Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

201. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, the engagement with the forestry sector to date given that his Department is also engaging bilaterally with the forestry sector on the CAP in tabular form; the persons from his Department and from the forestry sector that have been involved in such bilateral discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27096/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

202. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, if his officials have developed proposals to integrate afforestation into organic farming initiatives as part of the CSP in view of his confidence that the interlinkages are very much understood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27097/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1015 of 10 March 2021, the length of time it took his Department to approve the licences comprising this 4,500 hectares; the length of time from application to approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27098/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if his Department followed the Consultation Principles and Guidance as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform dated November 2016 particularly in regard to providing feedback as recommended on page 14 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27101/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

205. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if he will publish the comments received from stakeholders as referred to in his reply on his Department’s website and make available the link to the published comments in his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27103/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if he will direct his senior management to issue a circular to the industry clarifying the present position of the consultation process regarding the standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27104/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, the textual changes as referred to in his reply in a manner which will allow comparison with the original text in the standard in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27105/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

208. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, the date he informed the specific working group in the project woodland groupings of his requirement in relation to the standards for felling and reforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27106/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

209. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if this deviation from the correct consultation process has occurred in previous consultation processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27107/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

210. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if the board of project woodland is aware of the deviation from the correct consultation process in this instance; if he will bring the matter to the attention of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Lowry

311. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to teachers who are in the very high risk category and have received their Covid-19 vaccination and wish to return to work; the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not take full Covid-19 vaccination into account in the context of its back-to-work strategy for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25233/21]

Vaccination Programme

Michael Lowry

466. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is considering exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a vaccine (details supplied); if he will take into account that on 7 May 2021, the World Health Organization approved the vaccine as a suitable and recognized vaccine for protection against Covid-19; if he will discuss this matter at the earliest convenience with the National Public Health Emergency Team and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25485/21]

State Examinations

Michael Lowry

545. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the review of the RACE emergency provisions during State examinations will recommence; the number of submissions which were received on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21295/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Lowry

914. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is considering exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with Russian and Chinese manufactured vaccines; if the matter has been discussed with NPHET; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21386/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Lowry

352. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide specific support to the taxi industry in circumstances in which many taxi owners cannot trade and their revenue streams are depleted; if he has considered a waiver of the fee for renewal of a taxi licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Lowry

300. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the visiting restrictions in place in maternity services in response to the Covid-19 document from the national women and infants health programme in September 2020 will be updated regularly to reflect the changing circumstances of the pandemic and the response including vaccination roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17680/21]

Hospital Staff

Michael Lowry

318. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1429 of 24 March 2021, if a guarantee will be provided that student radiographers will be treated the same as student nurses and midwives (details supplied); if student radiographers will receive a standardised travel and accommodation allowances, a pandemic payment grant and internship payment in their fourth year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17740/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Lowry

193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the turnover criteria in relation to funding for small business through the small business assistance scheme for Covid, given that applicants are required to have a minimum turnover of €50,000 for each rateable premises; his views on whether many small businesses that are looking to avail of these supports from the scheme will not be able to fulfil this minimum turnover criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17026/21]

School Meals Programme

Michael Lowry

683. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the inclusion of a school (details supplied) in the school meals allowance scheme with immediate effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17380/21]

Vaccination Programme

Michael Lowry

1118. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1659 and 1662 of 24 March 2021, if he will answer the substantial part of the question which remains unanswered; if he will prioritise the vaccination of special educational staff and teachers that work in the special education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/21]