Parliamentary questions

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

89. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; and the reason for the failure to make such an order to date. [5298/17]

Parental Leave

Róisín Shortall

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that availed of unpaid parental leave in each of the past 10 years. [5733/17]

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to implement Article 22 of EU Directive 2012/29/EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5935/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Róisín Shortall

141. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to media reports (details supplied), if she will liaise with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and grant refugee status for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, LGBT, Iranians that were due to be resettled in the United States but are now stranded in Turkey as a result of the recent executive order on immigration; her Department's policy with regard to those seeking refuge here on the basis of persecution as a result of their sexual orientation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6012/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Róisín Shortall

239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of work on a building (details suppled); the details of the construction work under way at this location; the reasons for this work; and the expected completion date and proposed use for the building when complete. [5726/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Róisín Shortall

477. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the valuation of a person's home under the fair deal scheme is the valuation at the time of application or if there are circumstances under which a later valuation would be used in the means assessment; if so, the details of the circumstances; and the precise statutory instrument and part of that instrument on which the timing of the valuation is based. [6116/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

78. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of her Department or for the commencement of which her Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5273/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

100. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5269/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5267/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5268/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

211. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5275/17]

Abbey Theatre

Róisín Shortall

214. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on President Trump's executive order on immigration; the steps he is taking to ensure legal representation is provided to persons impacted by this executive order within Irish airports' pre-clearance areas; his further views on a potential conflict between the implementation of this executive order and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU, regarding persons with dual citizenship; the steps he is taking to ensure this order does not interfere with obligations of non-refoulement; the measures he is instituting to ensure obligations under the TFEU and the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, are fully complied with in pre-clearance areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5172/17]

Abbey Theatre

Róisín Shortall

216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5270/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5274/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

226. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of her Department, or for the commencement of which her Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5263/17]

Misuse of Drugs

Róisín Shortall

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health whether all sections of the Misuse of Drugs Act 2016 have been commenced; if so, the date on which they commenced; and the impact to date of this legislation [5170/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

272. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to identify the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, that are not in force and that require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5271/17]

Legislative Process

Róisín Shortall

311. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Acts, or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5262/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

322. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5265/17]

US Travel Restrictions

Róisín Shortall

336. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the requirements under the Aviation (Preclearance) Act 2009 to enforce President Trump's executive order on immigration; the steps he is taking to ensure legal representation is provided to anyone impacted by this executive order within Irish airports’ preclearance area; his views on a potential conflict between the implementation of this executive order and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU, in relation to persons with dual citizenship; the steps he is taking to ensure this order does not interfere with obligations of non-refoulement; the measures he is instituting to ensure obligations under the TFEU and the ECHR are fully complied with in the preclearance area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5171/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

341. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5276/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

360. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of her Department, or for the commencement of which her Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5272/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

366. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of her Department, or for the commencement of which her Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5264/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Róisín Shortall

368. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts, coming wholly or partly under the auspices of his Department, or for the commencement of which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are not in force and which require the future making of a commencement order; if, in each case, it is intended to make such an order; if so, when; the reason for the failure to make such an order to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5266/17]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

165. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the average interest rate, that is APR, charged to residential housing developers by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund through its investments in companies (details supplied). [4814/17]

Education and Training Provision

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions that were allocated to Dublin North-West in 2015 and 2016. [4823/17]

Education and Training Provision

Róisín Shortall

198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that was allocated to the Dublin North-West constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2105 and 2016 by his Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. [4824/17]

Education and Training Provision

Róisín Shortall

199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here. [4825/17]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to a person (details supplied) with special needs who will complete a three-year placement in a school in June 2017; if a SENO will be assigned to this person; and if assistance will be provided in securing an appropriate primary school place for September 2017. [4834/17]

Hospital Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

285. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical consultants paid from public funds with a breakdown by contract type, and details of the salary scales within each contract; and the number of consultants whose salary exceeds €200,000. [4836/17]

Medical Card Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

536. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the entitlement of medical card holders to receive certain pieces of medical equipment (details supplied) for a lifelong condition free of charge or if this equipment is subject to regular prescription charges. [4051/17]

Hospitals Car Park Charges

Róisín Shortall

537. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the revenue generated from car parking services in each public hospital in 2016; the purposes for which this money is used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4052/17]

Sports Capital Programme

Róisín Shortall

711. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish the full details of the exact scoring and weighting system in place to determine the way funding under the 2017 sports capital programme will be allocated. [3960/17]

Ticket Touting

Róisín Shortall

742. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action she is taking to prevent the exploitation of consumers by ticket touts and to ensure equitable access to tickets for entertainment, sporting and other events; the detail of her discussions with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3949/17]

Garda Investigations

Róisín Shortall

39. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to the historical abuse inquiry in Northern Ireland and the reference to the Finglas episode, the precise nature of the investigation under way in this regard as reported in the media; the terms of reference of this investigation; and the person carrying it out. [3658/17]

Courts Service Remit

Róisín Shortall

40. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 17 January 2017, if she will clarify the legal requirement under EU law for county registrars to establish on their own motion whether an application for repossession is unfair; if county registrars have been advised in this regard; and the steps she is taking to make defendants in reposition cases aware of their rights [3659/17]

Semi-State Bodies

Róisín Shortall

116. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current policy in respect of semi-State employees having their retirement age extended to 66 years of age (details supplied); and if he has issued or intends to issue guidance to semi-State companies in this regard. [3587/17]

Credit Availability

Róisín Shortall

147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to reduce financing costs for the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2956/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans in respect of a new affordable housing scheme; when plans will be made public in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2793/17]

Construction Sector Strategy

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to help reduce financing costs for the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2955/17]

Construction Sector Strategy

Róisín Shortall

257. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to help reduce input costs for the construction industry; the way in which such costs are tracked by his Department; the targets his Department is working to in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2957/17]

Planning Issues

Róisín Shortall

271. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to local concerns regarding the lack of any local area plan in respect of the proposed substantial additional housing units proposed by his Department and Dublin City Council for the Finglas area; his views on the need to provide corresponding additional services in respect of schools, health, policing and so on in order that sustainability can be ensured; and if he will arrange the commissioning of such a development plan as a matter of urgency. [3178/17]

Home Help Service Provision

Róisín Shortall

448. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1342 of 16 September 2016 and media reports (details supplied), his plans to reorient the funding model for home care packages and home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2746/17]

Health Services Data

Róisín Shortall

457. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the information available to him on the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome over the past ten years; and if he will consider introducing a comprehensive testing and education programme to address this issue. [2823/17]

GLAS Data

Róisín Shortall

528. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payments that have issued as part of the most recent tranche; the number of outstanding payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2824/17]

Food Waste

Róisín Shortall

560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of food waste generated here, with a breakdown by sector; the steps he is taking to promote the reduction of such waste; and the targets and timelines he is working to. [2876/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

578. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans and initiatives being put in place to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants as required under a forthcoming EU directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

579. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of any additional funding being provided to the Environmental Protection Agency to enable it to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants in order to ensure Ireland meets commitments set out in the revised Gothenburg protocol which a new directive (details supplied) incorporates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3176/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

580. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request a baseline air quality study to be carried out in Dublin city before the Poolbeg incinerator is fully operational in view of the fact the initial study was completed in 2005 and therefore may not be an accurate baseline measure for future air quality monitoring; if the operators of the incinerator will be required to use the initial baseline measurement when measuring emissions as set out in the EPA licence for the operation of the incinerator in the event that an up to date study is not completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3177/17]

National Digital Strategy

Róisín Shortall

581. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the operation of the e-benefit programme; the total funding provided each year since 2008 by county; the sum allocated to each group per year; the new selection criteria for the 2017 digital skills for citizens grant scheme; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications by county in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/17]