Parliamentary questions

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

285. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure including documents required for the issuance of a visa to the Iranian spouse of an Irish citizen. [42118/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

168. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the result of the review of the slides of 221 women affected by the CervicalCheck issue will change his plans to continue with a policy of contracting out CervicalCheck screening programmes to private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41388/19]

Electricity Generation

Bríd Smith

226. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the inclusion of the Shannon LNG project on the projects of common interest list compiled in Brussels on 4 October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41393/19]

Dublin Bus

Bríd Smith

239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 587 and 588 of 17 September 2019, if the exact reason will be itemised for the penalty applied that is for failure to operate due to driver unavailability, bus breakdown or curtailment of late running services; the amount by subcategory involved in each period 2014 to 2019. [41471/19]

Cross-Border Projects

Bríd Smith

135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding for a project listed on the PCI list of the EU is discretionary; if not, if the State is obliged to provide funding having nominated the project for PCI status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41327/19]

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Bríd Smith

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to delays in granting home tuition supports; the reason home tuition hours have not been sanctioned; when this issue will be addressed; and his plans to ensure such delays do not recur in the future. [40552/19]

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports he plans to put in place for teachers and parents of children affected by recent delays in the sanctioning of home tuition hours; and his plans in this area for the coming period. [40553/19]

Home Tuition Scheme

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours and amount of funding allocated for home tuition hours for children with ASD and others in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [40554/19]

School Costs

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expected costs that accrue to schools for using external accountants or auditors; and if he has allocated additional funding to schools to ensure compliance with the provision of the Education Act 1998 that all accounts of schools are properly audit or certified. [40625/19]

Schools Data

Bríd Smith

77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which have failed to submit their accounts to the FSSU in line with the provision of section 18 of the Education Act 1998; if alternative arrangements have been considered for the certification of school accounts in view of the costs associated with hiring external auditors or accountants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40626/19]

Assisted Human Reproduction Services Provision

Bríd Smith

202. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional funding to help subsidise IVF treatment for couples will be provided in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40585/19]

Assisted Human Reproduction Services Provision

Bríd Smith

203. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason promised funding to help subsidise IVF treatment has not been delivered to date in 2019; his plans to provide enhanced care and aid to persons seeking the treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40586/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories from which the 221 cases of misdiagnosed smears under Cervical Check came, by laboratory and by year in tabular form. [40777/19]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he supports a continued policy of tendering out further routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39897/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that bus routes operated by private companies and licensed by the NTA but which are not in receipt of PSO funding will be accessible to passengers with mobility issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39898/19]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with representatives of retired public and semi-State workers (details supplied) to discuss their grievances about reductions and changes to their pension schemes in previous years which have not been fully restored ahead of the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39615/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of honouring the Labour Court finding on the community employment scheme supervisors pension costs; if the ongoing issue on financing the pension rights of these workers will be resolved in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39614/19]

School Curriculum

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agencies that have been permitted to provide sex education in schools; and the amount each agency has received for its services in each of the past five years. [39793/19]

Health Services Expenditure

Bríd Smith

407. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount spent to date on providing free contraceptives as promised during the referendum on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution; the quantity and type of contraceptive purchased for a free contraceptive scheme; and the location in which persons can access these free contraceptives. [39791/19]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

430. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to regulate the provision of horse-drawn carriages for hire in Dublin in view of concerns for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39726/19]

Exploration Licences Data

Bríd Smith

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of licences for oil and gas exploration issued in each of the past five years; if oil and gas exploration will be phased out in the Irish and Celtic Sea; if so, the date from which; and if no further oil exploration licenses will be available in the Atlantic sea. [39792/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Bríd Smith

520. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NTA plans to regulate the provision of horse-drawn carriages for hire in the Dublin city area. [39719/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Bríd Smith

521. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will conduct a review of the regulation governing the use of horse-drawn carriages for hire in the Dublin city area and specifically the monitoring of the welfare of animals used and the qualifications of those providing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39720/19]

Public Services Card Data

Bríd Smith

605. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which and the location the data contained on the public services card is stored; the companies used to store the data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39819/19]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the condition for receiving section 481 tax relief is being met by the producer companies in the film industry that apply for and receive the relief; and the way in which this is monitored by his Department. [39094/19]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to take action or enact legislation that will bring rates of Irish banks into line with the European average rates for mortgages in view of the fact the current ECB interest rate for deposit facility is 0.5% and its marginal interest rate is 0.25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39093/19]

JobPath Programme

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if contracts for the provision of the JobPath programme will be renewed; and when a decision on the matter will be made. [38806/19]

JobPath Implementation

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the JobPath provider Seetec is issuing notices to jobseekers detailing its policy on tackling radicalism; if jobseekers have been referred to her Department or An Garda Síochána in respect of same; the number of claimants that have been sanctioned or interviewed on foot of the concerns of Seetec relating to potential radicalisation risks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38794/19]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

140. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his policy regarding the upcoming EU meeting to ratify the fourth list of projects of common interests; his plans to support the building of LNGs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38926/19]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if an amendment to the Industrial Relations Act 1990 will be supported in order to allow Defence Forces personnel the right to be represented by a representative organisation of their choice and have full access to the industrial relations machinery of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38532/19]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will meet with representatives of the Defence Forces, specifically an organisation (details supplied), to discuss its campaign for representative rights in view of ongoing concerns on issues of pay, conditions and retention in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38533/19]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to deal with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces; his views on whether granting the right to representation including the right of bodies (details supplied) to join an organisation and have access to the industrial relations machinery of the State could help in dealing with the current crisis in the forces in terms of retention of members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38534/19]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the conciliation and arbitration scheme to address issues regarding the pay and conditions of Defence Forces personnel does not address or adequately deal with concerns of members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38531/19]

Military Medals

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the medals being sought by the veterans and families of the siege of Jadotville will be awarded. [38359/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

322. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1190, 1191 and 1197 of 6 September 2019, if a direct response will issue on the specific question regarding a patient having to fund an independent review of her smears if she has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. [38526/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1190, 1191 and 1197 of 6 September 2019, if a response will issue on whether the financial burden on patients with cervical cancer will be removed; and if the HSE will fund an independent review of smears if requested. [38527/19]

Public Services Card Data

Bríd Smith

526. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on the roll-out and development of the public services card before and since October 2017 to date when the report by the Data Protection Commission into the card was initiated. [38607/19]

Public Services Card Data

Bríd Smith

527. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public services cards issued before and since October 2017 to date when the report by the Data Protection Commission into the card was initiated [38608/19]

Public Services Card Data

Bríd Smith

528. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on the roll-out and development of the public services card in the period before and since July 2018 to date. [38609/19]

Public Services Card Data

Bríd Smith

529. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public services cards issued before and since July 2018 to date. [38610/19]

Public Services Card

Bríd Smith

530. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a report is forthcoming from the Data Protection Commission regarding biometric data; and if so, when it will be published. [38611/19]

Military Medals

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the medals that are being sought by the veterans and families of the siege of Jadotville will be awarded. [37993/19]

Middle East Peace Process

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take in the event that Israel annexes sections of the West Bank as announced recently by the Israeli Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/19]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government is still intent on supporting the Mercosur trade deal in view of the devastation of the fires in the Amazon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37468/19]

Fuel Poverty

Bríd Smith

531. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has or is conducting a review into fuel poverty in accordance with the priority recommendation on page 48 (details supplied) of the 2019 report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action. [37063/19]

Fuel Poverty

Bríd Smith

532. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the Department which is undertaking a review into fuel poverty in accordance with the priority recommendation on page 48 (details supplied) of the 2019 report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action; the groups or stakeholders the review has or is consulting; and when the review will be completed and circulated to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. [37064/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Bríd Smith

567. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the agency responsible for the issuing of licences for the operation of horse-drawn carriages and enforcement of same in Dublin city under current legislation, in view of the fact that the Dublin Carriage Act 1853, the Dublin Amended Carriage Act 1854, the Dublin Amended Carriage Act 1855 and SI No. 198 of 1946 - Dublin Carriage Bye-Laws 1946 still appear to be in force; and when the legal lacuna will be resolved. [37056/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

584. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the fines imposed by the NTA on a company (details supplied); and the reason for the fines. [37510/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

585. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of scheduled journeys, that is departures, that a company (details supplied) failed to operate on routes since it took over operation of the routes. [37511/19]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

586. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the failure of a company (details supplied) to operate scheduled departures on all of its Dublin routes; and the number of times this failure was explained by not having driving staff available to operate the route affected. [37512/19]