Parliamentary questions

Railway Safety Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

575. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the extreme overcrowding on the Dublin-Sligo train service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish Rail has reduced the number of carriages on this route; if his attention has been drawn to the dangers of such overcrowding; his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53044/13]

Departmental Properties

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

135. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Nure Bog in County Westmeath or any portion thereof has been purchased by the National Parks and Wildlife Service from a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52293/13]

Irish Language

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

5. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider Irish text only day; if he or his Department officials have examined this idea in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51695/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

71. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department is willing to provide further relief and support for those who adopt children here, in view of the low rate of adoption of Irish-born children at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51586/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Delays

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

174. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the action her Department is taking to reduce the delay in social welfare appeals being heard through an oral appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51587/13]

Disability Allowance Payments

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

179. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if steps will be taken to ensure that more choice will be given to those with disabilities and their families on the way they can allocate their disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51612/13]

Broadband Service Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

226. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is planning to provide a better level of broadband here; if he will confirm the budget allocated for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51588/13]

Legislative Measures

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

293. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to bring Ireland in line with the rest of the European Union and create a criminal offence for race crimes or hate crimes that were motivated by fraud, racial discrimination, or prejudice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51583/13]

Legislative Measures

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

294. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason he has not implemented legislation to protect illegal migrant workers who are experiencing physical and sexual violence here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51584/13]

Adoption Services Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

381. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department is willing to provide further relief and support for those who adopt children here, in view of the low rate of adoption of Irish born children at the moment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51585/13]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

120. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason it is necessary to have a direct line available for Deputies and Senators to contact Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45681/13]

Roadworthiness Testing

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

683. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce testing for tractors; if it will be on an annual or biannual basis; if he will make clear if this is as a result of a European directive, and if so, when such testing will be introduced; the number of testing stations that would be needed to cover the entire country; if any such testing centres will be run on a franchise basis similar to the testing centres used to test trucks and vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50512/13]

Banking Sector

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

216. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if the banking licence held by the ACC Bank will be handed in to the Central Bank when the bank closes; if this is the only option being examined by his Department; if he will consider selling off the bank, including its licence, brand and its outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49506/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

387. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that a prohibition on the process of hydraulic fracturing or fracking exists here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49177/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

396. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of his decision not to award onshore petroleum prospecting licences due to the failure by companies (details supplied) to comply with the work programmes as set out by his Department, if he will confirm that the companies being in breach of the specific performance of the licensing terms, 2007, have vacated their position and that the licensing options held by aforementioned companies have now lapsed and are of no further effect, have now been revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49178/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

397. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 19 February 2013 if he will confirm to which specific work programmes proposed he was referring; if he will also confirm what was so unique about the nature of these work programmes which precluded him from granting petroleum prospecting licences to the onshore licensing option holders and onshore petroleum prospecting licence applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49179/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

398. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that companies (details supplied) have been granted onshore licensing options since 1 March 2011, the reason he has not issued failure notices to the companies to hold a petroleum prospecting licence; the reason his Department has not recovered the appropriate penalties from the companies concerned as required by the licensing terms, 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49180/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

400. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of his decision not to award onshore petroleum prospecting licences due to the failure by companies (details supplied) to comply with the work programmes, as set out by his Department, and the companies having vacated their position, if he will confirm that until the licensing options are put out to tender again, in accordance with Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and in the event that a company tenders successfully and is awarded such an option, there are no companies permitted to lawfully operate with a licensing option here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49241/13]

Prospecting Licences

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

401. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parlimentary Questions Nos. 463 to 465, inclusive, of 2 February 2013, in view of the fact that there is a requirement on the part of companies (details supplied) to hold a petroleum prospecting licence during the full period of a licensing option under the licensing terms 2007(13b), if he will explain, following his admission in his answers that the companies concerned do not hold PPLs, the reason he has allowed the companies to continue to hold onshore licensing options when they do not comply with the terms of the onshore licensing terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49242/13]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

82. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has organised for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to have direct access to the PULSE system without the need of a member of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45980/13]

Penalty Points System

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

101. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has implemented the set of recommendations made in the GPSU report which he accepted as principles to be adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45981/13]

Birth Certificate Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

413. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the 2010 report on Legal Aspects of Family Relationships recognising and recommending that the problem of presumption of paternity be addressed in legislation to allow the mother to make a declaration that their husband is not the father and that this would allow them to register the child, her plans to bring forward legislative provisions in relation to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46456/13]

Water Charges Administration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

675. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if those who refuse to pay water charges will be sent to jail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46264/13]

Legislative Process

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

808. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the option of imposing the in camera rule will be taken away from our court judges in family law cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46665/13]

Local Authority Housing Standards

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

190. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Leitrim County Council is failing in its duty of care towards a disabled person (details supplied) in County Leitrim by failing to provide adequate heating facilities which will heat this person’s county council house in a manner which all medical advice prescribes as vital for the person's survival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45445/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

55. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether the various restrictions now being placed on turf cutting here will lead to a situation where turf cutting will cease to exist. [44627/13]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

309. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the impact of national heritage areas designations on areas in the buffer zones surrounding the NHAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44643/13]

National Drugs Strategy Budget

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

419. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to parliamentary Question No. 388 of 15 October 2013, if the figure of €241 million provided in the answer includes the €5.7 million given in parliamentary Question No. 259 of 15 October 2013, as the cost of funding the Garda national drugs unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44757/13]

Forestry Sector

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

424. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the product known as pulp within the forestry industry will be made available at a commercial rate to the saw millers of the country and no longer be exclusively directed to the Coillte board plants; his views on whether there would be a better return to the State if this product was transacted on an open and transparent basis, whereby all processors of our forestry, including Coillte, would have to bid for same rather than the current situation whereby Coillte directs pulp to its board plants without any cost to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44174/13]

Forestry Sector

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

425. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at a recent forestry industry event held in the UK an orientated strand board manufacturer (details supplied) was asking participants to sign a petition requesting that the pulp from Irish forests be made available to all in the industry and not only to Coillte's board plants; his views on whether Coilte's exclusive access to this product from our forests is an anti-competitive practice; if he will assure Dáil Éireann that there is no conflict with EU competition directives with regard to Coillte having sole use of this product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44178/13]

Public Procurement Regulations

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

83. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the tens of millions in public contracts that were negotiated with the private bus operators by the Bus Éireann employee in the Dundalk School Transport Office, whose irregular actions were reported to An Garda Síochána, were awarded in accordance with the EU Directives on Procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43933/13]

Land Ownership

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

141. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of hectares of raised bog owned by the State and semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44013/13]

Bus Éireann Services

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

29. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person in Bus Éireann that decided not to report the incidence of irregularities to An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43887/13]

Garda Expenditure

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

259. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the costs of running the drug squad unit within An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43070/13]

National Drugs Strategy Budget

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

388. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the cost of the war on drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43071/13]

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

398. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if Ireland is being fined under the working time directive for the long hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43069/13]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

3. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the shovel ready projects spoken of last year, the progress that has been made on getting such projects up and running; if he will outline any tangible results from this policy; if he will indicate the benefits this approach has had for the masses of young persons who are unemployed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42739/13]

Credit Unions Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

71. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance when the Credit Union owned CUSOP will receive its authorisation from the Central Bank; if the Government is fully supportive of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41554/13]

Credit Unions Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

72. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will instruct AIB, a State owned bank, to assist the credit union movement with access to the clearing system to enable credit unions to offer full account services to their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41555/13]

Credit Unions Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

73. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the details of the strategy to underpin the solvency and viability of the credit union sector that was presented to the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF; the further discussions with the staff of the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF that will be necessary to clarify some aspects of the restructuring of the credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41586/13]

School Transport Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

101. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain what the item return to risk for Bus Éireann means as it appears in the Bus Éireann bill for school transport posted on his website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41579/13]

School Transport Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

102. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school transport is more expensive here than anywhere else in the western world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41580/13]

School Transport Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

103. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason maintenance charges for buses in the school bus fleet owned by Bus Éireann are over five times higher than similar charges for maintenance in Northern Ireland; his views on whether his Department is being overcharged for maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41581/13]

School Transport Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

104. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will put the 45 year old school transport contract/agreement/arrangement out to public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41582/13]

School Transport Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

105. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will inform the EU Commission on Competition that the 45 year old arrangement that costs the State €160 million per year is not a contract and should not be put out to public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41583/13]

School Transport Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

106. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the redacted version of the FGS report on school transport administration charges which was agreed to be published in 2011 by his Department and Bus Éireann before the court case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41584/13]

School Transport Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

107. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish a copy of the confidentiality agreement that was signed by FGS and Bus Éireann and referred to by him in responses to a parliamentary question of 18 September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41585/13]

Prisoner Releases

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

165. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in a prison (details supplied) in County Roscommon that have breached the terms of their temporary release to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41552/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

3. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the detailed scientific reasons for designating each of the 53 raised bog complexes under the birds and habitats directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38688/13]

Prison Committals

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

542. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason people convicted of minor offences are often brought to prison and released from prison on the same day, often by the same Garda who delivered them in the first instance; his views on whether this makes a mockery of the justice system and that it is a waste of Garda time and resources; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on occasion people convicted of penalty points serve as little as two hours of a prison sentence; the reason this occurs; if it is down to a lack of prison places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36255/13]