Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Martin Ferris

152. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to shorten the time period that it takes to implement decisions of appeals officers. [49851/12]

Departmental Functions

Kevin Humphreys

153. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced within her Department due to the failure to transfer files for appeals quickly when decisions in the negative for entitlements to payments are appealed by a citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49989/12]

Departmental Schemes

Kevin Humphreys

154. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays of over six months in the processing of disability, invalidity and carer's allowance applications and the difficulties it is causing for members of the public who have to live with the uncertainty of the status of their entitlements for up to a year in some cases; the action being taken to address the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49990/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Joe McHugh

155. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on developments arising from the joint statement on the future relationship between Ireland and Britain made by him and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, at Downing Street on 12 March 2012. [49391/12]

State Agencies

Niall Collins

156. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit; if he will provide a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies under his remit that have been abolished since March 2011 or are scheduled to be abolished and the date on which they are due to be abolished; the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body in 2012; the names of outside consultants hired by the organisation since march 2011; and his future plans for the body. [49392/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Sean Fleming

157. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the gross and net additional expenditure savings that his Department is seeking to achieve in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49393/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

158. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49659/12]

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

Mary Lou McDonald

159. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular form the number of public servants in receipt of annual gross public sector pensions of between €0 to €10,000, €10,001 to €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,000 to €90,000, €90,000 to €100,000, €100,001 to €110,000, €110,001 to €120,000, €120,001 to €130,000, €130,001 to €140,000, €140,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €160,000, €160,001 and above; and if these figures include local authorities, vocational educational committees, commercial semi-State companies, non-commercial State agencies and bodies public sector retirees. [49861/12]

Public Sector Reform Review

Seán Kyne

160. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50648/12]

Human Rights Issues

John Paul Phelan

161. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Chinese Government the issue of alleged human rights violations in China, with particular reference to allegations of organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong worshippers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/12]

State Agencies

Billy Kelleher

162. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49653/12]

International Relations

Maureen O'Sullivan

163. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider placing an Irish presence in Sarajevo for the EU heads of mission meetings as Ireland enters the EU Presidency to facilitate and monitor the peace process in Bosnia and prevent further disintegration of stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49678/12]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Finian McGrath

164. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of officials by grade in his Department that will be working solely on the Presidency for the remainder of 2012; if redeployment or promotion has occurred; if they will be paid any additional allowances or pay; the way these officials were selected; if the selection procedure gave rise to any complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50025/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 March 2012, if this review of the working of the election roster has been completed; the outcomes of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50037/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Finian McGrath

166. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland's international election monitoring since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50038/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

167. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh perspective: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 25.8% of the London Irish community suffer poor health and that isolation may contribute to this poor health, the work his Department is undertaking to address causes and results of isolation within the Irish community in London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50054/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

168. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the assertion in Fresh Perspectives: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London, October 2012 that 94.7% of recent Irish migrants to London report poor or moderate levels of perceived social suppor,; the work his Department is undertaking to engage supports for recent migrants. [50063/12]

Irish Communities Abroad

Joe McHugh

169. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement by his Department with the British social services in respect of vulnerable elderly Irish citizens who live in the greater London area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50065/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issues of the continued imprisonment of Marian Price McGlinchey and Martin Corey with the British Prime Minister when next they meet. [45663/12]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Gerry Adams

171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his role with regard to Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [45664/12]