Parliamentary questions

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of Ireland's very positive reputation in relation to Development Aid, if he sees a role for Ireland, or for Ireland through the EU, in ensuring there is no financial loss to developing countries through tax evasion or tax avoidance on the part of businesses working in developing countries in view of the fact that there have been reports of very significant losses to developing countries. [50251/12]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Maureen O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the type of support and assistance given relating to transparency and accountability that facilitated the recent disclosure on aid to Uganda. [50252/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

79. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50977/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Maureen O'Sullivan

80. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will quantify the amount of risk that was transferred from the German sovereign exchequer by way of risk attaching to financial institutions that had ultimate recourse to the German sovereign exchequer in the event of failure, to the Irish sovereign Exchequer by means of bank guarantee given by the then Government on 28 September 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50548/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Maureen O'Sullivan

81. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on any independent estimates that have come to the attention of his Department, indicating the amount of risk that was transferred from the German sovereign exchequer by way of risk attaching to financial institutions that had ultimate recourse to the German sovereign exchequer, in the event of failure, to the Irish sovereign Exchequer by means of the bank guarantee given by the then Government on 28 September 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50549/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

111. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50976/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

130. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50974/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

134. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of the civil service; if he will provide a breakdown for each Government Department office for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50324/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

140. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50979/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

182. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of promotions made in her Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of her Department; if she will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50981/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

188. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50970/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

196. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50972/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

203. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50975/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

215. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50980/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

219. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50973/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

231. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50969/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

235. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of promotions made in her Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of her Department; if she will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50971/12]

Vaccination Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

258. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the paper will be presented to the Oireachtas regarding patients with narcolepsy after vaccinations with Pandemrix; the reason for the delay in the presentation of the paper since July 2012; when he will re-establish communication with SOUND; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50325/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

278. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50978/12]

Departmental Staff Promotions

Maureen O'Sullivan

287. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50982/12]

International Relations

Maureen O'Sullivan

163. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider placing an Irish presence in Sarajevo for the EU heads of mission meetings as Ireland enters the EU Presidency to facilitate and monitor the peace process in Bosnia and prevent further disintegration of stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49678/12]

Negative Equity Mortgages Numbers

Maureen O'Sullivan

189. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to promote the incentive involving negative equity mortgages offered by Bank of Ireland and other banks whereby a home owner could sell their house and move to a more suitable house, adding their savings to the purchase price and taking the mortgage with them at its existing level; the reason this incentive is not being rolled out on a greater scale to help curb problems with the mortgage arrears crisis here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49458/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Maureen O'Sullivan

224. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish a schedule identifying all those financial institutions that have ultimate recourse to the German sovereign exchequer in the event of default which derived a benefit or which were protected from loss by the bank guarantee given by the then Government on behalf of the Irish people on 28 September 2010; if he will publish his estimate of the gain conferred on those institutions by way of the guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49573/12]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Maureen O'Sullivan

515. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure there will be houses available in Athlone, County Westmeath, for the families that will be moved there from Dublin; if there will be school places for their children; if financial support will be made readily available for the move including allowances and compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50028/12]

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Maureen O'Sullivan

516. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the cost benefits the moving of 56 families from Dublin McKee Barracks to Athlone, County Westmeath, will have for the Army and Government; the amount the relocation of the 56 families will cost the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/12]

Ash Dieback Threat

Maureen O'Sullivan

536. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for stopping the spread of Charala fraxenia which is attacking ash trees commonly found in hedgerows across urban and rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49574/12]

Adoption Records Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

578. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for delays in progressing inter country adoption co-operation between the Adoption Authority of Ireland and CARA, the central adoption authority in India, while both countries are long time signatories of the Hague Convention; if cooperation is likely to develop in the near future in order that the hundreds of Irish prospective adoptive parents approved to adopt from India by the AAI will not have to wait another few years before they can adopt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49687/12]

Customs and Excise Protocols

Maureen O'Sullivan

199. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that marked gas oil MGO / green diesel is assigned a separate commodity code by the Revenue Commissioners to enable the Central Statistics Office and its users to separate imports of MGO from normal diesel products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47268/12]

Customs and Excise Protocols

Maureen O'Sullivan

200. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce an arrangement for users of marked gas oil MGO / green diesel to seek tax rebates annually rather than providing the fuel to the qualified consumer at a separate price, thus encouraging illegal diesel laundering which is increasingly costly to multiple enforcement agencies, damaging to the persons forced to work in these plants, damaging to the environment where the waste is dumped and the State Exchequer when sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47269/12]

School Curriculum

Maureen O'Sullivan

311. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he intends safeguarding the status of history in the proposed new junior cycle; the role of the History Teachers' Association of Ireland in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/12]

Private Rented Accommodation Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

437. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the advertising of private rental accommodation on public sites stating no rent allowance accepted and the problems this is causing for those potential tenants who are unemployed in this economic climate; if it is legal for the advertiser whether it be the landlord, letting agent or advertising personnel to state on the advert 'no rent allowance allowed' and if a landlord has the right to refuse an applicant based on the tenant's status as a social welfare recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48445/12]

Illegal Dumping

Maureen O'Sullivan

673. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for tackling the increasing problems due to illegal dumping, especially in Dublin city; his Department's assessment of the success, or otherwise, of the privatisation of waste collection in the area covered by Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47648/12]

Garda Complaints Procedures

Maureen O'Sullivan

771. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the complaints procedure in place for those who feel they have been treated inappropriately by the Garda National Immigration Bureau officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47335/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

1178. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to introduce a registration system for health and social care workers next year that will charge social care workers €295 to register; if he will consider reducing the fee or equalising it in proportion to other professionals such as nurses, €88, and teachers, €65; his response to their concerns that the fee of €295 would be an added burden on the already reduced salaries of 14% or 25% for new graduates entering the heal service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48648/12]

Vaccination Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

1180. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to present the paper outlining the package of supports being put in place for those affected by Narcolepsy associated with the vaccine Pandemrix; the reason for the delay in the presentation of the paper prior to the Dáil summer recess, again in September 2012 and then once again this October; when will he re-establish communication with SOUND; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48655/12]

Tax Avoidance Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

56. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the recent tax figures released regarding a company (details supplied) paying only €35,000 in Irish taxes since 2005 while paying €5.7 million in royalty and licensing fees to its parent company; his response to the fact that companies like these can cut their income tax by paying fees to its parent company making it look like they are at a loss and are therefore not obliged to pay income tax; if he will consider measures to prevent this even though they are currently legal activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46828/12]

Hare Coursing

Maureen O'Sullivan

158. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will arrange for the immediate National Parks Wildlife Servicer supervised release of hares captured for the Galway and Oranmore coursing meeting following the announcement that the club's coursing meeting will not go ahead as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46642/12]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Maureen O'Sullivan

211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to fill the 600 vacant army personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces and to maintain the agreed Permanent Defence Force strength of 9,500; if he will clarify in his previous reply his statement that the recruitment will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46643/12]

Animal Welfare

Maureen O'Sullivan

508. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality while the banned Ward Union Stag Hunt are continuing to meet twice weekly for the past two seasons and have been noted to have stags and hounds in very close proximity several times within yards and in the same field, if he will provide the number of statements that have been made to Gardaí regarding this hunt; the number of cases compiled by Gardaí with cases pending in the past two seasons since the ban; the number of complaints of trespass that have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46236/12]

Animal Welfare

Maureen O'Sullivan

651. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the date on each of the current Certificate Gs, which permit severe and prolonged pain in animal experiments, setting the end of the period in which each Certificate G will be in force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46237/12]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Maureen O'Sullivan

147. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has had, or intends to have, any engagement with the Insurance Federation or representatives from insurance companies to discuss the difficulties facing certain communities that experienced flooding in accessing house insurance, especially those communities in which extensive flood repair work has been carried out and in respect of homes in areas which were flooded but where particular sections were not flooded. [45495/12]

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

135. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the issues surrounding Bosnia in his meeting with Mr. Vimont, Executive Secretary General of the EEAS including the Dayton BiH Peace Accord and the serious repercussions that would result from the dissolution of Bosnia; if he intends to keep Bosnia and the Chapter 7 Mandate on the Foreign Affairs agenda in view of the renewal of the Dayton Peace Accords by the Security Council in November of this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44619/12]

Building Regulations

Maureen O'Sullivan

417. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the present draft of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 will prevent competent professionals such as Chartered Architectural Technologists from certifying the construction of buildings and if he will consider including all competent professions in the list of Assigned Certifiers which is now restricted to only three groups of privileged professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44518/12]

Drug Dealing

Maureen O'Sullivan

453. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent deaths in Cork, and the serious illness of others, from high strength heroin, if the remaining high strength heroin has been seized and the individual responsible for making this heroin available arrested. [44252/12]

Defence Forces Personnel

Maureen O'Sullivan

491. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the reason for the extra 600 vacancies in the Defence Forces; the context under which the agreement was made that the number of serving cadre be 9,500; the cost implications for the recruitment of 600 army personnel; the reason the €85 million from the closure of barracks was ringfenced to be spent on the defence sector meanwhile barracks were being closed across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44618/12]

Fur Farming

Maureen O'Sullivan

527. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the wording to ban fur farming was removed from the purpose of the Bill of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 during drafting stage; the reason for the removal of the wording and when the wording was removed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44519/12]

Foreign Conflicts

Maureen O'Sullivan

46. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the increasingly uneven nature of fighting between the Assad regime and opposition forces, the alternative methods of intervention he will consider in order to help defend those oppressed by the Assad regime which is becoming increasingly more militarily sophisticated; the way he intends to address this imbalance through advocating non-military intervention while simultaneously calling for a complete arms embargo; if he has considered calling for an enforced no-fly zone as proposed by the French Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43761/12]

Fur Farming

Maureen O'Sullivan

210. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if either he or the Minister for State have met representatives from the fur farming industry; if so, the date on which the meeting took place; and the outcome of that meeting. [43795/12]

Health Services Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

254. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the Health Service Executive progressing the situation of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [43796/12]

Exports Controls

Maureen O'Sullivan

128. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he recognises that a company (details supplied) operates in illegal Israeli settlements and sells their products here. [42801/12]