplied) for more than twenty years has been detained in prison without charge for the past five years in Sri Lanka in violation of human rights and international law; if the appropriate bodies at EU and UN level are aware of the full circumstances in the case; if such detention is deemed acceptable; if any particular steps have been taken or are contemplated with a view to ensuring that the person’s rights as an Irish citizen are observed in the spirit and letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55354/12]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Denis Naughten

120. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date on the introduction of an E-3 visa for Irish citizens wishing to work in the United States of America; the discussions, if any, that have taken place with representatives on Capitol Hill on the implementation of comprehensive immigration reform in the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55423/12]

Public Services Provision

Mary Lou McDonald

121. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55432/12]

Passport Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

122. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria pertaining to obtaining Irish language versions of passports; if it is the case that only the name on the applicants official birth certificate is acceptable and that this negates against those wishing to use the Irish version of their name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55504/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Eoghan Murphy

123. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered extending the vehicle registration tax for electric vehicles beyond December 2012. [55345/12]

Sale of State Assets

Denis Naughten

124. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding plans to deliver upon the objectives of NewERA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55414/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

125. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of personal and or commercial loan accounts in Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, in which he is the shareholder of 100% of the shares, were found to have been charged interest rates in excess of those permitted by contractual arrangements between bank and customer and the amount of money and or credit that was refunded to such accounts in 2009, 2010 and 2011. [55094/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of personal and or commercial loan accounts in Allied Irish Banks, in which he is the shareholder of 99.8% of the shares, including the Educational Building Society, were found to have been charged interest rates in excess of those permitted by contractual arrangements between bank and customer and the amount of money and or credit that was refunded to such accounts in 2009, 2010 and 2011. [55095/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

127. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of personal and or commercial loan accounts in Permanent TSB, in which he is the shareholder of 99.5% of the shares, were found to have been charged interest rates in excess of those permitted by contractual arrangements between bank and customer and the amount of money and or credit that was refunded to such accounts in 2009, 2010 and 2011. [55096/12]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

128. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation or its predecessor repossessed property and or appointed receivers to assets of any account holder who was charged interest rates in excess of those permitted by contractual arrangements between bank and customer. [55097/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Kevin Humphreys

129. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the amount of public money invested by the State in the Bank of Ireland since 2008; the fees paid by the bank for the various deposit guarantees since then; the other sums paid by the bank to the state for repurchase of warrants and any other fees; what is our preference share holding and what is the coupon rate; the amount that has been paid to date and the amount that will be paid in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55117/12]

NAMA Debtor Agreements

Terence Flanagan

130. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the amount of expenses received by developers and builders whose properties or businesses are in the National Assets Management Agency. [55139/12]

Banking Sector Regulation

Regina Doherty

131. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the changes in auditing and regulatory practices that have been enacted since the banking crash in 2008 and since the appointment of a person (details supplied) as head of regulation at the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55186/12]

Tax Rebates

Noel Harrington

132. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will get receipt of the tax repayment that is due to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55204/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Application

Michael McCarthy

133. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a tax rebate claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55210/12]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

134. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance in view of the visit by the chair of the Committee of Public Accounts to investigate corruption in African countries and in view of the U.K. Public Accounts Committee calling multi-national corporations into Westminster to examine their profits and tax responsibilities, if he will request the Committee of Public Accounts to call in multi-national companies to outline their responsibilities in relation to payment of corporate tax here. [55243/12]

Tax Yield

Seamus Kirk

135. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT and excise duty collected on agricultural diesel for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55315/12]

Credit Availability

Peter Mathews

136. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance if reclassification of debt or the exiting of Bank of Scotland Ireland from the Irish market is responsible for the reduction in credit to households for house purchases of €4.1 billion and the increase of credit to investment and pension funds of €3.15 billion between July and August 2009; the reduction of household loans by €7.55 billion and the increase of loans to funds by €6.09 billion between November and December 2010; the reduction in household loans of €17.17 billion and increase in credit extended to financial funds by €16.23 billion between September and October 2011; if these changes are considered to be household deleveraging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55336/12]

Illegal Moneylenders

John Deasy

137. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of licences that have issued to moneylenders; the number of convictions in each of the past five years for illegal trading as a moneylender; the checks, if any, that are carried out by the Central Bank of Ireland on licensed moneylenders to ensure they are charging the declared interest rate; his plans to cap the rate of APR charged by moneylenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55371/12]

Public Sector Receipts

Pearse Doherty

138. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 27 November 2012, if he will provide a breakdown by Department and scheme of the expected public sector receipts from the EU budget in 2012 and 2013 of €1.85 billion and €1.7 billion respectively. [55388/12]

NAMA Court Cases

Pearse Doherty

139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to publication by the National Assets Management Agency of a report into the purchase of a property under its control by a former employee, if he will provide details of the two independent valuations of the property which NAMA previously claimed had been undertaken; specifically the dates of the valuations and the valuation amounts or ranges. [55389/12]

Departmental Legal Case Numbers

Pearse Doherty

140. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to a newspaper report that the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation requested a borrower to withdraw a complaint by the borrower against a company (details supplied) the reason IBRC would specifically or in general adopt such an approach to one of its borrowers. [55390/12]

Departmental Legal Case Numbers

Pearse Doherty

141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the recent application by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in the High Court where a company (details supplied) is named as the respondent, if he will provide an outline of the application and remedies sought by IBRC. [55391/12]

Housing Statistics

Pearse Doherty

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the estimated number of residential properties in the State in market value bands of €50,000, that is between €0 to €50,000, between €50,000 to €100,000 and so on; and if he will provide the source or basis for these estimates. [55394/12]

Public Services Provision

Mary Lou McDonald

143. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 December 2012, if he will provide a list of all new services across his Department that have been tested for external service delivery since March 2011. [55431/12]