Parliamentary questions

Microenterprise Loan Fund Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

498. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the funding allocated through the microenterprise loan fund scheme through Microfinance Ireland for a particular area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he will provide a breakdown of the figures; the number of applications received; the number approved; the total value of loans approved to each business; the number of jobs supported in each enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37166/13]

Industrial Relations

Andrew Doyle

499. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to reform the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001 to ensure the State's compliance with recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37291/13]

Proposed Legislation

Andrew Doyle

501. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the consumer protection and competition Bill; if he will clarify if the legal drafting has been finalised; when he expects to be in a position to publish the Bill; when he expects to commence Second Stage of the Bill; if he will clarify the Oireachtas committee to which the Bill will be referred on Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37359/13]

Departmental Functions

Andrew Doyle

502. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he intends to move or relocate the Employment Permits Section of his Department and align it with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37362/13]

Work Permit Criteria

Andrew Doyle

503. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that there is an adequate degree of separation between the deciding officers in his Department on matters of employment permits and the appeals officer, also within his Department, to ensure a fair, appropriate and transparent appeals mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37364/13]

Work Permit Application Numbers

Andrew Doyle

504. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of work permits granted by his Department in each year from 2007 to present; if he will tabulate the nationalities of the workers in receipt of these work permits; the sectors for these work permits were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37383/13]

EU Meetings

Andrew Doyle

505. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the parameters of the discussions held with Ministerial colleagues at the Informal Competitiveness Council meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania on 23 and 24 July 2013; if he will detail any agreements reached; if he will provide an update on matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37413/13]

Work Permit Criteria

Andrew Doyle

506. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will review the highly skilled occupations list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37455/13]

Product Labelling

Andrew Doyle

512. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current legal standing for products sold to Ireland to have country of origin on their labelling; if products are permitted to have "Made in the EU" labelling as opposed to labelling indicating they were made in a specific country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/13]

Trade Agreements

Andrew Doyle

513. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will discuss the recent EU trade deals that took effect with Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; if he will detail the bilateral trade between Ireland and the three countries; if he will detail the way the joint labour and environmental standards will impact on Ireland; when he expects the trade deal to be expanded to Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37572/13]

Consumer Protection

Andrew Doyle

523. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to other jurisdictions where a cooling-off period is in place before it is legal to accept payment for work touted from door-to-door sales; if such laws are currently in place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38352/13]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

524. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps his Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of his Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie that is in a clear and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39255/13]

Departmental Agencies

Andrew Doyle

530. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to have the Pensions Board renamed the pensions authority and its chief executive renamed the pensions regulator; the person she intends to appoint to act as her representative on the authority; the process by which a chairperson will be appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37375/13]

Proposed Legislation

Andrew Doyle

569. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the main measures that will be contained in new legislation to have fathers' names on birth certificates becoming compulsory for the first time; if her attention has been drawn to circumstances where a couple have separated and the mother subsequently has a child with her new partner, before the divorce comes through on her first marriage; in view of the four-year waiting period in circumstances like these if she would be mandated to put the separated husband or the father of the child down on the birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37114/13]

Social Welfare Offices

Andrew Doyle

573. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if Intreo offices will be provided in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37123/13]

National Internship Scheme Data

Andrew Doyle

580. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of internships through JobBridge have positions that have been advertised by the Health Service Executive to date since the start of the programme; the role of each of the positions advertised; the exact date each position was advertised, when it was filled, for how long each position lasted for; if any of the positions replaced existing paid roles within the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37159/13]

Employment Support Services

Andrew Doyle

581. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to bring forward proposals that when persons go on the live register that they be supplied with an information booklet explaining exactly the way the social welfare system functions, rather than just receiving a social welfare card in the post, including information regarding resulting matters when one leaves the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37160/13]

National Internship Scheme Places

Andrew Doyle

582. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection her views that it is appropriate for the new Education and Training Boards taking out paid advertising in regional and local media to attract applicants to the JobBridge scheme, if there is no possibility of employment at the end of their internship; her views that internships should only be made available for such boards if a job is available to the intern at the end of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37162/13]

State Bodies

Andrew Doyle

595. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to have the Pensions Board renamed the Pensions Authority and its Chief Executive called the Pensions Regulator; the person she intends to appoint to act as her representative on the Authority, to work alongside the representative of the Minister for Finance; the process by which a chairperson will be appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37378/13]

Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare

Andrew Doyle

596. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the report she commissioned (details supplied) will be used as part of the Departmental discussions in the allocation for her Department for Budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37379/13]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Payments

Andrew Doyle

597. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a county-by-county breakdown of the funding made available as part of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance by her Department for each of the past five school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37384/13]

Free Travel Scheme Payments

Andrew Doyle

598. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual subvention that is paid to Dublin Bus by her Department for the free travel scheme, providing a bus pass to citizens over the age of 66 years, for each year from 2007 to date in 2013; when the last review was conducted by her Department on the way that subvention figure is calculated; if the new public services card that is being rolled out by her Department will have Leap card style integration, in order that in the future, a more accurate figure may be gathered as to how often old age pensioners are using the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37388/13]

Free Travel Scheme Payments

Andrew Doyle

599. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual subvention that is paid to the operators of the LUAS by her Department for the free travel scheme, providing a free travel pass to citizens over the age of 66, for each year from 2007 to present; when the last review was conducted by her Department on the way that subvention figure is calculated; if the new public services card that is being rolled out by her Department will have Leap card style integration, so in the future, a more accurate figure can be gathered as to how often old age pensioners are using the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37389/13]

Free Travel Scheme Payments

Andrew Doyle

600. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual subvention that is paid to the each private transport operator by her Department for the free travel scheme, providing a bus pass to citizens over the age of 66, for each year from 2007 to date; when the last review was conducted by her Department on the way that subvention figure is calculated; if the new public services card that is being rolled out by her Department will have Leap card style integration, so in the future, a more accurate figure may be gathered as to how often old age pensioners are using the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37390/13]

Free Travel Scheme Payments

Andrew Doyle

601. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual subvention that is paid to Irish Rail by her Department for the free travel scheme, providing a bus pass to citizens over the age of 66 years, for each year from 2007 to date; when the last review was conducted by her Department on the way that subvention figure is calculated; if the new public services card that is being rolled out by her Department will have Leap card style integration in order that in the future, a more accurate figure may be gathered as to how often old age pensioners are using the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37392/13]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Andrew Doyle

603. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the current status of the ESB occupational pension scheme, specifically the contributory defined benefit pension scheme; the date on which the scheme was changed to a defined contribution scheme; if she will outline the details regarding the Pensions Board winding up the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37453/13]

Jobs Initiative

Andrew Doyle

612. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of firms that have taken on persons as part of the jobsplus scheme since its launch date; the number of persons that have recently become employed through this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37579/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Andrew Doyle

650. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail all addresses and estates in a county (details supplied) that are not permitted to be in receipt of rent allowance/supplement; the rationale for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38047/13]

Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare

Andrew Doyle

672. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the parameters of the main recommendations made by the advisory group on tax and social welfare in their third report on extending social insurance coverage for the self employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38244/13]

Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

710. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of her Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie that is in a clear and transparent manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39256/13]

Cultural Policy

Andrew Doyle

735. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht subject to Decision 1622/2006/EC, when he expects Ireland to be in a position to be entitled to host and to be designated as a European Capital of Culture; the process that would be involved within Ireland in order to designate a particular city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37070/13]

Commemorative Events

Andrew Doyle

736. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has been approached regarding a centenary event to mark the gun landings by the Irish Volunteers on Kilcoole Beach, County Wicklow, on 1 August 2014; if his Department intends to mark the event as part of national centenary occasions in the coming years; if funding will be made available from his Department or through other resources to a non-partisan and non-party political local interest group or committee to enable a centenary event to occur next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/13]

Commonage Framework Plans

Andrew Doyle

737. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the July 2013 report entitled "Review of Commonage Lands and Framework Management Plans", produced by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; his views on the ten recommendations contained in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37247/13]

Commemorative Events

Andrew Doyle

742. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the list of all engagements that he had in the course of his August 2013 visit to Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37543/13]

Heritage Convention

Andrew Doyle

753. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will discuss the main elements of the World Heritage sites conference in Dublin Castle in September 2013; if he will provide in tabular form the local authorities that were invited, those that attended; those that did not attend which provided an apology; and those who did not attend and not respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38387/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

768. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps his Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of his Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie that is in a clear and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Andrew Doyle

772. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the current proposed limits on the use of crop based biofuels currently being negotiated in the European Union; the effects such limits would have here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38320/13]

Offshore Exploration

Andrew Doyle

779. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his Departments interaction with a company (details supplied) surrounding its decision to cease exploration of offshore oil and gas at the Porcupine basin off the coast of County Kerry in July 2013; his views that its decision will impact of the future of offshore oil and gas exploration in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37097/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Andrew Doyle

780. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will discuss the proposed strategic framework for specific wind energy export proposals and their assessment and the overall policy and planning framework that should guide An Bord Pleanála when considering any proposals for wind energy export projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37259/13]

Offshore Exploration

Andrew Doyle

781. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the petroleum affairs division of his Department has received the offshore oil and gas exploration data from ExxonMobil from its drilling activities off the coast of Ireland, as required by the licence terms when it was initially granted; if such data will be made available to the public or any other exploration company either now or in the future; how available this data will be used or availed of in years to come; if the Eirik Raude rig will stay in place, if it will be moved and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37287/13]

Electrical Contractors

Andrew Doyle

782. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the legislative basis that registered electrical contractors must register by 1 October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37293/13]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Andrew Doyle

784. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications for sports broadcasting here as a result of a recent court case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37347/13]

Telecommunications Regulation Issues

Andrew Doyle

787. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the proposal from the European Commission Directorate General for Competition under the direction of Joaquín Almunia to have a single pan-European watchdog to replace the existing 28 national telecoms regulators, as opposed to the single European telecoms market as set out by Neelie Kroes, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda from the Directorate General of the European Commission for Communications Networks, Content and Technology; the implications this would have for the Irish Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg); the option he believes would be the better option for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37363/13]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Andrew Doyle

788. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications of the recent decision of the European Commission to approve an extension to the backstop date for the renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme 2006 for an additional two year period up to the end of 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37366/13]

Broadband Service Provision

Andrew Doyle

790. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a progress report on the roll-out of broadband and high speed broadband in various areas (details supplied) of County Wicklow at affordable rates for residents; if he intends to engage with established, well placed firms already providing innovative ways of securing broadband for particular areas; if he intends to have a price goal for end users as part of the national broadband plan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that faster connections for home users at affordable broadband rates can reduce lower fuel imports and CO2 emissions with persons working from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37457/13]

Communications Regulation

Andrew Doyle

814. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the role the Commission for Communications Regulation play in the regulation of levies placed on credit top ups for mobile service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38109/13]

Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction

Andrew Doyle

819. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if persons who are presently exempt from payment of a current TV licence will be exempt from the future public service broadcast charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38278/13]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Andrew Doyle

820. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has taken on board the safety recommendation by the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport following on from an incident in Newcastle, County Wicklow in July 2012 involving a Reims Cessna FRA150M, G-BDOW aircraft; if his Department will be engaging with the Emergency Call Answering Service service provider and the emergency services to consider putting procedures in place which ensure that emergency calls related to air accidents are notified immediately to all of the emergency services; when he expects his Department to revert back to the AAIU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38306/13]

Corrib Gas Field

Andrew Doyle

821. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that consultants and inspectors hired by his Department have access to gas tunnels as part of their inspections; that certification for access to such tunnels is only provided to gas industry personnel as opposed to inspectors; that only contractors with sufficient access to all areas are required to produce a full report as required by the compliance procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38319/13]

Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction

Andrew Doyle

824. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of submissions to date on the Consultation on the Introduction of a Public Service Broadcasting Charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38567/13]

Motor Tax Collection

Andrew Doyle

832. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the price of paying three months car tax versus 12 months car tax can be arranged so that regardless of how long the motor tax is paid for, persons paying for shorter periods are not penalised over the space of one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36907/13]

Animal Welfare

Andrew Doyle

835. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is concerned that since the licence fee for dog licences increased from €12.70 to €20, more than 26,331 dogs disappeared from the system, representing a 12% drop in persons getting the licences; if he believes the hike in fee has stopped people registering their dogs; if discussions have been held to abolish the dog licence fee when compulsory microchipping is introduced to prevent double taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37344/13]

Irish Water Establishment

Andrew Doyle

853. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements that have been put in place for the establishment of the call centre for Irish Water for the purposes of payment and customer service; the number of jobs that have been created here as a result of this call centre; the number of submissions his Department received for the awarding of the tender contract; if the fee paid for this call cente by his Department or Irish Water is a set fee for the provision of the service or per employee at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/13]

Height Restrictions

Andrew Doyle

868. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on legislation to deal with height restrictions on hedges and trees on both public and private land; if a person is entitled to a view from their property they previously had; the discussions he and his Department have had with other Departments on this matter to find a legal remedy to situations like these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37014/13]

Fire Stations Provision

Andrew Doyle

869. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests received over the previous seven years from a local authority (details supplied) in County WIcklow seeking sanction to develop a new fire station or replace an older station; if he sees any capital funding being made available in the near future for fire stations in the local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37023/13]

Animal Welfare

Andrew Doyle

871. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider abolishing the dog licence fee once the dog microchipping initiative is introduced; the discussions his Department have held with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37048/13]

Irish Water Remit

Andrew Doyle

872. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that Irish Water/Uisce Eireann is accountable to his Department for the purposes of answering parliamentary questions on the record of Dáil Éireann; if full answers regarding their work will be published on the record of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/13]

Local Authority Funding

Andrew Doyle

873. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding a local authority (details supplied) in County Wicklow will receive under the energy efficiency programme for local authority homes in 2013 in view of the fact that €10 million is being invested; the amount he believes the same local authority will receive in 2014 under a €25 million investment and the amount in 2015 in view of a €15 million investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37078/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Andrew Doyle

874. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 18 July 2013, if he will outline in tabular form the complete list of estates and properties in two counties (details supplied) that have been exempted from the local property tax following a challenge to the Ombudsman; the total number of complaints that have been received by the Ombudsman in the two said counties; if he will break this down into developments where a waiver for a household charge applied; if his Department have examined the complaints and the ones they have ruled on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/13]

Chains of Office

Andrew Doyle

875. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Chains belonging to current mayors and cathaoirleachs of current town councils that generally rotate on an annual basis, will continue to operate and be recognised under the new municipal authority system or area council, being introduced as part of the local Government reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37122/13]

International Agreements

Andrew Doyle

876. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of submissions his Department received through the public consultation phase on the implementation of the UNECE Aarhus Convention here on the implementation in Ireland of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters the Aarhus Convention; if he will provide in tabular form the names and organisations that made submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37130/13]

Litter Pollution

Andrew Doyle

877. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the categories and schemes of funding that have been made available by his Department to local authorities for the provision of dog littering signs; if any such funding can be targeted at particular areas in need of such signs in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37142/13]

Litter Pollution

Andrew Doyle

878. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be made available to Wicklow County Council and-or Bray Town Council for the provision of dog littering signs at a location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37143/13]

Electoral Reform

Andrew Doyle

884. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legislative basis, either through an Act of the Oireachtas or statutory instrument, that sets the basis for voting hours here for presidential, general, European and local elections, in addition to referendums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37336/13]

Animal Welfare

Andrew Doyle

885. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his concerns in light of the increase in dog licences from €12.70 to €20, more than 26,331 dogs disappeared from the system, representing a 12% drop in persons getting the licences; if he believes the hike in fee has stopped persons registering their dogs; if he will provide a breakdown on a local authority by local authority basis on the number of dog licences issued for each year from 2007 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37343/13]

Local Government Reform

Andrew Doyle

886. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he and his Department have considered as part of the reform of local government to allow and make provision for an office of the newly directly elected mayor of Dublin in Brussels, in view of the benefits this has given to London as part of the Mayor of London's office in Brussels; if he believes such an office would provide Dublin with a clear voice in the EU, if he will ensure that its interests are taken into account by EU policy-makers when new initiatives are developed, and facilitating access to funding for Dublin to maximise gain from the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37346/13]

Local Government Reform

Andrew Doyle

889. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a proposed plebiscite on the establishment of an office of a mayor may be put to an individual area, such as the current electoral area of Dublin; if he will detail the local authorities this plebiscite in 2014 will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37396/13]

Recycling Policy

Andrew Doyle

891. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the number of tetra recycling facilities available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37462/13]

Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit

Andrew Doyle

896. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Private Residential Tenancies Board discusses and exchanges specific information regarding individual cases with the Health Service Executive; if the PRTB has any dealings whatsoever with the HSE, and if so, the purpose of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37544/13]

Election Management System

Andrew Doyle

942. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the cost differential between holding voting between the usual hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. as opposed to the reduced voting hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the Meath East Dáil by-election in March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38246/13]

Election Management System

Andrew Doyle

943. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the cost differential between holding voting between the usual hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. as opposed to the reduced voting hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the Children's referendum in October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38247/13]

Election Management System

Andrew Doyle

944. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline in tabular form, the hours of polling for each general election, Dáil by-election, presidential election, European Parliament election, local government election and referendum held between 1994 to date in 2013, as provided for under their respective polling order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38248/13]

Water Services Funding

Andrew Doyle

963. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county and project breakdown of funding allocated under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013; the amount of funding each county and project received under the programme; the commencement and expected completion date of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38579/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Andrew Doyle

967. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the main outcomes in the Inter-Departmental Group Report on Local Property Tax Design of a local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38635/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

975. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps his Department intends to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under its remit advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie in a clear and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39252/13]

Visa Agreements

Andrew Doyle

981. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the details of the mini-Schengen proposal and plan between Ireland and the British Government to enable business travellers and tourists from fast-growing Asian economies to travel on common visas between both Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36960/13]

Visa Agreements

Andrew Doyle

983. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the current opt-out of the Schengen agreement is currently being reconsidered, with a view to joining the Schengen area; if meetings or discussions have been held between his Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, in addition to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37422/13]

Visa Agreements

Andrew Doyle

984. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether it would be beneficial for Ireland to have common visa arrangements with Schengen area countries for non-EU citizens, rather than organising bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37423/13]

Passport Applications

Andrew Doyle

985. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) is entitled to apply for an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37545/13]

European Council Meetings

Andrew Doyle

1006. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on discussions held in Vilnius, Lithuania at the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs, JHA, Council of Ministers in July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37017/13]

DNA Database

Andrew Doyle

1021. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the status of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37120/13]

Garda Deployment

Andrew Doyle

1022. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide current figures detailing the total deployment of gardaí for the Wicklow division in the eastern region, divided down into districts, sub-districts and stations across the county in view of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies as set down by the Garda Commissioner; if he will provide figures in tabular form and compare them with 2011 and 2012 figures for the same Wicklow division, districts, sub-districts and stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37121/13]

Legislative Programme

Andrew Doyle

1023. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on legislative consolidation and the whole Statute Book, in view of the time-consuming nature of trying to follow numerous amendment to Acts of the Oireachtas; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that several large law firms in the State operate internal systems to consolidate legislation; if he believes the current legal code for both the legal profession and those seeking access to justice and law are hampered with the current system; whether he believes consolidated legislation across the board would generate, in the long run, significant savings and efficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37132/13]

Constitutional Amendments

Andrew Doyle

1024. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 attempts to remove the President of the High Court as an ex-officio member of the Supreme Court; if this is permitted under current constitutional law or if the current President of the High Court's situ on the Supreme Court is secured until the next President of the High Court is appointed after the establishment of the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37134/13]

Constitutional Amendments

Andrew Doyle

1025. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 attempts to remove the President of the High Court as an ex-officio member of the Council of State; if this is permitted under current constitutional law or if the current President of the High Court's situ on the Council of State is secured until the next President of the High Court is appointed after the establishment of the Court of Appeal; if the new President of the Court of Appeal will have a position on the Council of State from the establishment of the Court of Appeal, or from after the current President of the High Court steps down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37135/13]

Constitutional Amendments

Andrew Doyle

1026. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 will manage both criminal and civil cases in view of the fact that the Court of Criminal Appeal is still in existence; if he intends to merge the Court of Criminal Appeal into the singular Court of Appeal, if the referendum is ratified by the people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/13]

Constitutional Amendments

Andrew Doyle

1027. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 intends to deal with the one-judgment rule if the President of Ireland should invoke his Article 26 power to refer a Bill from the Oireachtas to the Supreme Court; the views of the Constitution Review Group on this matter; if he will detail the concerns of the group for not amending the one-judgment rule in this particular scenario, as opposed to the change the amendment will make to Article 34; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/13]

Crime Levels

Andrew Doyle

1057. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the significant impact of fraud on the elderly from deceased estates; the crime prevention measures in place for preventing this type of fraud; if local crime prevention officers have been involved with schemes to counteract this activity; if he will provide a breakdown in the current value of such fraud taking place nationally over the last number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37270/13]

International Agreements

Andrew Doyle

1063. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the implications of the Cape Town Convention, specifically the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on matters specific to aircraft equipment and the effectiveness of leasing disputes within the High Court of Ireland; if he will outine who has jurisdiction in this regard; if railway rolling stock or space assets also come under the jurisdiction of the High Court as part of the Cape Town Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37358/13]

Garda Station Refurbishment

Andrew Doyle

1064. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if particular Garda stations (details supplied) in County Wicklow are fully wheelchair accessible for members of the force, staff and the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37409/13]

Court Procedures

Andrew Doyle

1065. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the purpose of Statutory Instrument 302 of 2013, Circuit Court Rules (Taking of Evidence for EU Courts) 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37421/13]

Departmental Bodies

Andrew Doyle

1074. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the role and current work of the National Crime Council; its total funding allocation for each year since 2007 to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37546/13]

Notaries Public

Andrew Doyle

1102. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current legal status of a notary public here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/13]

Legal Services Regulation

Andrew Doyle

1116. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to include legal executives within the Legal Services Regulation Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38574/13]

International Agreements

Andrew Doyle

1121. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent implications for Ireland as a result of European Union proposals to transfer and process passenger name record data between Canada and the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38637/13]

Naval Service Vessels

Andrew Doyle

1136. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence if the LÉ Emer of the Irish Naval Service will conduct a farewell tour in advance of her decommissioning later this year; the counties and ports she will visit; if she will visit County Wicklow prior to her decommissioning date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36915/13]

White Paper on Defence

Andrew Doyle

1137. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence the number of submissions his Department received on the publication of the White Paper on Defence in the late 1990s and 2000; when the first publication of such a paper in the history of the State occurred; if he will provide a full list of the persons and organisations from whom these submissions came; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36931/13]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Andrew Doyle

1138. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form all of the ranks and levels in all areas in his Department and in the Defence Forces that require Government approval for promotions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37036/13]

Defence Forces Personnel

Andrew Doyle

1139. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence the details of the recent appointment by the United Nations Secretary General of a member of the Irish Defence Forces to lead the UN Truce Supervision Organization; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/13]

EU Meetings

Andrew Doyle

1140. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence the parameters of the discussions held with ministerial colleagues at the informal meeting of Ministers for Defence in Vilnius, Lithuania on 5 and 6 September 2013; if he will detail any agreements reached; if he will provide an update on matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37414/13]