Parliamentary questions

NAMA Assets Sale

Lucinda Creighton

84. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if there is an ethical framework within his Department and the National Asset Management Agency to ensure that assets are not sold to certain categories of persons or bodies corporate, where said persons or bodies corporate are of ill-repute, suspected to be involved in criminal activities such as money-laundering or suspected to be involved in corruption; if he will provide the details of any such framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26829/15]

NAMA Assets Sale

Lucinda Creighton

85. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of transactions involving the National Asset Management Agency and persons or bodies corporate of ill repute suspected to be involved in criminal activities such as money laundering or suspected to be involved in corruption; if he will provide details of such transactions; if he has inquired with the agency regarding any such transaction; his views on whether such transactions are politically, morally or ethically acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26830/15]

NAMA Assets Sale

Lucinda Creighton

86. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance in view of his supervisory role over the National Asset Management Agency, if he will consider any failure by himself or his Department to be fully aware of large cash sales by the agency to persons being investigated for criminal acts as representing a breach of his fiduciary duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26831/15]

Seanad Reform

Lucinda Creighton

150. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he has considered the report of the working group on Seanad reform 2015 which was published by his Department on 13 April 2015; the steps he will take to implement its findings and recommendations; if any legislation to reform Seanad Éireann is planned during the lifetime of the current Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26091/15]

Economic Growth

Lucinda Creighton

87. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the precise actions being carried out to underpin a return to sustainable medium-term economic growth. [24383/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Lucinda Creighton

99. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he might expect a review of the public procurement contract process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24384/15]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

100. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action taken in response to the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability, which is available on the website of his Department, and which concerns the problem of accountability within the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/15]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

101. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, if he is satisfied that his Department is adequately resourced to keep track of the annual budget it delivers to the Office of Public Works; if he is satisfied that his Department has the capability to see that the annual budget delivered to the Office of Public Works is handled in a commercially accountable fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/15]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

102. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, his plans to provide for sanctions to be imposable against the Commissioners of Public Works in response to incidents of incompetence, misappropriation of resources and corruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24387/15]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

103. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, if he has implemented, or plans to implement, an increase in the degree to which professional services and advice are sought in respect of transactions involving the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/15]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

104. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, his plans to split the Office of Public Works from his Department, and place it on a semi-State footing; his plans to provide the Comptroller and Auditor General with a dedicated monitoring property professional; his plans to make the Office of Public Works and its staff more accountable to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24389/15]

Food Safety Standards

Lucinda Creighton

114. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has informed himself of best international practice regarding the growing of food crops in the region of waste incinerators; if he will offer advice to commercial and domestic growers of food, in particular to growers of soft fruit and leafy vegetables in such regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24393/15]

Naval Service Operations

Lucinda Creighton

129. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the patrol of Irish fishing waters; and the action being taken to counteract illegal dumping, damage and poaching of fish. [24382/15]

Air Quality

Lucinda Creighton

246. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he, or any of the agencies under his Department's remit, have undertaken a scientific assessment on the issue of the safety-for-consumption of food produced in the Dublin region, following the commencement of the operation of the Poolbeg incinerator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24393/15]

Air Quality

Lucinda Creighton

260. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that following the commencement of incineration at the Poolbeg incinerator in Dublin, it will continue to be safe for residents in the Dublin Bay South area to consume soft fruit and leafy vegetables grown in their gardens; the scientific basis for his conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24391/15]

Commissions of Investigation

Lucinda Creighton

138. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the funding structure of the investigation into the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation liquidation. [23037/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

165. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will report on all public and private official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23051/15]

Commissions of Investigation

Lucinda Creighton

232. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if the current €10 million threshold for the commission of investigation into Irish Bank Resolution Corporation is credible. [23034/15]

Commissions of Investigation

Lucinda Creighton

233. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the reason the sum of €10 million was chosen as the threshold for the commission of investigation into Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. [23036/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

234. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23045/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

285. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23050/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

323. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23048/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

346. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23038/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

386. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23042/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

430. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23049/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

506. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23040/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

544. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23047/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

668. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23046/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

697. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on all public and private, official and unofficial engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23043/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

754. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23044/15]

Media Mergers

Lucinda Creighton

812. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether new media mergers legislation is required, and if it should be retrospective in scope and content. [23031/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

813. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23041/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

867. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23053/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

917. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied) and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23039/15]

International Students

Lucinda Creighton

10. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether the new Cabinet-approved regulations on student immigration for English language courses will cause a reduction in the supply of available courses; if this will increase costs for immigrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21889/15]

EU Regulations

Lucinda Creighton

285. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to the appearance of a person (details supplied) at the Public Accounts Committee on 14 May 2015, where the person indicated that a number of changes to procedures relating to insider trading, the market abuse directive and transferring powers from the Irish Stock Exchange to the Central Bank of Ireland were expected in the next 12 to 18 months; if he will indicate the new legislation or changes the person referred to; the way these changes are envisaged; the consultation on these proposed changes that have taken place to date; the reason that bringing these matters under the ambit of the Central Bank of Ireland, rather than under the ambit of the Irish Stock Exchange, is more appropriate than the current arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21237/15]

IBRC Liquidation

Lucinda Creighton

286. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to the appearance of a person (details supplied) at the Committee of Public Accounts on 14 May 2015, where the person indicated that they had the fee rates set by the contract with the special liquidator for conducting the review into the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation transactions post-nationalisation of the bank, if he will provide an estimate of those fees; and a breakdown of those fees, in tabular form, as promised by this person at the committee hearing, namely, the hourly rates, the charge-out rates for the different categories of staff, the numbers working on the job, and the cost per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21238/15]

IBRC Investigations

Lucinda Creighton

287. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to a person's statement at the Committee of Public Accounts on 14 May 2015, that there would have been an initial scoping by the special liquidator to get a general sense of what was involved in the inquiry, when the special liquidator was requested by him or his Department to conduct this initial scoping; if he will confirm what this initial scoping entailed; the number of persons involved; the direction that was provided to the special liquidator for this initial scoping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21239/15]

IBRC Liquidation

Lucinda Creighton

288. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if it is the expectation of the Special Liquidator that unsecured senior and subordinated bondholders will be repaid from the surplus of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation asset disposal; if he expects this to occur at some stage, now or in the future, when litigation matters are wound up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21240/15]

IBRC Liquidation

Lucinda Creighton

289. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to a person's statement at the Public Accounts Committee on 14 May 2015, the total number of creditors who applied before the end of March 2015; the total number of United States of America creditors who have applied for a date in seeking distribution to them of the €1.85 billion; the total nominal amount of moneys sought by senior and subordinated bondholders; the total single entity holders of senior or subordinated bonds; if any of the surplus shall be distributed before the settlement of the outstanding cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21241/15]

IBRC Investigations

Lucinda Creighton

290. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to a person's statement (details supplied) at the Committee of Public Accounts on 14 May 2015, when the scoping of the size of the special liquidator investigation shall be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21242/15]

IBRC Investigations

Lucinda Creighton

291. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to a person's statement that the special liquidator may use outside help in reviewing individual transactions identified as being within the scope, the firms that are being considered by the special liquidator; the tendering process that shall be adopted in identifying those firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21243/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

363. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost incurred by his Department in holding the two recent referenda and the by-election in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the costs, including costs for staffing both the polling stations and the count centres, as well as all additional costs surrounding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21341/15]

Health Services Data

Lucinda Creighton

648. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the reporting system for deaths of babies in Irish hospitals is upgraded and streamlined to ensure that the national perinatal epidemiology centre may provide accurate figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21331/15]

State Claims Agency

Lucinda Creighton

649. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the number of claims to the State Claims Agency against individual maternity units for the years 2008 to 2014 and for 2015 to date; if he will provide the information, in tabular form, for each individual maternity unit, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21332/15]

HIQA Reports

Lucinda Creighton

650. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that there is a conflict of interest in the Health Service Executive drawing up the terms of reference into the independent report of all levels of its management following the publication of the Health Information and Quality Authority report into maternity services in Portlaoise hospital, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21333/15]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Lucinda Creighton

651. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the problem the Health Service Executive is having hiring obstetricians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21334/15]

Hospital Consultant Contracts

Lucinda Creighton

652. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive's compliance unit will spend hiring forensic accountancy services to assess work that some hospital consultants are doing in private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21338/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Lucinda Creighton

653. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide Dáil Éireann with an update on his work in reducing drug prices; the reason his Department has not entered negotiations with the pharmaceutical sector; his views that legislation will now be required to reduce the cost of medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21339/15]

Patient Data

Lucinda Creighton

654. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the amount the establishment of the new patient identity numbers system within the Health Service Executive will cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21340/15]