Parliamentary questions

Trade Relations

Paul Murphy

37. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that Ireland imported €5.08 billion of goods from Israel in 2022 and €2.15 billion worth in 2021 (details supplied), yet in 2020, imports were only €138 million, which was par for the course on previous years; what precipitated the jump in trade after 2020; and as a significant trading partner with Israel, what part is Ireland playing in terms of trade in the cessation of the horrific events in Palestine. [9486/24]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

58. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of an offer by a group (details supplied) which has a team of over 20 highly qualified specialist doctors, licensed and experienced in various medical fields in Dublin, ready to volunteer their services in Gaza; if he has considered this offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8926/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Paul Murphy

124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 354 of 25 March 2021 and 86 of 7 February 2024, the reason there is no definite plan for implementing the legislation in 2024, given the importance of same in 2014 for the Garda Ombudsman and for an organisation (details supplied) in 2017 and the enacted legislation on it in 2023. [9164/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

213. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 13 February 2024, if she is aware that for children with dyslexia, the support provided through mainstream schools, 20 minutes for three times a week, does not compare to what children get in a special school, where they learn reading and writing using the Wilson method, which many mainstream teachers have zero education on how to teach; given this information, why the Department has no plans to open more of these classes; if she has considered that the demand is so high for these special schools because what is being offered through mainstream school is not working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8913/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Paul Murphy

218. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education regarding the current funding crisis threatening a preschool for autistic children (details supplied), if she will ensure that her Department responsible for processing the payments processes them promptly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8953/24]

Sports Events

Paul Murphy

252. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a set financial exposure limit on the Irish taxpayers commitment associated with Ireland hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027; if the commitment given by him on behalf of the Irish taxpayer is open ended; if such an exposure limit is set, the limit amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9184/24]

Sports Events

Paul Murphy

253. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to Ireland hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027, if a risk assessment on behalf of the Irish taxpayer regarding the specific costs to the taxpayer of hosting of this event has been put in place and in the interests of transparency can that risk assessment be made available to the public. [9185/24]

Sports Events

Paul Murphy

254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to Ireland hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027, given that residents of the area are voicing certain reservations about the estimated 250,000 people expected to attend the event in the village of Adare over a three day period in 2027, if an infrastructural report which outlines environmental damage and which confirms the suitability of the venue to host such an event is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9186/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

278. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarification on the significant delays experienced by certain tenants in the processing of their tenant-in-situ applications in Fingal (details supplied); the reasons for these delays; and if he can provide an update on when a person can expect a decision on their case. [8982/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

279. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a case previously highlighted (details supplied), where a tenant is facing homelessness due to significant delays in the processing of their tenant-in-situ application; if he can outline a proposed intervention due to the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8983/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

280. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the communication he has had with Fingal County Council with regard to the long processing delays with the tenant-in-situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8984/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

391. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the fate of all thoroughbred horses that have been sold to China; and if he is concerned about the announcement that racing is to cease in Macau in April (details supplied). [9001/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

392. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the criticisms raised about animal welfare in China, what procedures his Department has taken to ensure the safety of thoroughbred horses, particularly in the context of the announcement that racing is to cease in Macau in April (details supplied). [9002/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed breakdown of all Irish horses exported to China, Hong Kong and Korea, by year (details supplied). [9003/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

394. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1284 of 17 January 2024, received from HRI if he will instruct HRI to provide a breakdown of the ages of the horses sent to slaughter. [9004/24]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

65. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will legislate to ban hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8357/24]

Common Agricultural Policy

Paul Murphy

84. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the distribution of CAP direct payments, whereby the top eight recipients received more than €200,000 each, compared with an average payment of less than €9,657; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8355/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

92. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will act to reverse the reduction in the area under tillage in 2022 in light of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8356/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

97. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it will be necessary for Ireland to reduce dairy and beef production to reach our legally binding greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8358/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

99. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the sectoral emissions reductions targets for agriculture for the first carbon budget period can now be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8354/24]

European Council

Paul Murphy

9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on his engagements at the special meeting of the European Council on Ukraine and the EU budget. [7879/24]

Transport Policy

Paul Murphy

13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [6664/24]

Foreign Policy

Paul Murphy

30. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 8 November 2022, if he will follow up with the UN Human Rights Committee, requesting any updates in relation to this case, including any actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8193/24]

International Protection

Paul Murphy

114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice when the decision on an international protection application will be made for a person (details supplied); the reason international protection is not being expedited for Palestinians; and what psychological and social supports are available to this person and other Gazans. [8170/24]

Hen Harriers

Paul Murphy

123. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a campaign (details supplied) in light of stark hen harrier decline; if he will give a Government commitment to the protection of this bird of prey before it is too late; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8183/24]

Live Exports

Paul Murphy

124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of two complaints (details supplied) submitted to his office; if he will ensure that his Department processes these complaints as a matter of urgency, taking the necessary actions for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8187/24]

Third Level Fees

Paul Murphy

179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a college fee waiver will be given to a person (details supplied) in order that they can continue their studies; if not, how their college fees can be covered for the remainder of their course, given they are an international protection applicant; if they will be eligible for the international protection student scheme for FE and HE students for future semesters; and if there is a way for them to access student accommodation now. [8171/24]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

12. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6663/24]

Northern Ireland

Paul Murphy

23. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. [7877/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Paul Murphy

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the free travel scheme to children for whom child benefit is paid, and in the case of young children and their travel companions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7898/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

67. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the free travel scheme to all social welfare recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7897/24]

Poverty Impact Assessment

Paul Murphy

68. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a poverty impact assessment was carried out into extending child benefit to 18 year-olds in full-time education or training compared to extending it to 16, 17 and 18 year-olds not in full-time education or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7895/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend child benefit to 16, 17 and 18 year-olds not in full-time education or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7894/24]

Poverty Impact Assessment

Paul Murphy

94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out a poverty impact assessment of extending child benefit to 16, 17 and 18 year-olds not in full-time education or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7896/24]

Driver Test

Paul Murphy

169. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the steps that have been taken to alleviate the driver test backlog; if tests are being carried out on weekends and evenings; if the additional testers from October 2023 are making an impact; and if so, what is this impact; if it is possible for the RSA to make temporary changes to third learner permits where they last two years rather than one, given it is not possible to achieve a test appointment within the lifetime of that permit and if he will request for the RSA to come before the Oireachtas Transport Committee in 2024 to explain the backlog. [7680/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that Go Ahead Ireland, which operates the 120 bus service from Edenderry to Dublin via Celbridge, is authorised by his Department and by the NTA to reduce capacity since around 29 January 2024 by 13 passengers through denying access to 13 seats to the rear of the coach used (details supplied). [7715/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

171. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will inform this Deputy whether the arbitrary reduction of capacity to the 120 bus service, which is turning the already under-capacity service into an unusable one for commuters, is in accordance with the contractual obligations under which Go Ahead Ireland operates the service. [7716/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

172. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if the reduced capacity of the 120 bus service has been authorised by his Department and by the NTA; if so, if he will make a statement as to why it has been authorised, as it has caused a member of the public to be unable to board this bus on several occasions, along with a number of other people who were then significantly late for work as a result. [7717/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

173. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport what sanctions will apply to Go Ahead Ireland if the company has been breaching its contractual obligations for the 120 bus service. [7718/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

174. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport what action he will take to ensure that full capacity is immediately restored on the 120 Service operated by a company (details supplied). [7719/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

180. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the local demand for a more frequent 56A bus service, given that currently this route is only scheduled to run every 75 minutes; if he will instruct the NTA to make this route a more frequent service in peak commute times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7863/24]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any guidelines for businesses to follow in relation to employees who are in the process of IVF; are employees provided with any protections in terms of guaranteed time off for medical appointments, job security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7498/24]

School Funding

Paul Murphy

274. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education when an application for emergency works funding dealing with urgent school security (details supplied) will be decided upon. [7577/24]

School Meals Programme

Paul Murphy

386. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that children with coeliac disease are properly catered for in the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6385/24]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds injured in racing, trials and sales events in 2023 and to date in 2024; the type of injury in each case; the date and location where they occurred; the number killed outright or euthanised by track vets; the number and causes of additional racing fatalities; and the results of any related post-mortems. [7685/24]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

459. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the greyhound track attendance statistics for 2023 and to date in 2024, covering both Greyhound Racing Ireland tracks and private tracks; the breakdown of the figures, by attendance at each track, type of entry, that is, paid entry, free entry, entry by adults, children, staff, owners/trainers, bookmakers, press, and so on; and type of event that is, racing, trials, sales, and non-racing events, in tabular form. [7686/24]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

530. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when will Government funding be available for public IVF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7497/24]

Gender Recognition

Paul Murphy

555. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 1 February 2024, if he believes that transgender patients are allowed to choose to access care under models of care other than that of the National Gender Service. [7655/24]

Gender Recognition

Paul Murphy

556. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 1 February 2024, if the National Gender Service can explain exactly how the assessment quality can be compromised by being virtual, and if they have ever offered virtual assessments. [7656/24]

Healthcare Policy

Paul Murphy

557. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 1 February 2024, if he can confirm that in line with section 6 of the EU (Application of Patient Rights in Cross Border Healthcare) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 that appropriate clinical oversight and governance for EU telemedicine providers is a matter for the member state in which the healthcare provider is established, and not Irish regulators such as the Irish Medical Council. [7657/24]