Parliamentary questions

Hospital Services

Michael Collins

284. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health when the rheumatology clinic at Cork University Hospital will be opened; when the patient triage will be resuming for categorising soon, urgent and routine patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8833/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Collins

73. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if the good work that staff in settings caring for children have undertaken throughout the pandemic will be acknowledged (details supplied); and if they will be included in the €1,000 recognition payment. [5718/22]

Brexit Issues

Michael Collins

291. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the application of VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7732/22]

Brexit Issues

Michael Collins

292. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the collection of small amounts of VAT by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7733/22]

Departmental Reviews

Michael Collins

681. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he misled the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 by claiming that an e-tender for the position of the independent chair of the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 would be uploaded online via the e-tendering public procurement process yet ultimately invited a small number of hand-picked candidates to privately apply for the role without the availability of a public e-tender advertisement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6155/22]

Departmental Reviews

Michael Collins

682. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the details of the steps undertaken in the tendering process leading to the appointment of the independent chairperson of the three-year review of the abortion legislation; if the position was advertised publicly as the Minister assured the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 would happen; the way that it meets the requirements of an independent and transparent process for him to contact a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience and invite them to tender for the position of chair; if one of the small number of candidates was the person eventually chosen as the chairperson; if other potential candidates outside of the small number of candidates identified by him were afforded the opportunity via advertisements or otherwise to be notified that a tendering process for the position of chair was underway and open to them to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6157/22]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Michael Collins

786. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health when the commitment to publicly fund IVF treatment in Ireland will be honoured by becoming law, given that Ireland is the only European Union country not to offer State funding for assisted reproduction even though the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as a medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6648/22]

Health Services Staff

Michael Collins

404. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason pay parity for staff working in residential homes caring for children has not been addressed (details supplied). [5719/22]

Abortion Services

Michael Collins

806. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if the recently-appointed Chair to lead the three-year review of abortion legislation was one of the small number of candidates he identified as suitable and invited to apply for the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5090/22]

Abortion Services

Michael Collins

807. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if the recently-appointed Chair of the three-year review of the 2018 abortion legislation successfully applied for this role given that the tender was not publicly made available through the e-tenders website and public procurement policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5091/22]

Legislative Reviews

Michael Collins

328. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that the e-tender for the selection of an independent chair to lead the three-year review was not posted on www.etenders.gov.ie despite his assurances to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 that it would be published in the coming days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/22]

Legislative Reviews

Michael Collins

329. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the criteria by which he identified candidates with suitable experience for the position of independent chair of the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and subsequently invited them to apply for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Collins

1364. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if a vaccine (details supplied) will be made available in Ireland; the steps he will take to make the vaccine available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63028/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Michael Collins

1512. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding PCR testing to enter Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63468/21]

Health Strategies

Michael Collins

1615. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the definition of the term reproductive rights in the context in which it was used by a person (details supplied) on 8 December 2021 during a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1100/22]

Hospital Staff

Michael Collins

1621. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to appoint a telemetry nurse or a qualified professional to operate the EEG video telemetry machine for patients with epilepsy in Cork University Hospital (details supplied); when this piece of equipment will be up and running in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1110/22]

Departmental Advertising

Michael Collins

1869. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he or the Government have advised formally or informally particular prospective candidates to apply for the position of chair to oversee the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2159/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Collins

12. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a matter regarding supports for the hospitality sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62265/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Collins

53. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter regarding the funding available to a business in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62216/21]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Michael Collins

233. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the existing 12 metre rule for solar panels on the roofs of domestic properties without the need for planning permission will be abolished (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60506/21]

Housing Policy

Michael Collins

234. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for a couple that have both been married before and lost their homes in their divorces; the schemes that are available to persons in this situation in relation to purchasing and building their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60517/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

271. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if assistance will be provided in relation to a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60072/21]

Tax Code

Michael Collins

196. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Finance if tax incentives are available for persons who are purchasing a residential and commercial property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58998/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

280. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for an infant (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58956/21]

School Transport

Michael Collins

362. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of a remote area grant for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59031/21]

Human Rights

Michael Collins

697. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if it was acknowledged that the child was deserving of the fundamental rights bestowed by the Constitution and entitled to human rights protections under relevant international law in cases in which babies were born alive having survived abortions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58995/21]

National Broadband Plan

Michael Collins

207. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of NBI broadband to Bantry, County Cork; if he will provide extra resources to advance the roll-out of NBI broadband in Bantry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58041/21]

Hospital Facilities

Michael Collins

321. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds in Ireland in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58046/21]

Abortion Services

Michael Collins

325. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the way, and the place in which, all information reported to his Department related to the operation of abortion, including incidents of adverse events, is being collated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58066/21]

Ministerial Appointments

Michael Collins

450. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will meet with fifth year students when he is visiting a school (details supplied); if so, the date he plans to visit the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56904/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Collins

552. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of Covid-19 deaths per day in Ireland is no longer being publicised by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56896/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Michael Collins

523. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if products (details supplied) are being included in an arrangement; if not, the reason; his plans to work towards this in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55631/21]

Parking Provision

Michael Collins

235. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the cost of €35 for a person who applies for a disability parking permit; his plans to eliminate this charge; if there is some way a person can be exempt from this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55348/21]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Collins

308. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some parents of autistic children in sixth class in County Cork who require autism special class places for their secondary schooling have been told by their children's disability network teams that they will not get educational placement recommendations until February 2022 at the earliest (details supplied); the date this will be rectified; if she will ensure that a paperwork issue caused by the creation of the children's network disability teams does not deny children their right to an appropriate education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55248/21]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Collins

312. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of the planned major renovation and rebuilding works to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55355/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Collins

326. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a provision in place in relation to a scenario related to the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55356/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

357. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if passport applications by a family (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54022/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

358. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas can collect a passport for a person in cases in which the person gives permission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54037/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

359. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason there is a cut-off of five passport queries per week to the dedicated passport phone line for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; the determination that brought this about; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54038/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

360. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason there is an estimated time for the of issuing passports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54039/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

361. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that have not been issued in the past 24 hours on their estimated issue dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54040/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

363. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons that work in the Passport Office in Cork and Dublin since January 2020 to date; the number still working from home; the number that have full access to their systems; the number that been fully paid since March 2020 to date; the number that are receiving their full payments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54044/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

364. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that have been issued on an emergency basis since 2020; the number of passport applications that have been received in passport offices since 2020; the number of passport applications that were online renewals since 2020; the number of passport applications that were via post renewals since 2020; the number of passports that were first-time child applications online since 2020; and the number of passports that were first-time child applications via post since 2020, in tabular form. [54047/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

365. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of passport applications; the backlog for same; his plans to ensure this backlog is cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54048/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

366. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the mental health of a person is considered an emergency situation to fast-track a passport in order that the person can visit family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54049/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

367. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a passport has still been not issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54051/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

368. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address the long waiting times on the phone for applicants who apply for passports; the number of persons that are employed to answer these calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54052/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

377. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54239/21]

Passport Services

Michael Collins

387. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54570/21]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Collins

431. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place to appoint a sufficient number of special needs assistants in a school (details supplied) to ensure the safe and efficient running of the school; when an appeal will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54471/21]