Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 2 of 14
Tue, 22 Sep 2015
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School Curriculum
Robert Dowds
1363. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at leaving certificate level who have received exemptions from Irish; and the reason they received exemptions. [32328/15]
Wed, 15 Jul 2015
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Long-Term Illness Scheme
Robert Dowds
212. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding the provision for specially adapted shoes or orthopaedic shoes under the long-term illness scheme; the entitlement for same per year; the possibility of receiving more than one pair of shoes per calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/15]
Wed, 8 Jul 2015
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Medicinal Products Prices
Robert Dowds
164. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the extent of the charge for items of medication for persons with medical cards. [27825/15]
Wed, 8 Jul 2015
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Medicinal Products Prices
Robert Dowds
165. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if there is a maximum to the charges for multiple items of medication for persons on medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/15]
Wed, 8 Jul 2015
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Motor Insurance Regulation
Robert Dowds
248. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if purchasers of motorcycles and scramblers must have them taxed and insured before they leave their place of purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27979/15]
Wed, 8 Jul 2015
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Motor Insurance Regulation
Robert Dowds
249. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if purchasers of motor cars must have them taxed and insured before they leave their place of purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27980/15]
Tue, 7 Jul 2015
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Special Educational Needs Staff
Robert Dowds
463. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a sufficient number of special needs assistants to meet demand at primary level in the forthcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27010/15]
Thu, 2 Jul 2015
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Banking Sector Regulation
Robert Dowds
77. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he, as representative of Allied Irish Banks' largest shareholder, will request senior management of the bank to reconsider its decision to outsource the application development management division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/15]
Thu, 2 Jul 2015
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Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance
Robert Dowds
216. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent of progress in making housing voids habitable again in each of the four local authorities in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/15]
Wed, 1 Jul 2015
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Homeless Accommodation Provision
Robert Dowds
265. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that his Department has instructed local authorities to allocate no more than 50% of available housing to persons who are designated as homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26500/15]
Thu, 25 Jun 2015
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Mortgage Interest Rates
Robert Dowds
85. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 324 of 9 June 2015, if it is his understanding that the new mortgage products leading to lower payments for borrowers, which he has received a commitment from the banks to roll out in July 2015, will be available to all variable rate mortgage holders, including investors and-or those holding buy-to-let mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25445/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Robert Dowds
362. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to alter the workings of the direct provision system for asylum seekers. [24696/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Legislative Programme
Robert Dowds
363. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation regarding asylum provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24697/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Construction Contracts
Robert Dowds
594. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are ways to block rogue builders from any further involvement in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24711/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Water Charges Exemptions
Robert Dowds
595. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if exemptions from water charges are available to persons who suffer from Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other debilitating conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24712/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Pyrite Resolution Board Remit
Robert Dowds
609. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the responsibilities of the Pyrite Resolution Board in relation to repair of roads, footpaths, and pipework within an estate adversely affected by the presence of pyrite. [24968/15]
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
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Beit Collection
Robert Dowds
662. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the sale of art and artefacts from the Beit collection; if she will intervene to prevent the sale of any further artworks or artefacts from the collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25017/15]
Thu, 18 Jun 2015
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Housing Adaptation Grant
Robert Dowds
243. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Health Service Executive will supply bathroom adaptations for persons with a disability living in council-owned accommodation. [24337/15]
Thu, 18 Jun 2015
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Housing Adaptation Grant
Robert Dowds
244. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Health Service Executive Cherry Orchard facility, Dublin 10, will supply bathroom adaptations for persons with disabilities living in council-owned accommodation; his views on best practice in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24338/15]
Thu, 18 Jun 2015
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Housing Adaptation Grant
Robert Dowds
245. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Health Service Executive will install a walk-in-shower in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [24339/15]
Tue, 16 Jun 2015
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Road Safety
Robert Dowds
864. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legal standing of the closed circuit television footage which is due to commence at the accident blackspot at the red line Luas in Dublin 7. [22970/15]
Thu, 11 Jun 2015
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Sports Capital Programme Expenditure
Robert Dowds
229. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding the Football Association of Ireland has been given in grants by the State, in each of the years 2008 to 2014; and if the association was required to submit its accounts in order to draw down any funding that was provided. [22718/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Mortgage Interest Rates
Robert Dowds
324. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce legislation to compel the banks to reduce the rate of variable mortgages to bring it close to parity with average European variable mortgage rates, in view of the fact that the average European variable mortgage rate is significantly lower than that here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21943/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Robert Dowds
409. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the introduction of investor-state dispute settlements to Ireland, as part of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America, could lead to the State being sued for enormous sums of money by private corporations if the Government were to enact any legislation or implement any policy which threatened the profitability of such a corporation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21512/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Robert Dowds
410. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the current suing of the German Government by a Swedish energy company, using an investment state dispute settlement which forms part of their bi-lateral trade agreement, for billions of euro on foot of the German Government's decision to phase out the use of nuclear energy, and whether the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement between the European Union and the United States of America could lead to the State being sued in a similar manner for changing its regulatory environment or its public policy, and whether such a threat of being sued would act as a deterrent to any future Government from making regulations which were in the public interest. [21513/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Food Safety Standards
Robert Dowds
442. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the proposed new transatlantic trade and investment partnership trade agreement could lead to a substantial fall in food safety standards for Irish consumers, which may threaten the health of members of the public if they were to ingest harmful substances through foodstuffs imported from the United States of America, which has far lower food safety standards than the European Union, and if his Department has expressed a view on this matter to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21514/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Waste Management
Robert Dowds
1033. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a bin waiver scheme. [21433/15]
Tue, 9 Jun 2015
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Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Robert Dowds
1037. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the proposed transatlantic trade and investment partnership trade agreement could lead to a significant weakening of environmental protection regulations; if he has expressed such concerns to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21483/15]
Tue, 26 May 2015
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Tax Credits
Robert Dowds
261. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the standard rate income tax band to €40,000. [19854/15]
Tue, 26 May 2015
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Tax Credits
Robert Dowds
262. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the savings from withdrawing the personal tax credit for those earning above €100,000, at a withdrawal rate of 20%. [19855/15]
Tue, 26 May 2015
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Tax Credits
Robert Dowds
263. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the savings from fully withdrawing the personal tax credit for those earning €100,000. [19856/15]
Tue, 26 May 2015
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Tax Credits
Robert Dowds
264. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated from applying the 3% universal social charge surcharge to pay as you earn employees who earn more than €100,000 per annum. [19857/15]
Tue, 26 May 2015
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International Education
Robert Dowds
469. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the changes she is proposing to the working holiday arrangements of international students while they are studying English; her views that reducing such working holiday arrangements would aversely affect the competitive advantage enjoyed by these schools when attracting international students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20614/15]
Tue, 19 May 2015
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Commencement of Legislation
Robert Dowds
255. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the commencement order for the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 will be signed. [19712/15]
Thu, 14 May 2015
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Public Transport Provision
Robert Dowds
240. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process of opening bus routes to open competition; the extent of this process; the current status of this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/15]
Thu, 14 May 2015
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Industrial Disputes
Robert Dowds
241. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact, or otherwise, on workers in Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath of certain bus routes being put out to open competition. [19069/15]
Thu, 14 May 2015
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Public Transport Provision
Robert Dowds
242. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the bus routes being put out to open competition; if he will provide an explanation for this process for each of these bus routes; and the stage the process for each of these routes is currently at. [19070/15]
Tue, 12 May 2015
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Legislative Process
Robert Dowds
215. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the number of Private Members' Bills that have been passed since this Dáil was elected in 2011. [18136/15]
Wed, 6 May 2015
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Voluntary Housing Sector
Robert Dowds
532. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the local authority or the voluntary housing organisation which own the homes rented to tenants by organisations such as Cluid or the National Association of Building Co-operatives; his views on the role of voluntary housing organisations in tackling the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17414/15]
Tue, 28 Apr 2015
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National Internship Scheme Data
Robert Dowds
60. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which persons move from JobBridge to full-time employment; and in view of the upturn in employment her plans to gradually phase out the JobBridge programme. [16330/15]
Tue, 28 Apr 2015
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Tax Yield
Robert Dowds
115. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the current rate of deposit interest retention tax; the amount collected in the past three financial years; his plans to alter the operation of the tax; and the exemptions that are available to the tax. [16346/15]
Wed, 15 Apr 2015
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Tax Code
Robert Dowds
167. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14599/15]
Wed, 15 Apr 2015
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Rail Network Expansion
Robert Dowds
864. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether Iarnród Éireann should open the brand new railway station at Kishogue, which has been closed since its construction several years ago, when the Phoenix Park tunnel is opened to passenger traffic between Heuston Station and Connolly Station. [14165/15]
Thu, 2 Apr 2015
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Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Robert Dowds
90. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Investor State Dispute resolution mechanism of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America will hold precedence over Irish court decisions or Irish law; and if so, if he will state his full and unequivocal opposition to any agreement which includes a mechanism of any trade agreement that would enable companies to ignore Irish court decisions or Irish law under any circumstances. [13818/15]
Thu, 2 Apr 2015
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Food Safety Standards
Robert Dowds
91. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement which is currently being discussed will allow for meat products from the United States of America, which may have been exposed to angel dust, growth hormones or other chemical treatment in their production, to be sold on Irish shelves; and if so, the measures that will be in place to ensure that Irish consumers are fully aware that the meat they are eating may not be in compliance with Irish or European Union food standards. [13819/15]
Thu, 2 Apr 2015
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Human Rights
Robert Dowds
213. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the recent comments of his counterpart, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Margot Wallström, on the appalling treatment of women and abuse of human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and if he has or will indicate his support to Ms Wallström and the Swedish Government at a meeting of European Union Foreign Affairs Ministers. [13817/15]
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
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Pension Levy
Robert Dowds
255. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance when the pension levy on private pensions will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12720/15]
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
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Proposed Legislation
Robert Dowds
372. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the new legislation for asylum seekers; and when she expects it to be before Dáil Éireann; and the implications it will have for the long-standing asylum seekers here. [12686/15]
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
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Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility
Robert Dowds
438. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason only patients with certain long term-illnesses are eligible for free medication that is not means tested, while patients with other chronic long-term illnesses such Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis receive no assistance with the cost of their medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13563/15]
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
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National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation
Robert Dowds
501. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health when the implementation of the national positive ageing strategy will commence; and when the consultation process will commence. [13225/15]