Parliamentary questions

Trade Fairs

Mick Barry

351. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if representatives of the Defence Forces or his Department participated in the recent IDEX 2023 arms fair in Abu Dhabi, UAE; if so, the meetings any delegation participated in; if any contracts were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11168/23]

Court Judgments

Mick Barry

512. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 29 November 2017, if he will provide an update (details supplied). [11172/23]

Departmental Functions

Mick Barry

3. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social policy and public service reform division of his Department. [9974/23]

Defence Forces

Mick Barry

10. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the high-level steering board, chaired by the Secretary General of his Department, to oversee the implementation of the high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [9975/23]

Legislative Measures

Mick Barry

72. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 to ensure local authorities are obliged to reserve land for allotments and community gardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10406/23]

European Council

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent European Council on 9 and 10 February 2023. [8634/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

15. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [9746/23]

Constitutional Amendments

Mick Barry

25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his plans for constitutional amendments. [9875/23]

Departmental Reports

Mick Barry

452. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the publication of the independent report into historical child sex abuse allegation in an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10103/23]

Greyhound Industry

Mick Barry

686. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the greyhound track attendance figures for 2022 by date and track and a breakdown of the figures into, including, paid entry, free entry and entry by adults, children, owners/trainers, bookmakers, press, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9544/23]

Air Services

Mick Barry

173. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if he has discussed maintaining regular Cork to Bristol flights with airlines given the strong connections between the two regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9568/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will next meet. [8632/23]

Nursing Homes

Mick Barry

12. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he has met with the Attorney General following publication of his report on nursing home charges and the disabled persons maintenance allowance. [8633/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [7266/23]

Departmental Strategies

Mick Barry

15. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s strategy statement 2021-2023; and if he plans to update them. [8377/23]

Departmental Strategies

Mick Barry

16. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the annual report of his Department for 2022 will be published. [8378/23]

Departmental Bodies

Mick Barry

26. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [8379/23]

Health Services

Mick Barry

629. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if public adult ADHD services will be available in the CHO 4 area in Cork; if he will report on waiting lists for public ADHD assessments in CHO 4 and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/23]

Departmental Bodies

Mick Barry

9. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [6920/23]

Ukraine War

Mick Barry

14. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee that deals with a humanitarian response to Ukraine will next meet. [7265/23]

School Staff

Mick Barry

114. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education given the issues faced by many second level schools in filling reaching posts if she will consider collating information on the number of unfilled posts in second level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7597/23]

Disability Services

Mick Barry

180. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will support the establishment of the community neuro rehabilitation team in each of the CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/23]

Abortion Services

Mick Barry

181. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will outline a timeline for the further progressing of the review to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on European Union and international affairs will next meet. [6918/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

23. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Housing for All progress report for quarter 4 2022 will be published. [6919/23]

International Protection

Mick Barry

80. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to improve living conditions for international protection applicants at his Department’s Citywest facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6137/23]

International Protection

Mick Barry

82. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who have not been provided with accommodation and have been directed to homeless services; if he will end this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6138/23]

Gender Equality

Mick Barry

3. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [5795/23]

Programme for Government

Mick Barry

13. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5796/23]

School Staff

Mick Barry

199. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if steps will be taken to ensure there is a qualified Spanish teacher provided for all years in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5692/23]

School Staff

Mick Barry

200. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the shortage of language teachers in secondary schools; the number of unfilled vacancies for foreign language teachers; the number of students unable to avail of a foreign language class as a result of unfilled vacancies; the measures she intends to take to fill these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5693/23]

Education Policy

Mick Barry

201. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to improve the learning of foreign languages in secondary school given Eurostat figures, which show Ireland to have the second lowest level of foreign language learning in the EU and a decline since 2013 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5694/23]

School Staff

Mick Barry

226. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the number of vacancies for home economics teachers in secondary schools; if she will extend the financial supports for those upskilling in mathematics, physics and Spanish to home economics teachers; the criteria used to extend supports to mathematics, physics and Spanish and not to other subjects with large vacancies such as home economics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5912/23]

Animal Diseases

Mick Barry

493. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken by his Department to assist farmers with the transition to increased TB testing; if he will honour a 1990 agreement with farming organisations to fund increased mandatory testing for a period of two years as a transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5911/23]

School Accommodation

Mick Barry

144. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if a commitment will be given that a school (details supplied) will be relocated to the old horology site in Blanchardstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5182/23]

School Funding

Mick Barry

145. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the capitation funding for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5184/23]

School Funding

Mick Barry

146. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide funding to a school (details supplied) to allow for the creation of a walking deputy principal role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5185/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mick Barry

147. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if DEIS status will be given to a school (details supplied); if funding for food for pupils will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5186/23]

Departmental Bodies

Mick Barry

109. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the publication of a report from the Commission on Housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3577/23]

Rental Sector

Mick Barry

148. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider an extension of the eviction ban given the high levels of homelessness and the lack of availability of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3578/23]

Fire Service

Mick Barry

218. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take steps to ensure that additional funds are allocated to improve the pay and conditions of retained firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. [1183/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagements with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. [3279/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing last met. [60885/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [1182/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

13. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [3278/23]

Climate Action Plan

Mick Barry

19. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach to provide details of the climate action plan progress report published by his Department. [3280/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

23. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [1184/23]

Tax Credits

Mick Barry

228. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Finance if tenants in the private rented sector and those renting under a rent-a-room scheme can claim the rent tax credit where their landlord is not registered with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2749/23]

Teacher Training

Mick Barry

373. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a review of the minimum requirement of a leaving certificate O4 grade in mathematics to enter primary teacher training colleges; if she will consider allowing for other methods to allow students to meet the level of mathematics required in tandem with studying primary teaching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3291/23]

Transport Costs

Mick Barry

38. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is exploring the impact of implementing a policy of free public transport fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2251/23]

Transport Costs

Mick Barry

99. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on any information that he has in relation to increased passenger numbers during the period of the reduced fares on public transport; the number of student Leap and young adult Leap cards that have been issued in the same timeframe; if he will consider the abolition of public transport fares given the increased use of public transport reported previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2250/23]

Public Sector Pay

Mick Barry

164. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered revisiting the current public sector pay, given the real difficulties that are faced in staff retention issues, which is having an impact on public services, particularly in health and education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2252/23]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

31. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will provide the necessary details of the process of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers and the recommendation of a public consultation process and stakeholder engagement on pages 3 and 59 of the review document to a person (details supplied) in order that a submission can be made on behalf of the migrant fishers on whose behalf this organisation has advocated and represented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1176/23]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

32. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a non-EEA fisher who holds an unexpired atypical work permit scheme contract, who has been continuously employed on a vessel for two years or more and loses his or her employment arising from a decommissioning, is entitled to redundancy pay separate and distinct from the compensation for crew provided for by the terms of the Bord Iascaigh Mhara fishing vessel decommissioning scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1178/23]

Tax Code

Mick Barry

325. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate the taxation of HVO in home heating boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1064/23]

Foreign Policy

Mick Barry

610. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the matter of protesters in Iran facing long-term imprisonment and death sentences with the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1065/23]

Naval Service

Mick Barry

654. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the medical standards for recruits to the Naval Service in relation to epilepsy; if those standards allow for those who have had partial epilepsy that is deemed to have been resolved, to serve in the Naval Service; if he will outline the appeals process for those who have been rejected for a position in the Naval Reserve on medical grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2291/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mick Barry

931. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the benefits available for those paying class S PRSI; if access to illness benefit will be extended to this group given the increased awareness and necessity for persons to isolate when ill from many illnesses and the increasing number of persons in this group who are on low or middle incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2247/23]

Irish Sign Language

Mick Barry

964. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the timeline for the publication of the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; if he will establish the voucher scheme system for the funding of interpretation on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63740/22]

Legislative Reviews

Mick Barry

974. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2015 to ensure that trans persons and all members of the LGBTQ+ community are covered under protections in the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1063/23]

Medicinal Products

Mick Barry

1712. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reviewing the reimbursement of the anti-nausea drug pyridoxine, doxylamine commonly known by the brand name cariban for those who are pregnant; if he will consider making it available for non-consultant doctors to prescribe to any pregnant persons suffering nausea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2315/23]

Employment Rights

Mick Barry

1828. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an employer (details supplied) still has an obligation to fully compensate crew for all their service on a vessel, in cases in which the vessel changed ownership subsequent to the completion of 90-days by the fisher in 2020 and 2021; if the current employer still has an obligation to pay the compensation to the fisher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1177/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the French Republic. [61295/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment will next meet. [61296/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

19. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [60884/22]

An Garda Síochána

Mick Barry

2. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she will support an alteration to the policy in relation to the arming of gardaí; if she will support more gardaí being armed with firearms or tasers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60564/22]

Immigration Policy

Mick Barry

31. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice in view of the publication of the review of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers and resulting improved permit system that should accrue to those fishers who are currently documented in the atypical scheme and to those non-EEA fishers who may be employed in the future, if she will also consider offering to those migrant fishers who fell out of the atypical scheme for various reasons but who continue to be employed in the State on an undocumented basis a path to regularise their status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60565/22]

Immigration Policy

Mick Barry

37. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the scheme to regularise undocumented persons; if she will consider adjustments to the scheme to ensure those such as fishers who were in the atypical scheme can have a pathway to regularisation; if she will support other initiatives to allow those who are undocumented access to regularisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60566/22]

National Risk Assessment

Mick Barry

15. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the status of the national risk assessment 2021-2022. [59220/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

29. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met. [59316/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

36. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the recent US congressional delegation. [59317/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the COP27 Climate Change Conference. [57933/22]

Ukraine War

Mick Barry

15. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [59218/22]

Departmental Strategies

Mick Barry

25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [59219/22]

Public Sector Staff

Mick Barry

247. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of vacancies there are currently at Administrative Officer grade; the number of appointments at this grade planned for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59164/22]

Programme for Government

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57750/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

13. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Europe last met. [57931/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

20. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the new British Prime Minister. [57932/22]

Electricity Grid

Mick Barry

52. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has taken steps to ensure that households that have pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters which are debt-flagged will be able to switch to other suppliers and bill pay options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58205/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the European Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager. [56450/22]

Departmental Offices

Mick Barry

14. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the climate action unit in his Department. [57748/22]

European Council

Mick Barry

21. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council meeting held on 20 and 21 October 2022. [57749/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

34. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Europe last met. [56704/22]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

153. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will now accept applications for the re-activation employment permit from migrant fishers who were formerly enrolled in the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers but who, for reasons covered by the re-activation employment permit system, ceased to be enrolled (details supplied); if such applications for the re-activation employment permit would be entertained in cases in which the sponsoring employer is outside of the fishing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57464/22]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

206. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57338/22]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

525. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the necessary details of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers process to an organisation (details supplied) in order that a submission can be made on behalf of the migrant fishers on whose behalf this organisation has advocated and represented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57335/22]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

526. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if a work permit can be obtained on the basis of a sponsoring employer outside of the fishing sector (details supplied), in light of the recent review of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers and the facility, as set out on pages 3 and 59 of the review, for those currently enrolled in the scheme to have their current permission extended, pending an application to her Department for a work permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57336/22]

Citizenship Applications

Mick Barry

527. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57337/22]

Government Communications

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Government Information Service unit of his Department. [56448/22]

Sustainable Development Goals

Mick Barry

11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the senior officials group chaired by his Department to provide a strategic overview of the implementation of the sustainable development goals. [56703/22]

Defence Forces

Mick Barry

17. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the high-level steering board, chaired by the Secretary General of his Department, to oversee the implementation of the high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [56449/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting of the European Political Community. [53552/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting of the European Political Community. [56702/22]

Housing Provision

Mick Barry

17. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [53553/22]

Public Transport

Mick Barry

2. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the BusConnects project in Cork; if he will confirm if the routes will be subject to tender for private operators; the guarantees he can give in terms of workers’ rights and service levels for outsourced routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55832/22]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

1. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

9. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

27. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

43. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]