Parliamentary questions

Generic Drugs Substitution

Billy Kelleher

212. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the national targets for generic substitution of medicines; when these targets will be set; the way it is intended that such targets will be realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24890/13]

Substance Misuse

Noel Harrington

213. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health his proposal relating to a minimum price for alcohol in view of the ruling by the Scottish Supreme Court in favour of the legality of the Scottish Government's plans to introduce minimum pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24895/13]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Jack Wall

214. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the fair deal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24921/13]

Ambulance Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

215. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that there is no ambulance cover in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, on Tuesdays due to recent rostering changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24922/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Clare Daly

216. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) has to wait 19 months for a video EEG monitoring test in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; the alternatives or supports available to enable this person to access the urgent medical attention they require [24925/13]

Health Services Provision

John Lyons

217. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to a project (details supplied) in Dublin 11, he will provide details of a timescale for the acquisition of a suitable site, including any sites under consideration; the time scale for the completion of the project:; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/13]

Hospital Charges

Andrew Doyle

218. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of inappropriate billing by hospitals to private health insurance companies for beds not occupied when patients were instead on trolleys; if he will provide an estimate of the scale of this problem in view of the fact that it pushes health insurance premiums higher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Tom Fleming

219. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of home helps in County Kerry; the number of applicants for home help in County Kerry awaiting a decision on their applications; the number of applicants in County Kerry whose hours have been reduced in the past 12 months; the total number of hours cut in County Kerry during the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Willie O'Dea

220. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to fill sanctioned posts in areas of diabetes care, specifically one integrated diabetes nursing post to serve the new mid-west integrated care area, 1.2 diabetes nurse specialist posts to be shared between Limerick and Galway and a 0.75 dietician post for Limerick to allow for the wider availability of insulin pump therapy to children and adolescents in the HSE west the recruitment process for these posts has been completed and has identified a panel of successful candidates but letters of appointment have been so far unissued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24956/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Joanna Tuffy

221. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health when he intends to fill sanctioned posts in critical areas of diabetes care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/13]

Hospital Services

Joe McHugh

222. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health when a service (details supplied) will commence at Letterkenny Regional Hospital, County Donegal [24977/13]

Speech and Language Therapy

Bernard Durkan

223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate if and when assessment will be carried out to determine eligibility for speech and language therapy in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24998/13]

Health Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the resources and support services available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if specific action might be taken with a view to providing the service necessary to address the concerns of the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24999/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Seán Fleming

225. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in his Department and any State agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25168/13]

Rural Transport Programme

Clare Daly

226. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is his intention to remove the free travel pass for the rural transport programme, in effect meaning that passengers will have an almost 70% fare hike in 2014. [24817/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

227. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will set out by category and in detail a breakdown of the €799,000 estimated to be spent on consultancy services and value for money policy reviews in the 2013 Estimates; if he will explain the 41% increase in the estimates spend in 2012, providing detail of the additional spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24851/13]

Departmental Policy Reviews

Sandra McLellan

228. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of policy reviews to be undertaken by his Department in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24852/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

229. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown by category of sports and recreation services estimated spend in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24853/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

230. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown by category of tourism services Estimates spend in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24854/13]

Exchequer Returns

Sandra McLellan

231. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give details of what appropriations in aid spend will entail for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24855/13]

Departmental Staff Training

Sandra McLellan

232. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the expected training and development and incidental expenses with the list of training and development courses he expects officers in his Department to undergo in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24856/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Sandra McLellan

233. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport under the category of office premises expenses, if he will list the individual offices operated by his Department in the State alongside the expenses that they will incur in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24857/13]

Swimming Pool Projects

Sandra McLellan

234. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of grant applications he has received for swimming pool builds or repair or maintenance for 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24859/13]

VAT Rate Reductions

Tom Fleming

235. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport following on from the decision to reduce the VAT rate from 13 % to 9% and the significance of this reduction to the tourism sector here and the positive implications it has had on the industry in creating and maintaining jobs, giving value for money and so on, if he will support the calls to keep the VAT rate at 9% and ensure a strong and competitive tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24894/13]

Taxi Regulations

Éamon Ó Cuív

236. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legal requirement for decals on taxis in view of the case heard in the High Court on 4 February 2013, where a judge allowed a taxi driver renew their taxi licence without adhering to the requirement to have decals in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24915/13]

Road Projects

Michael Colreavy

237. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the upgrading of the N16 Sligo road as part of the TEN-T comprehensive road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24919/13]

Taxi Regulations

Andrew Doyle

238. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects all taxi drivers to be on the online taxi register; the deadline that has been given to drivers to register; the implications, financial or otherwise, that will be incurred by drivers for failing to register with the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24949/13]

Aviation Issues

Billy Kelleher

239. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if EU Regulation 290/2012 has been implemented; if this now allows pilots to carry out their multi-engine instrument rating test in the UK or any other EASA state without having to seek the permission of the Irish Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24957/13]

Proposed Legislation

Clare Daly

10. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he intends to bring legislation before Dáil Éireann regarding the abolition of the Employment Appeals Tribunal; the extent of the proposed reforms; and when he expects same to be implemented. [24136/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

John McGuinness

11. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has indicated to the Department of Finance his views that income tax rates are a significant influence on multinationals in deciding whether to locate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24417/13]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

12. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which are being taken to support job creation in the Athlone area following the announcement of significant job losses by Alkermes Ltd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/13]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Niall Collins

13. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the impact of patent expiration on employment in the pharmaceutical sector; the way the industry can be supported to maintain employment levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24424/13]

International Workplace Safety Standards

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the safety standards upheld in production facilities operated by companies exporting to the EU, in view of the Dhaka factory disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

17. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the profit-to-employee ratio for multinational corporations here and across the EU. [24454/13]

Industrial Development

Joe McHugh

18. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will give an update on his Department's engagements with the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland in respect of economic development of the north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24139/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Pádraig MacLochlainn

19. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the timetable for establishment of the LEOs; and the way he intends to ensure equality of service and outcomes across all areas. [24446/13]

Job Initiatives

Jonathan O'Brien

20. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps taken to create employment to encourage the return of recent emigrants; and the number of jobs created under such schemes. [24466/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Clare Daly

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current status of the REAs in view of the recent Supreme Court ruling. [24137/13]

Industrial Development

Bernard Durkan

22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which his Department continues to monitor the manufacturing and service sectors with a view to identifying any weaknesses in competitiveness which might present a threat to employment in the future; if any particular early warning strategy has been devised in this regard with particular reference to the need for the utilisation of modern technological and scientific advances as a means of achieving increased production, improved efficiency, retention of employment and general economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/13]

EU Directives

Michael McGrath

23. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions his Department is taking to ensure timely implementation of EU directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24435/13]

Employment Rights

Mary Lou McDonald

24. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the rise in au pair placement agencies and on line recruitment if he will consider legislating to ensure that au pairs receive the protections entitled to all workers. [24449/13]

Industrial Relations

John Halligan

25. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will deal with the situation whereby the Employment Appeals Tribunal and Labour Court recommendations may be ignored or avoided by employers, in some cases by changing the names of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/13]

Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation

Michael Moynihan

27. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied with the operation of the credit guarantee scheme; the number of jobs it is supporting to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24415/13]

Job Creation Targets

Bernard Durkan

28. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which job creation through foreign direct investment and/or indigenous sources are in line with or ahead of projections in each of the past three years to date in 2013; if he expects to continue to meet the ambitious targets required in this regard to facilitate economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/13]

Jobs Protection

Denis Naughten

29. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date on protecting employment of staff working on the UK loan book at Bank of America, Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/13]

Credit Availability

Pearse Doherty

30. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail for each various credit initiative developed by his Department, if each scheme offers a rate of credit above, below or equal to the commercial rate. [24445/13]

Prompt Payments

Timmy Dooley

31. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if payment times by State agencies will be reduced in a way that improves cash flow to businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24413/13]

Skills Shortages

Seamus Kirk

32. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a shortage of appropriately skilled workers is causing vacancies to be remain unfilled in the informational technology sector; the way he believes this can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/13]

Broadband Service Speeds

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

33. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will confirm that all sites under the management of Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards have access to affordable high speed broadband at rates in excess of 100mb. [24455/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Pádraig MacLochlainn

34. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the way he intends to fund LEO’s to ensure that areas with the greatest need for job creation receive the greatest support and resources. [24447/13]