Parliamentary questions

Local Authority Housing Standards

Catherine Murphy

239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to amend the minimum size that apartments can be built in order to become wheelchair accessible (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/17]

Local Authority Housing Standards

Catherine Murphy

240. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to make all new and or proposed local authority housing and apartment schemes and or units fully wheelchair accessible (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2560/17]

County Development Plans

Robert Troy

241. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there have been recent changes at European Parliament level that would affect the county development plans of local authorities and in particular affect local need requirements for planning permission. [2588/17]

Planning Issues

Dara Calleary

242. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made on an application submitted to his Department by Mayo County Council to develop a strategic development zone at Ireland West Airport, Knock; the reason for the delay in the decision making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2623/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Eoin Ó Broin

243. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the 5,280 social housing units provided in 2016 (details supplied); if he will provide a further breakdown of the leased units in terms of whether the units will be owned by councils or AHBs at the end of the lease term or if they will be owned by the private sector; if all 5,280 social housing units are now tenanted; and if not, the number that have not been tenanted. [2635/17]

Departmental Projects

Barry Cowen

244. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the potential investment projects his Department put forward to the Department of Finance task force report for the European Fund for Strategic Investment. [2677/17]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Brendan Griffin

245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will provide funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2700/17]

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Robert Troy

246. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to create a link road between a sports centre (details supplied) and the Garrycastle area which would open up a massive land bank for the purpose of housing; and if there are no plans, if he will investigate this matter. [2749/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans in respect of a new affordable housing scheme; when plans will be made public in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2793/17]

Local Authority Housing Standards

Catherine Martin

248. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the claims outlined in a newspaper (details supplied) that Dublin City Council cannot design apartments to be wheelchair accessible and also at the Department's minimum building size standards; if so, the minimum size building standard for a wheelchair accessible apartment; his plans for this wheelchair accessible standard as the minimum building size standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2806/17]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Clare Daly

249. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views regarding the range of flexibility afforded within the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in relation to adding on properties to be remediated as part of particular phases, in the interests of co-ordinated development and securing economies of scale (details supplied). [2810/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

250. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if an application for funding in respect of the phase 2 Clúid housing project for Letterfrack has been approved; if not, when it is likely this application will be considered and a decision made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2859/17]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Robert Troy

251. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there will be any change in national policy to support more sewerage schemes in 2017 (details supplied); and if he will provide support to an application by Westmeath County Council for the Marlinstown sewerage scheme in view of the fact that this application meets all the criteria and is shovel ready. [2860/17]

Departmental Reports

Thomas Pringle

252. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the Mulcahy report into allegations made concerning certain planning matters in County Donegal to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2892/17]

Judicial Reviews

Thomas Pringle

253. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost to his Department in defending judicial review proceedings taken in relation to his use of section 31 of the Planning and Development Acts from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

254. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2907/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

255. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2923/17]

Construction Sector Strategy

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to help reduce financing costs for the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2955/17]

Construction Sector Strategy

Róisín Shortall

257. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to help reduce input costs for the construction industry; the way in which such costs are tracked by his Department; the targets his Department is working to in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2957/17]

Rental Sector Strategy

Robert Troy

258. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the supports he will introduce for landlords in 2017. [2970/17]

Construction Contracts

Eoin Ó Broin

259. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the procedure whereby contractors, whether commercial or not for profit, can bid for contracts for the delivery of rapid build housing in Dublin, as outlined in the Government's housing action plan. [3059/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

260. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which local authorities are obliged to take into consideration in their allocations policies a number of factors (details supplied). [3106/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

261. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a person is entitled to be considered as an adult plus children for the purposes of allocation of social housing in circumstances in which the children stay with the parent several days a week. [3107/17]

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Seán Fleming

262. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Carlow boundary report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/17]

Pyrite Resolution Board Data

Thomas P. Broughan

263. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of applications to the pyrite remedial scheme, by county, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of applications which were approved and rejected, by county and by year; the number of repairs completed, in process and scheduled, by county and by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3142/17]

Pyrite Resolution Board Data

Thomas P. Broughan

264. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of legal proceedings currently ongoing with the Pyrite Resolution Board, indicating the builders and developers that are in this process; the number of legal proceedings completed with the Pyrite Resolution Board, indicating the builders and developers and the amounts awarded to the PRB as contributions towards remedial works that were agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/17]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

265. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to lower the damage rating for eligibility for remedial works for pyrite-affected homes; his further plans to assist home owners in accessing engineer reports on whether pyrite is present in a property and the extent to which it is present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3144/17]

Fire Service

Brendan Smith

266. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; if this project will be given urgent consideration with a view to progressing it to construction stage in view of the fact much of the necessary preparatory work and procurement of site has been finalised for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3146/17]

Scheme to Support National Organisations

Mattie McGrath

267. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the organisations and groups supported by the scheme to support national organisations; the funding each receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/17]

Water Services

Eoin Ó Broin

268. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost to the Exchequer if the existing subsidy to domestic group and private water users were to cover the full cost of those schemes to their users. [3166/17]

Irish Water Administration

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

269. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the current process for Irish Water when a leak or issue with a water supply occurs in an area (details supplied); if Irish Water deals with the issue and repairs it or if the local authority is issued with a job number and it carries out the repairs; and if each leak in one area requires the local authority to get a different job number or, if when issues have been notified to a local authority, it can work on resolving all issues that arise until solved. [3167/17]

Water Services Provision

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

270. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if Irish Water or the local authority in question is responsible for providing a water tankard for an area if residents in the area are left without a water supply for more than 24 hours. [3168/17]

Planning Issues

Róisín Shortall

271. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to local concerns regarding the lack of any local area plan in respect of the proposed substantial additional housing units proposed by his Department and Dublin City Council for the Finglas area; his views on the need to provide corresponding additional services in respect of schools, health, policing and so on in order that sustainability can be ensured; and if he will arrange the commissioning of such a development plan as a matter of urgency. [3178/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Data

Ruth Coppinger

272. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of former local authority housing that is now in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3179/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Data

Ruth Coppinger

273. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of former local authority housing now in the private rented sector that is being subsidised through the payment of rent subsidies through RAS, HAP, RS and so on, ultimately paid to private landlords; his views on the rationality from the State's perspective of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3180/17]

National Planning Framework

Catherine Murphy

274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which the national planning framework will deal with surpluses of planned capacities for growth that exists in the strategic planning areas of the planning regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/17]

Road Network

Denise Mitchell

275. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when funding will be announced for a link road (details supplied). [3205/17]

Carer's Benefit Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's benefit for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/17]

School Meals Programme

Catherine Murphy

277. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he taking to ensure that food and beverages being served in schools here avoid being calorie-dense fried foods and processed food items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2864/17]

School Meals Programme

Brendan Griffin

278. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the free school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3133/17]

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Brendan Griffin

279. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a partial capacity benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2537/17]

Farm Assist Scheme Appeals

Brendan Griffin

280. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a farm assist appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2565/17]

Youth Unemployment Data

Willie O'Dea

281. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of youth unemployment here; how this figure compares with the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2566/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Willie O'Dea

282. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of FIS; the number of households in receipt of the back-to-work family dividend; the number of households in receipt of both payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2567/17]

Paternity Leave Scheme

Willie O'Dea

283. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons to date who have applied for paternity benefit; the number of persons who have received paternity benefit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2568/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Willie O'Dea

284. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households by county in receipt of rent supplement; the number of households by county that have had rent supplement increased above the prescribed limit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2569/17]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Willie O'Dea

285. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to tackle welfare fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2570/17]

Carer's Allowance Delays

Michael Ring

286. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in dealing with a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/17]

Social Welfare Appeals

Fiona O'Loughlin

287. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2603/17]

Social Welfare Benefits

Jan O'Sullivan

288. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims made for health and safety benefit in 2014, 2015 and 2016; the sectors of employment involved and the number of applicants from each employment sector, in tabular form; if he will increase the weekly payment involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2631/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Fiona O'Loughlin

289. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2641/17]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

John McGuinness

290. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application for a jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); his views on the fact that a bank account held in the UK that was closed seven years ago and rarely used by the person when they lived in the UK, should not be part of the application process in view of the fact the person lives here and has tried to get details from the bank without success. [2654/17]

Rural Social Scheme

Mattie McGrath

291. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to make changes to the format of the rural social scheme and Tús schemes; his plans to amalgamate any of the community employment and work activation schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2679/17]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Maureen O'Sullivan

292. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the current rates for half rate home carer's allowance; and his views on whether the current rate does not reflect the amount of time and effort many carers put in to caring for a person, that this payment should reflect that and that without these carers the State would have substantial obligations and costs. [2687/17]

Civil Registration Legislation

Seamus Healy

293. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014; when the Bill likely to complete its passage through the House of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2714/17]

Social Welfare Code

Denise Mitchell

294. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare sanctions applied to persons who receive payment as lone parents, in tabular form. [2795/17]

Disability Allowance Eligibility

Brendan Griffin

295. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2866/17]

Rural Social Scheme

Willie O'Dea

296. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the new entrant term limitations for the rural social scheme, which has up to now been an income support for small under employed farmers who were entitled to stay on the scheme as long as their situation remained the same; if he will address the hardship this change places on small farmers on RSS who are employed and do not want to move away from farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2873/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

297. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2914/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

298. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Assistant Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Assistant Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2930/17]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael McGrath

299. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection when he expects a social welfare appeal will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied). [2964/17]

Youth Guarantee

Dessie Ellis

300. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for the youth guarantee (details supplied) in Ballymun. [3062/17]

Rural Social Scheme

Brendan Smith

302. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reverse the changes made to the rural social scheme limiting participants to two terms of three years but not consecutively in view of the fact that this is a very important income support for farmers with small holdings and that do not have full employment on their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3130/17]

State Pensions

Declan Breathnach

303. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Social Protection if the changes planned to come into effect in 2020 in the way the State pension (contributory) is calculated, taking total contributions into account rather than the current averaging system, will be retrospectively applied to persons currently receiving a reduced rate of State pension (contributory) due to the averaging system; if he has decided the number of full contributions that will be required to qualify for the full rate of State pension (contributory) on or after 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/17]

Invalidity Pension Payments

Tom Neville

304. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who has applied for an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3169/17]

JobPath Data

Denise Mitchell

305. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons given penalties while attending the services of jobpath in Coolock since the service began to date, by month, in tabular form. [3203/17]

Youth Guarantee

Denise Mitchell

306. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been a review of piloting a scheme similar to the youth guarantee for lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3206/17]

Youth Guarantee

Denise Mitchell

307. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the youth guarantee was not continued in Ballymun and rolled out as promised when the pilot scheme started. [3207/17]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Robert Troy

308. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will finalise a social welfare appeal for a person (details supplied). [3211/17]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Robert Troy

309. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite an application for an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied). [3213/17]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3221/17]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bernard Durkan

311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which adequate resources continue to be made available to his Department to meet exceptional needs payment requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3222/17]

Youth Unemployment

Bernard Durkan

312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which his Department continues to be in a position to avail of European Union support to alleviate youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3223/17]

Live Register Data

Bernard Durkan

313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the age profile of those persons on the live register continues to be monitored with a view to making any adjustments necessary to assist those most in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3224/17]

State Pensions

Bernard Durkan

314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he has examined the ineligibility of entitlement to contributory old age pension for women who had to give up work in the public sector due to the marriage ban or who took time out to rear their families and subsequently returned to the workforce but who do not qualify for a contributory old age pension despite having made a huge contribution to the social and economic well being of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3225/17]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bernard Durkan

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which community welfare services remain readily accessible in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to meeting out of hours and emergency needs when necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3226/17]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Bernard Durkan

316. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the applications for various social welfare payments which are most commonly refused on application and referred to appeal or an oral hearing; the number of cases subsequently rejected or approved on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3227/17]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Bernard Durkan

317. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of oral hearings that have taken place in the past 12 months in respect of the various payments made by his Department to social welfare recipients; the number of cases in which the original decision was overturned arising from the hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3228/17]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bernard Durkan

318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will carry out an evaluation of the various social welfare payments that had to be reduced during the period of recession due to lack of resources with a view to identifying the most sensitive wherein some restoration could take place while keeping in mind the need for prudent management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3229/17]

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Bernard Durkan

319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of rent support on a county basis or in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3230/17]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bernard Durkan

320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of a basic supplementary social welfare payment; the extent to which the numbers dependent on such payment has fluctuated in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3231/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Bernard Durkan

321. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons whose application for dental benefit has been approved in each of the past five years to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3232/17]

Brexit Issues

Thomas Pringle

322. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has opened discussions with the EU Commission on mutual recognition agreements between the EU and UK to smooth the impact of Brexit on trade between Ireland and the UK and particularly in relation to all island trade on the island of Ireland. [2811/17]

Human Rights

Seán Sherlock

323. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made in the area of the State's human rights record following the report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights since May 2016. [3127/17]

European Council Meetings

Darragh O'Brien

324. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2548/17]

Northern Ireland

Darragh O'Brien

325. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2549/17]

Middle East Peace Process

Darragh O'Brien

326. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the Paris peace talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2550/17]

Brexit Issues

Darragh O'Brien

327. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which his Department is preparing in advance of Article 50 being triggered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2551/17]

Ministerial Meetings

Darragh O'Brien

328. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the meetings he has had with the Export Trade Council since 23 June 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2552/17]

International Terrorism

Darragh O'Brien

329. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent developments in Turkey, including the bomb attack in Istanbul; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2624/17]

EU Meetings

Darragh O'Brien

330. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if recent developments in Turkey, including the preliminary approval of a new constitution, were discussed at the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/17]

Foreign Conflicts

Darragh O'Brien

331. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a state of emergency has been declared in Gambia; the potential implications of this for the inauguration of a new president; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/17]

United Nations

Thomas P. Broughan

332. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he plans to meet the new UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres; the proposals he will raise with the Secretary General on the urgent reform and strengthening of the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2909/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

334. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of assistant Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2925/17]

Registration of Births

Éamon Ó Cuív

335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a decision will be made in respect of an application for foreign birth registration submitted by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application in view of the fact that all supporting documentation requested has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2971/17]

Syrian Conflict

Micheál Martin

336. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will discuss the increased violence and attacks particularly on civilians in Aleppo at the next EU Council meeting. [37349/16]

North-South Ministerial Council

Micheál Martin

337. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the discussions at the recent North-South Ministerial Council meeting with regard to the report on infrastructure commitments in the Fresh Start agreement and the North West Gateway initiative. [38576/16]

Brexit Issues

Micheál Martin

338. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Mr. Michel Barnier's comments on 6 December 2016 regarding Brexit and in particular his comments regarding the conclusion of the Brexit negotiations being in autumn 2018. [40117/16]

Northern Ireland

Micheál Martin

339. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the latest developments in the Fresh Start agreement. [40119/16]