Parliamentary questions

Ukraine War

Brendan Howlin

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he expects an agreement to be reached at the EU Council on the Special Fund for Ukraine; the discussions he has had with other EU Foreign Ministers on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3131/24]

Official Engagements

Brendan Howlin

50. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the issues he raised with the Mexican Foreign Minister on his recent visit to Mexico; if he will provide details of the meetings he had there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3128/24]

Middle East

Brendan Howlin

75. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any contact with the government of South Africa to discuss that country's legal case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, concerning the carnage being inflicted of the people of Gaza; if he sees a role for Ireland in assisting or supporting this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3127/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

86. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide details of the contact he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State since the beginning of the year; the efforts made by him to encourage a restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3130/24]

Official Engagements

Brendan Howlin

87. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the issues he raised with Columbian officials on his recent visit to Columbia; the role Ireland will play as guarantor of the ongoing peace dialogue there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3129/24]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

153. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs why there is a difference in duration in the validity of a card passport and a book passport; why both cannot run for a full ten years, which would reduce the necessity of renewal applications and the workload of the Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3593/24]

Electric Vehicles

Brendan Howlin

193. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out the number and location of fast electric vehicle chargers currently available in the country; the number expected to be in place in each of the next three years; if it is his intention to have a common pricing system for chargers across the country in order to encourage greater E.V usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3523/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

384. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering the excluding of maintenance payments made by social welfare recipients in the calculation of weekly means in determining eligibility for the free fuel allowance; if she considers it fair and reasonable to include such regular outgoing payments as means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2453/24]

Asylum Seekers

Brendan Howlin

421. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the supports available to enable international protection applicants, long-time resident in direct provision centres, to undertake courses of study to acquire skills that will be useful to enable them to find employment if their applications are approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2440/24]

Work Permits

Brendan Howlin

435. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the new minimum salary requirements for general employment permits announced by his Department will also apply to existing permit holders when they apply to renew their permits to work in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1213/24]

Qualifications Recognition

Brendan Howlin

1679. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time it normally takes between the registration of an application with CORU for professional recognition as an occupational therapist and the verification of such an application by CORU; the number of such applications currently awaiting verification at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1331/24]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Howlin

1681. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a registration with CORU for a qualified occupational therapist (details supplied) will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1345/24]

Driver Licences

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport when a bus driver licence will issue to a person (details supplied) who has passed all relevant tests and is urgently required by their employer to begin work as a bus driver; the length of time, on average, it takes to issue a bus licence following the successful completion of all test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53735/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Howlin

229. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Pakistan as a result of the decision of the Government of Pakistan to deport 1.7 million Afghan refugees, many of whom face persecution in Afghanistan; the action he has taken to date to highlight this issue; if he has made contact with the Pakistan authorities to set out his concerns on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48922/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Howlin

327. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a social welfare appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50519/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Howlin

328. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a social welfare appeal for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50520/23]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Howlin

282. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 26 September 2023, if it is his intention to appoint members of the Social Economic Environmental Association (SEEFA) to the Forestry Programme Consultative Committee, since SEEFA is the largest private sector representative association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49197/23]

Medical Cards

Brendan Howlin

1215. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who has a full medical card, is being charged for blood tests by their GP surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48086/23]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Howlin

1412. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will set out the current position in relation to providing a public service contract and access to an incremental salary scale for tutors employed by ETBs on an hourly paid rate; the outcome of discussions his Department has had with trade union representatives on this issue; when an improved contract will be offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48189/23]

Grant Payments

Brendan Howlin

374. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will set out the supports his Department offers to students living in the Republic of Ireland who are studying in universities and colleges of further education in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45810/23]