Parliamentary questions

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

22. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a report on the meetings he had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, and with the Northern Ireland Executive, on 29 June 2016; if he is concerned that the democratic wishes of persons in Northern Ireland as outlined in the recent European Union membership referendum are not being respected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19797/16]

EU Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

24. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, has announced that it will no longer accept funding from the Governments of European Union member states and European Union institutions in opposition to their harmful European migration policies; that this therefore applies to all funding MSF receives from Irish Aid; and if he is aware of the fact that MSF and others working on the front line of this refugee and humanitarian crisis are clearly stating that the policies currently being implemented by the European Union are putting persons in danger and are in direct contradiction with humanitarian principles. [19798/16]

Middle East Issues

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

40. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that over the past few weeks Palestinians have faced severe water shortages because a company (details supplied) has denied or restricted their access to water; that Israel stands accused of using water as a weapon in the West Bank; and if he will raise the issue with his Israeli counterpart. [19466/16]

Human Rights

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

42. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the signing of a peace process between the Colombian Government and FARC rebels in Havana, Cuba; that this is a very welcome step but that much more needs to be done to ensure that the Colombian Government respects human rights and international law; and if he will take action to ensure that political and community activists are protected in the country, considering that 534 have been killed in the past five years. [19468/16]

Humanitarian Aid

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

44. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned regarding the recent political developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC; that opposition political activists have been arrested and the government has now said that it will not be able to hold the elections on time; that the DRC is facing huge humanitarian problems; and the action he is taking to assist the millions of persons in the DRC that need humanitarian help and assistance. [19469/16]

EU Agreements

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

47. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that 104 non-governmental organisations from across Europe have signed a statement condemning the European Commission’s communication on a new partnership framework with third countries; that this is testament to the strong concern across European civil society regarding the direction the European Union is taking; that this proposed partnership framework fundamentally contradicts international human rights law and Ireland’s commitments to supporting and upholding human rights, which was laid out in his Department’s The Global Island policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19465/16]

Human Rights

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

61. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that has called on the Sri Lankan Government to take further action to provide justice to war victims and survivors; that it also called on Sri Lanka to rein in its military forces in Tamil areas and to prosecute Sri Lankan soldiers for war crimes they committed during the war with the Tamil Tigers; that witnesses must be protected under an effective transitional justice mechanism, which should include international judges; and if he will assist this process in any way. [19467/16]

Electoral Reform

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

262. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a referendum on lowering the voting age to 16 years of age, given no reference was made to it in the programme for Government. [19650/16]

Electoral Commission Establishment

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

263. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he envisions an electoral commission in the lifetime of the Government or if he has a proposed timeline or target date for establishment of an electoral commission. [19651/16]

Direct Provision System

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

52. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the supports in place for children who are housed in direct provision units throughout the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14831/16]

School Completion Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

2. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered increasing the budget for the school completion programme in order to protect those who are identified as most at risk within the school system and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15216/16]

Detention Centres Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

24. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that young persons and staff at the Oberstown detention facility are guaranteed safety under the current policy and procedures that staff are provided with adequate training and supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14832/16]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

84. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the role of Garda youth diversion projects as part of a long-term strategy to tackle gangland crime in north inner city Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14271/16]

Cyberbullying Issues

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

119. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if and when she plans to introduce legislation to combat cyberbullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14779/16]

Tax Reliefs Application

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

146. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Finance if it is possible to claim tax back under any scheme, such as the Med 1 scheme or otherwise, operated by his Department and the Revenue Commissioners, for counselling, psychiatric treatment or any other such forms of therapy; if not, if he will consider such an approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14713/16]

Respite Care Grant

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

287. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the respite grant, now known as the carer's support grant, for adult care ceased, despite the needs of the caring families being the same as previously; his plans to reintroduce this support for carers of adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14708/16]

Respite Care Grant Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carers of a person (details supplied) are eligible for the carer's support grant. [14710/16]

Labour Activation Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

325. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of labour activation participants in County Cork in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date by scheme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14742/16]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

461. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Finance in respect of allowing citizens to claim tax back under a scheme such as the MED 1 scheme or otherwise operated by the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, for counselling, psychiatric treatment, or any other such forms of therapy. [14712/16]

Adoption Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

673. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average cost of an adoption, using the most recently available figures, from January to December of that year. [14378/16]