Parliamentary questions

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6661/24]

Northern Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. [7880/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

123. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if in the instance of a first passport application there is a necessity of the identity verification form section 7 to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána or whether any witness from the list provided on the gov.ie website is suitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7626/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

268. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education to report on what schools in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area provide properly serviced reading classes for dyslexic children, and if there are any upcoming plans to provide properly serviced reading classrooms for dyslexic children in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7525/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

350. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the implications for a RAS tenant, considering RAS is designated like social housing as social housing support, whose income goes over the income limit, who pays rent in line with the increased income but then receives a notice to quit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7675/24]

School Meals Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the timeline for the full installation of the hot school meals programme; if there is a commitment by her Department to cover all schools by the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/24]

Judicial Appointments

Richard Boyd Barrett

429. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice in light of the recent conviction of a Circuit Court judge for sexual offences, to explain how it was possible for somebody with so many serious complaints against them to be appointed as a Circuit Court judge; to confirm that neither the Gardaí nor the school previously employing the judge undertook any activity which could be perceived as covering up complaints against the judge (or any behaviours similar to those subject to complaint) prior to his appointment; to outline any efforts taken by the Department or agencies of the Department to ascertain whether any possible covering-up took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7722/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media following the recent film industry section 481 stakeholder forum, her views on the widespread and legitimate concern of actors, writers, directors and film crew in relation to sustainable and secure employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7003/24]

Sports Facilities

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to address the significant shortfall of sports pitches and other sports facilities, that is growing particularly acute in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, considering the huge growth in people participating in sport, in particular women and girls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7001/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

44. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her assessment of the recent film industry section 481 stakeholder forum; her plans are to address the concerns, issues and proposals raised at the forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7002/24]

Television Licence Fee

Richard Boyd Barrett

57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give an update on the Government’s latest thinking on the central funding of RTÉ and public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7004/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

95. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he now accepts the need for an outright ban on vulture funds purchasing large numbers of new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/24]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

125. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he intends to put in place to ensure availability of affordable homes in south Dublin, in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7012/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

138. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take in relation to the cohort of people who earn more than the limit for social housing but are not eligible for cost rental on affordability grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7010/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will immediately raise the HAP and homeless HAP limits, considering the ever increasing numbers entering homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/24]

Homeless Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the increase in family homelessness and the lack of three bed homes coming on stream via the Part V programme; what changes he intends to make to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to confirm that Ireland has amongst the worst drowning rates in Europe; whether she intends to remedy this by increasing the number of lifeguards employed, ensuring proper training of all lifeguards, extending the months of the year that lifeguards are employed to cover the whole year, and by providing all lifeguards with the necessary equipment, such as radios, all-terrain vehicles and defibrillators, in line with European best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7110/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. [2797/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the President of China. [6660/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the western Balkans. [2796/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there has been an increase in the amount of ammunition for automatic rifles expended at the Curragh and the Glen of Imaal army ranges since the beginning of 2021; and whether any of this ammunition was used for training soldiers from NATO countries. [6786/24]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for an update on the child poverty and well-being unit. [4031/24]

Citizens' Assembly

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline for the citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [4019/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [2807/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of reports a Palestinian-Canadian journalist (details supplied) has been abducted by Israeli authorities in Gaza; if he is aware of reports that journalists are being targeted by Israeli authorities in Gaza; if he has raised the issue with the Government of Israel; if he has raised the issue with the Government of Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6071/24]

International Protection

Richard Boyd Barrett

470. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the process by which a person who is not currently in Ireland and is in need of international protection would apply for asylum in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6521/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what measures he is considering to ensure that workers in the film industry who are subject to multiple successive fixed-term contracts, have their rights under fixed-term workers legislation fully vindicated, and have their service to the industry properly recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5798/24]

Employment Rights

Richard Boyd Barrett

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what his role is in ensuring full compliance with employment legislation and workers right in the film TV arts and audio visual sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5801/24]

Low Pay

Richard Boyd Barrett

34. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given the new information from the ESRI on low pay work, if he will consider the abolishment of sub-minimum wage rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5799/24]

National Minimum Wage

Richard Boyd Barrett

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given that an increasing number of employers are in breach of national minimum wage laws, but the number of prosecutions is low, how is he going to enforce minimum wage law compliance and if there will be additional penalties to employers for minimum wage law breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5797/24]

Intellectual Property

Richard Boyd Barrett

81. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what progress he is making in addressing the concerns of actors, performers, writers and directors in the film and TV industry in relation to fully vindicating their intellectual property rights under the copyright directive and copyright legislation. [5800/24]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform given the need for large supplementary estimates in health and education in 2023, the steps he will take to avoid underestimates of funding public services; how he is going to monitor the adequacy of funding provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5768/24]

Public Sector Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

124. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what considerations he has given to the proposed four day work week across the public sector as raised by multiple trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5769/24]

Public Sector Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

172. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering the high cost of accommodation as a significant factor in recruitment and retention challenges; and what considerations will be given to this. [5955/24]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

173. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will consider the establishment of a state-run construction company to assist in achieving the National Development Plan goals and particularly the urgent need to address the housing crisis and critical infrastructure development. [5956/24]

Central Statistics Office

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to provide details on Ireland’s annual drowning rate; the way this compares with other countries in Europe; and to provide a breakdown of drowning rates by county. [5178/24]

Driver Test

Richard Boyd Barrett

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the number of permanent staff employed by the Road Safety Authority as driver testers by testing centre; to provide an updated account of the waiting times for driving test applicants by testing centre; to provide a breakdown of the number of contract staff employed as driver testers; the retention rate of both permanent and contract staff employed as driver testers in the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5180/24]

Joint Labour Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given that employers, security officers and trade unions had up to 2 January 2024 to enter submissions and that almost one month has elapsed since; when he plans to sign the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order draft proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5467/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

182. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the proposed date for the completed construction of the Dún Laoghaire Education Together National School; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5125/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

183. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education how the Department is calculating the data which allocates special education teachers and the adjustments made based on complex needs; if the Department has received this data and will report on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5126/24]

Legal Aid

Richard Boyd Barrett

345. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amount that has been spent by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review of the Legal Aid Service for 2022 and 2023; the details of these payments; the companies and individuals that received same; the amount received by each company and individual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5211/24]

Legal Aid

Richard Boyd Barrett

346. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amount that has been accrued, but is as yet unpaid, by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review of the Legal Aid Service since its inception in 2016 to date; the details of these liabilities; the companies to which they are owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5212/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

30. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to act on the motion passed by Dáil Éireann in October 2022 in favour of free public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/24]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to outline how he intends to address the impact of the shortage of drivers on the delivery of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the latest projections for corporate tax revenue, given the introduction of 15% effective corporate tax rate for 2024 and 2025; and if he is satisfied that 15% will in reality be an effective tax rate. [4572/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

98. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a digital tax on digital and social media companies, as an alternative method of funding public service broadband to replace the regressive and widely discredited TV licence model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/24]

Data Centres

Richard Boyd Barrett

119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a specific tax on data centres given their high impact on our energy and resource infrastructure. [4571/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

125. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the penalties he is considering on film production companies found to be in breach of their requirement and obligation for receiving section 481 film tax credit funding, given the recent Workplace Relations Commission rulings against a company (details supplied) for its failure to uphold the employment rights and blacklisting of 38 film crew; if he intends to undertake an investigation into whether the practices at play in these cases are widespread in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4573/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider and introduction of a wealth tax, given recent reports by an organisation (details supplied) and the Central Bank on the wealth distribution showing ever growing concentration of wealth in the hands of the very wealthiest households. [4570/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

342. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the list of Mother and Baby Homes and any other State institutions that are included in the Redress Scheme, and to provide also a list of institutions that are not included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4662/24]