Parliamentary questions

Insurance Industry Regulation

John Browne

55. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance if he will initiate an immediate review of the rules following on from the liquidation of Setanta Insurance, to ensure equal treatment for all policyholders, that standards are harmonised across all jurisdictions to protect consumers of insurance products, and that regulatory arbitrage does not arise when entities are seeking authorisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/14]

Insurance Industry Regulation

John Browne

56. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance notwithstanding the concept of the free market, his views on the wisdom of allowing financial service providers to offer products which are clearly priced at an uneconomic rate; if legislation should provide for supervisory oversight of pricing in line with the requirements for improved actuarial evaluation and assessment of risk exposure promoted in consultation paper 73 of consultation on requirements for reserving and pricing for non-life insurers and reinsurers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23567/14]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

John Browne

82. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange to have the appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny investigated as expeditiously as possible where medical evidence has been submitted to her Department in support of the claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23564/14]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

John Browne

116. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason for a three and a half year delay in having orthodontic treatment provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will arrange early treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23565/14]

Maritime Jurisdiction

John Browne

52. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with regard to SI 86 of 2014 titled Maritime Jurisdiction (Boundaries of Exclusive Economic Zone) Order 2014 whose purpose is to designate the economic zone of the State, if he will provide a map of the new exclusive economic zone detailing changes from the previous exclusive economic zone of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22472/14]

Insurance Industry

John Browne

83. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to restore trust in the financial services market following the liquidation of Setanta Insurance; if at national or EU level, there are any proposals to introduce measures to allow for the return of premiums paid, the writing off of phased premiums which are not yet paid, and the handling process for claims without the lengthy delays inherent in a liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22184/14]

Medical Card Administration

John Browne

27. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of over 70s who have had their medical card withdrawn following on the changes announced in the past two budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/14]

Medical Card Eligibility

John Browne

42. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of an automatic entitlement to a medical card for children with Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Browne

60. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the go-ahead to appoint a contractor for the building of school extension (details supplied) in County Wexford will be approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18169/14]

Forestry Sector

John Browne

144. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for forestry planting approval will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [18171/14]

Bank Codes of Conduct

John Browne

115. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some financial institutions are advising customers that the statutory codes of protection for mortgages are just aspirations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16322/14]

Bank Codes of Conduct

John Browne

117. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance if there is a discrepancy in the code of conduct on mortgage arrears where it states that lenders must act in the best interests of their customers when certain lenders are clearly not acting in the best interests of their customers by refusing to engage with their customers other than seeking sale or surrender; his views on whether there should be a clause which requires lenders to co-operate with borrowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16324/14]

Property Tax Yield

John Browne

119. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance that allowing local property tax as a deductible expense against the income of a business which lets private residential property would reduce the yield from the tax and the way that equates with fairness in the tax system, notwithstanding his acceptance of the Thornhill group’s recommendation that it should be deductible at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16328/14]

School Transport Administration

John Browne

74. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the confidentiality agreement between Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied) was actually signed and put in place; if this was prior to the company's original report entitled, Review of the Overhead Costs and Indirect Costs for the Administration of the School Transport Scheme, or prior to the commencement of the company's redacted report in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/14]

Asylum Applications

John Browne

184. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will arrange to have all documentation in relation to an asylum application returned in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Wexford. [15612/14]

Departmental Offices

John Browne

204. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will arrange to have adequate administrative staff available to deal with farmers' queries at all times at the DVO office in Enniscorthy town, County Wexford; the reason this has not been the case in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15613/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

John Browne

109. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to help people with spina bifida; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14879/14]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

John Browne

223. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance if non-first-time buyers in the 2004 to 2008 period can expect to have assistance similar to the increased interest relief for first-time buyers; if the concentration of relief on first-time buyers is discriminatory against non-first-time buyers who traded down or up in the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13352/14]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

John Browne

224. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance the status of owners of buy-to-let properties who bought during the 2004 to 2008 period in regard to heavy mortgage repayments which are not covered by rental payments; if he will consider restoring 100% tax relief on interest for buy-to-let owners who bought during the period in question as a first step in restoring full relief for all buy-to-lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/14]

School Transport Administration

John Browne

380. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the type of information deemed to be of a commercially sensitive nature; the reason information regarding overhead and indirect costs associated with the administration of the school transport scheme contained in the FGS report fall into this definition; if this information was considered commercially sensitive, the reason it was only after completion of the FGS report that a confidentiality agreement was entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13869/14]

Construction Contracts

John Browne

401. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the criteria for construction companies to qualify for State contracts; his plans to change this criteria in particular the minimum turnover levels required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12861/14]

Departmental Expenditure

John Browne

62. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department paid FGS an additional €8,400 in 2011 for the school transport scheme report, in terms of the services and-or advice required by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/14]

Beef Industry

John Browne

170. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been taken in 2013 and will be taken in 2014 by his Department to support and encourage breeders of Kerry cattle to secure the survival of the breed, which is under threat of extinction due to declining numbers of pedigree cows and cross-breeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12331/14]

Medical Card Applications

John Browne

216. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a medical card issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [12341/14]

Medical Card Applications

John Browne

217. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a medical card issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [12342/14]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

John Browne

55. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether both sides in a mortgage arrears situation should share the pain of a poor investment decision by both parties in a principal dwelling house or buy-to-let; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/14]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

John Browne

77. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that mortgage arrears issues are presumed to be dealt with on a case by case basis, if special consideration should be given to those who bought property at the peak of the property cycle as these are the most likely to have seriously unsustainable mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/14]

Personal Insolvency Act

John Browne

408. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason debt solution processes are not more effectively geared towards avoiding the repossession route and the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/14]

Hospital Appointment Status

John Browne

255. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [9925/14]

Tax Code

John Browne

219. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm previous statements that the recipient of private residential rental income is a business person in respect of that rental income; if it is not recognised as a business, the legislation or ministerial orders that are needed to ensure that the taxation system recognises the normal costs of that rental business as being deductible from the applicable gross rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8222/14]

Services for People with Disabilities

John Browne

59. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if the reduction in staff levels in the health services mean that, with regard to disability services, the capacity does not exist to implement Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6945/14]

Disability Services Funding

John Browne

66. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health his response to the recent statement by the Disability Federation of Ireland that health service funding for disabilities should be organised on a multi-annual basis to improve and facilitate proper planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6944/14]

Property Tax Administration

John Browne

171. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 4 February 2014, if he will provide an answer to the question raised, as his answer on that occasion does not address the issue raised; the reason the non-deductibility of local property tax from private rental income is being excused on the basis that it would reduce the tax base when it is an expense wholly and necessarily incurred in the business of letting private rental property; his views on whether a business cost is a business cost regardless of its impact elsewhere as otherwise it could be argued that anything that reduces exposure to taxation reduces the tax base, whether that be income tax, corporation tax, VAT refunds, personal reliefs and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6730/14]

Consular Services Provision

John Browne

49. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will arrange for Irish embassy officials to visit an Irish person (details supplied) who is currently being held in a UK prison. [5815/14]

Civil Registration Legislation

John Browne

92. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to allow the civil registration for granddaughters or grandsons when death occurs as a result of an accident to a mother (details supplied). [5813/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

John Browne

157. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area aid payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [5814/14]

Property Tax Administration

John Browne

175. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance the reason the non-deductibility of local property tax from private rental income is being excused on the basis that it would reduce the tax base, when it is an expense wholly and necessarily incurred in the business of letting private rental property; his views that a business cost is a business cost regardless of its impact elsewhere, as otherwise it could be argued that anything that reduces exposure to taxation reduces the tax base, whether that be income tax, corporation tax, VAT refunds, personal reliefs and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5357/14]

Property Tax Assessments

John Browne

207. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance the reason private landlords are not allowed tax deductibility of local property tax and are treated differently to commercial landlords in relation to tax deductibility of rates particularly as he has given a firm commitment to accept the recommendation from the expert group that local property tax should be an allowable expense for private rental income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4068/14]

Grant Payments

John Browne

605. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment for a forestry premium-headage payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath where all maintenance work has been carried out and verified to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3482/14]

EU Funding

John Browne

179. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek funding from the EU Commission to compensate fishermen who suffered serious financial losses of boats, lobster pots and equipment during the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3056/14]

Driver Licences

John Browne

228. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason original driving licences are taken from clients when making new applications for renewal as opposed to photocopies as clients are made to wait for a new licence which causes major problems for job opportunities when driving licences need to be produced to prospective employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3059/14]

Deposit Guarantee Scheme

John Browne

77. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance the implications, should a further bailout occur where savings of up to €100,000 are protected by the Government, for saving clubs and penny banks run by community and sports clubs which would have a combined total of more than this; if these savings would be treated on an individual basis or if the total savings would be taken into account whereby the clubs would lose their protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54646/13]

Defence Forces Personnel

John Browne

183. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Defence if he will investigate a claim by a parent of a person (details supplied) serving in the Irish Defence Forces that he is constantly getting harassed and discriminated against by senior army officials. [54651/13]

Fisheries Protection

John Browne

204. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts his Department is making to prevent British ships from fishing in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53618/13]

Visa Applications

John Browne

128. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will arrange to have an application for a visa reviewed as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53301/13]

Fish Quotas

John Browne

452. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken, if any, to promote the transfer of the total allowable catch between member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53148/13]

Fisheries Protection

John Browne

453. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to date to address the suspension of the fishing fleet in Kilmore, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53149/13]

Trade Agreements

John Browne

40. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding trade agreements and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49733/13]

Dormant Accounts Fund Administration

John Browne

138. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of moneys accumulated to date in the dormant accounts fund since its inception; the amount available at present; his plans to allocate such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49731/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

John Browne

183. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has or will be introducing regulations in order that defibrillators will be available on the buses of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and private bus operators. [49811/13]