Parliamentary questions

Departmental Bodies

Lucinda Creighton

391. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators that fall under his Department’s responsibility that were chairpersons when he became Minister and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55162/13]

Legislative Process RIA

Lucinda Creighton

417. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of Bills that have been published by his Department since he was appointed Minister; the number and Title of those Bills which included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; which regulatory impact assessments were published; the total number of promised Bills for publication; if he will list the Bills which will include a regulatory impact assessment and which regulatory impact assessments will be published before publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55135/13]

Departmental Bodies

Lucinda Creighton

418. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of Irish quasi-autonomous NGOs that his Department either created or which fall under his Department's responsibility, were in existence when he became Minister and continue to exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55151/13]

Departmental Bodies

Lucinda Creighton

419. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators that fall under his Department's responsibility who were chairpersons when he became Minister and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55167/13]

Health Insurance Data

Lucinda Creighton

8. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the policy measures he has taken to level the playing field in the health insurance market between competitors that have low levels of elderly policy holders and those that have none; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54121/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Lucinda Creighton

36. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his views on whether changes to tax relief for health insurance will disproportionately hit those over the age of 50; if he has considered any policy measures to offset this disproportionate impact on elderly peoples premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54122/13]

Child Abuse Reports

Lucinda Creighton

96. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the specific actions taken to date to address the misgivings uncovered since the investigation by RTE into abuses in crèches in May of 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53844/13]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Lucinda Creighton

101. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of responsibilities she currently has, not including the areas for which the Health Service Executive has responsibility, on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53843/13]

Departmental Records

Lucinda Creighton

106. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he will confirm the existence of a petition for reprieve file for Harry Gleeson, who was executed on 23 April 1941; if the file exists, if he will provide the file reference and current location; if the file is available for public inspection; and, if not, the statutory basis on which the file is being withheld. [53689/13]

Departmental Records

Lucinda Creighton

107. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the current location of file reference S12368 Harry Gleeson: death sentence, which was recalled by his Department from the National Archives on 6 October 1995; the reasons for the recall of the file; and the reasons for its retention in his Department for over 18 years. [53690/13]

Departmental Records

Lucinda Creighton

108. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he will confirm the existence of file reference S12369; if he will confirm that it was recalled by his Department from the National Archives on 6 October 1995, and if he will reveal the subject matter of the file. [53691/13]

Living City Initiative

Lucinda Creighton

139. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 3 December 2013, if he will provide the names of the economists in Indecon International Economic Consultants who authored an ex ante evaluation of the Living City initiative for urban regeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53875/13]

Credit Unions Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

140. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 3 December 2013, the total number of persons employed within the registry of credit unions; if he will provide some estimate if even one member of staff employed within the registry of credit unions has ever worked for or volunteered for a credit union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53874/13]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Lucinda Creighton

212. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 13 November 2013, if he will ensure that priority be given to those schools who did not apply in previous years or were unsuccessful in their applications in previous years; if he will confirm that those who, because of the failure of the website on the deadline day for applications, were unable to complete the form online and sent hard copies of their applications will not be penalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53939/13]

Legal Services Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

441. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 10 December 2013, if he will elaborate further on the specific business models for the delivery of legal services he envisages would introduce cost efficiencies that could be captured to the benefit of consumers arising from the enactment of the Bill; if he will publish or cite publications or case studies which demonstrate such business models will introduce cost efficiencies that can be captured to the benefit of consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54049/13]

Departmental Reports

Lucinda Creighton

542. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of December 2013, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied), from VHI stated at the Joint Committee on Health and Children on 28 November 2013 that VHI had never seen the Matheson Goodbody report, if he will explain the way he determined the commercial sensitivity ruling with respect to the information pertaining to VHI; if he will elaborate further on which other commercial organisations could be impacted by the information in the report in a way which informs the decision that such information is commercially sensitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53667/13]

Mortgage Schemes

Lucinda Creighton

59. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the latest developments of multiple domestic Irish Banks restarting buy to let mortgage lending including a new non-banking firm (details supplied) entering the market; if he is monitoring the extent to which these mortgages are being loaned geographically in Ireland and that there is no disproportionate concentration of lending into the rising Dublin housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53623/13]

Mortgage Schemes

Lucinda Creighton

60. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned about the decision of a company (details supplied) to renege on its original plan to offer up to €300 million in new Irish mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53624/13]

Mortgage Debt

Lucinda Creighton

61. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if any assessment has been undertaken on the total outstanding mortgage debt secured on residences here that was sought by creditors in ongoing proceedings before the Courts in advance of the enactment of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013; the total outstanding mortgage debt secured on residences that was sought by creditors in proceedings before the courts since the enactment of the Land and Conveyancing Law Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53625/13]

Pensions Levy Issues

Lucinda Creighton

115. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether using the pension levy as the sole means in which to fulfil European Court of Justice court ruling requirements concerning insolvent pension schemes is inequitable; her views that in so far as the pension levy is a levy on private pensions and therefore the burden of meeting the State's obligations for insolvent pension schemes is being shouldered entirely by private pension schemes means that public sector schemes remain untouched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53626/13]

Industrial Relations Issues

Lucinda Creighton

129. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of meetings he, his special adviser or his officials have had with a person (details supplied) since March of 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53627/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Lucinda Creighton

43. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance in the absence of local property tax registered property details being provided, if persons will be subjected to a penalty for delay in payment for failing to register in advance of 27 November; if he will specifically consider the properties (details supplied) which were recently acquired and where the owner has attempted to pay the tax in advance of the deadline as well as register, but their e-mails and telephone calls have been allegedly ignored despite their efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53247/13]

Departmental Records

Lucinda Creighton

118. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current location of a file (details supplied) apparently recalled by the Department on 6 October 1995; the reason the file was recalled; and the provision, under section 8(4) of the National Archives Act 1986, which provided the basis for closing the Department's prisoner files from public inspection. [53181/13]

Legal Services Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

98. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures in the Legal Services Bill 2011 that are likely to lead to the greatest cost savings to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52656/13]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Lucinda Creighton

180. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 13 November 2013, if he will detail the 14 schools unsuccessful in their applications; the most common reasons for their failure to succeed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52624/13]

Industrial Relations Issues

Lucinda Creighton

229. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the heads of a Bill reforming the law on employees' right to engage in collective bargaining under the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001 will be introduced; if this legislation will include compulsory collective bargaining for all companies in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52600/13]

Agrifood Sector Issues

Lucinda Creighton

436. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key sectors of the agriculture or food industries that are contributing the most to export growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52926/13]

Agrifood Sector Issues

Lucinda Creighton

437. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of dealings his Department has with Enterprise Ireland for further enhancing export opportunities for the food and agricultural industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52927/13]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Investments

Lucinda Creighton

8. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any of the borrowings Irish Water availed of from the National Pensions Reserve Fund were used to service contracts for water installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51814/13]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Investments

Lucinda Creighton

17. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the uses that will be made of Exchequer funds provided to Irish Water; if any of the Exchequer funding will be used to repay National Pensions Reserve Fund borrowings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51813/13]

School Transport Provision

Lucinda Creighton

90. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 26 November 2013, if he will explicitly detail the reason his Department is not undertaking its own inquiry in view of the amounts of his Department's budget that is spent in this scheme; if he will confirm that the school transport scheme is fully compliant with EU state aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52283/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

32. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 113 of 19 November 2013, if he will provide the figures supplied with respect to senior counsel; the total number of separate legal briefings to senior counsel for each year in which the moneys were paid as listed in the response; the total number of different senior counsel briefed for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51492/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

38. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 19 November 2013, if he will provide a list of the names of the individual companies that were met as numerated in the response for 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51493/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

42. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 19 November 2013, the names of companies since March 2011 where Enterprise Ireland has provided information on contracts won during trade missions as appropriate; the reason the names of companies who accompany him on Enterprise Ireland events could be considered commercially sensitive information; if Enterprise Ireland have sought legal advice to that effect; if he will confirm whether Enterprise Ireland would seek to refuse providing this information through a freedom of information request on the grounds of commercial sensitivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51733/13]

Financial Services Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

58. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail when the capital requirements directive IV will be transposed into Irish law; if he will detail if in the transposition of this directive into Irish law there is scope for credit unions not to be reclassified as non-banking financial institutions under the directive or the capital requirements regulation; his views that credit unions here should have their deposits classified as retail deposits in banks as has always been the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51336/13]

Credit Unions Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

65. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the total number of staff in the Central Bank who are responsible for overseeing credit unions that have been paid employees of credit unions or volunteers in credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51450/13]

Credit Unions Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

66. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the title of the person in the Central Bank who has ultimate responsibility for oversight and imposing restrictions on lending within credit unions; the level at which staff in the Central Bank have the authority to make decisions regarding lending restrictions; if he will provide the criteria assessed to determine specific lending restrictions that may be imposed on certain credit unions but not others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51451/13]

Exchequer Returns

Lucinda Creighton

76. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 21 November 2013, if he will detail in euro terms the total proceeds of all borrowings by the Exchequer lodged to the Exchequer account at the Central Bank of Ireland at the end of year in 2011, 2012 and end of October in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51732/13]

Living City Initiative

Lucinda Creighton

77. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the consultation that has taken place to date with Dublin City Council regarding areas of eligibility for the living city initiative; if he has any figures on the number of individual properties likely to be eligible in the Dublin City Council area if the living city initiative gets approval by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51739/13]

Departmental Functions

Lucinda Creighton

78. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the split responsibilities between his Department and the Department of Social Protection on pensions policy creates a disconcerted, divided and poor management structure for addressing an issue of enormous importance to the future liabilities of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51762/13]

International Bodies Membership

Lucinda Creighton

79. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the person who is the Irish representative on the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51763/13]

Tax Credits

Lucinda Creighton

81. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if any consideration has been given to developing a tax credit in the future for drawdowns from pensions that have been subjected to a levy since 2011 and beyond; his views on whether such a credit would offset the disincentive to save caused by the taxation of pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51777/13]

Generic Drugs Substitution

Lucinda Creighton

89. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance his views on a company's (details supplied) recent assessment that Irish GDP is understated because of the way the Central Statistics Office measures production in the pharmaceutical sector arising from its statistical treatment of generic drugs as new products; if he will provide further detail on this alleged discrepancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51885/13]

Sale of State Assets

Lucinda Creighton

132. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of staff within his Department or NewERA who have been working on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; the total cost to his Department for any third party service that was engaged in the context of preparation for the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; if he will publish any third-party reports advising on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51772/13]

Trade Missions Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

136. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 19 November 2013, the date on which the total costs of these trade missions will issue; if he will provide a list of the contracts signed and announced on each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51494/13]

European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

Lucinda Creighton

184. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent of her and her officials interaction with the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority since its establishment; the extent of the Pensions Board's interaction with the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51768/13]

Bord Gáis Privatisation

Lucinda Creighton

229. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of staff within his Department or NewEra who have been working on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; the total cost from his Department for any third party service that was engaged in the context or preparation of a sale of Bord Gáis Energy; if he will publish any third party reports advising on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51771/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

244. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 468 to 470, inclusive, of 19 November 2013, when the information requested will be forwarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51495/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Lucinda Creighton

287. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 19 November 2013, if he will extract details for some of the more recent years of senior counsel expenditure in this specific area of criminal legal aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51496/13]

Childcare Education and Training Scheme Administration

Lucinda Creighton

382. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of the 50 applications that were made to participate in the area-based childhood programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51786/13]

Freedom of Information Requests

Lucinda Creighton

435. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 26 November 2013, if as part of the report request to the Health Service Executive, in part recognition of his expressed sympathies, he will release all of the files in his Department to the mother of the child in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51719/13]

Health Insurance Regulation

Lucinda Creighton

445. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the report conducted by Matheson and Goodbody stockbrokers into recommendations regarding splitting up VHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51769/13]

Health Services

Lucinda Creighton

446. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 466 and 477 of 12 November 2013, when a response will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51773/13]

Maternity Benefit

Lucinda Creighton

22. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned that the changes to maternity benefit will further discourage women into the labour force in view of the ongoing rise in the number of women on the live register while the number of men is falling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50848/13]

Social Insurance Rates

Lucinda Creighton

25. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the introduction of the PRSI rate of 4.25% on lower paid workers as part of the jobs initiative increased the total number of employees on the national minimum wage during the period of its existence; if she is concerned that a return to the higher rate in 2014 may slow this employment growth for persons in this income bracket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50847/13]

School Transport Provision

Lucinda Creighton

106. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is not conducting its own separate investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in Bus Éireann involving the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50296/13]

School Transport Provision

Lucinda Creighton

111. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when Bus Éireann will have completed its investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption involving the school transport scheme; if he will provide further updates on this investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50295/13]

Job Creation

Lucinda Creighton

314. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether the change to maternity leave, sick pay, and return to higher rate of PRSI for minimum wage workers will inhibit job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50618/13]

Industrial Development

Lucinda Creighton

315. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether there is any additional scope to give Connect Ireland a broader mandate to compete with the Industrial Development Agency for investment in regions or states in America that the IDA has not proven successful in achieving investment or is under-resourced; if he will consider giving free rein to Connect Ireland on a pilot basis for such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/13]

Coroners Service

Lucinda Creighton

593. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider conducting and independent inquiry into a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50250/13]

Exchequer Returns

Lucinda Creighton

47. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the total costs associated with maintaining the cash balances of the State in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 arising from the fact that the return on cash and related assets is lower than the cost of borrowing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49934/13]

Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports

Lucinda Creighton

48. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if he will list, since the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council came into effect in December 2012, the specific number of policy or technical measures assessed by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that were not being implemented by him or his Department under section 8(2), (3) and (4) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 where the Fiscal Council favoured change; the specific actions taken by him or his Department in reaction to assessments by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council of measures they were not adopting which the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council favoured change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49962/13]

Personal Insolvency Act

Lucinda Creighton

160. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 13 November 2013, if he agrees that when he does commence section 157 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 later this month that it will create an analogous situation that anyone who has completed three years as a bankrupt prior to the commencement of this section will have to wait a further six months before discharge while those who complete their three years after the commencement of section 157 will be eligible for discharge in accordance with the rules and provisions of the new Act; if he will consider any means to address this problem. [49999/13]

Property Taxation Data

Lucinda Creighton

29. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the role he and his Department have in determining the distribution of the local property tax revenue in 2014; the reason a decision was taken to postpone the retention of 80% of the property tax in the local authority area in which it is collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49257/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Lucinda Creighton

36. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the levels of consultation he had with the Department of Health in advance of altering the restrictions on tax relief on health insurance; his views that referring to insurance policy holders who would be affected in the budget as just the gold plated policy holders was misleading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49258/13]

Medical Card Data

Lucinda Creighton

201. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons who are refused medical cards every year from new applications since 2008 to date in 2013; the total number of applications for each year; the total number of persons who are refused medical cards after request for renewal for every year since 2008 to date in 2013; the total number who are granted renewal in the same time period for each year; the total number of persons who have voluntarily surrendered their medical card for every year since 2008 to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49708/13]

Medical Card Data

Lucinda Creighton

202. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the total number of discretionary medical cards that have been refused on application since 2008 to date in 2013; the total number of discretionary medical cards that have been refused on renewal since 2008 to date in 2013; the total number of applications that are granted renewal in the same time period for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49709/13]

Medical Card Eligibility

Lucinda Creighton

203. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons since 2008 who either the Health Service Executive or his Department have referred to enforcement authorities on suspicion of their committing offences under section 49 of the Health Act 1970; the total number of prosecutions which arose from these referrals; the total number of successful prosecutions that arose from these referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

102. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he has made to combine the use of embassies, Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Authority offices in order to reduce rent, staff costs and increase cross collaboration between the different parts; the locations where this has been rolled out already; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48972/13]

Ministerial Meetings

Lucinda Creighton

108. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the exact number of meetings he has had, either in person or by telephone, with Peer Steinbrueck, Martin Schulz and Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, of Germany in the past 12 months; if he is concerned that the positions they are adopting on behalf of the SPD in German coalition negotiations are hurting Ireland's interests in allowing the European Stability Mechanism, ESM, to directly recapitalise banks in the future or retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48971/13]

Departmental Offices

Lucinda Creighton

113. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the total euro amount paid out from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Attorney General's office to companies (details supplied) for each year from 2004 to date in 2013; the total euro amount paid out from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Attorney General's office to senior counsel from 2004 to date in 2013; and the total euro amount paid out from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Attorney General's office to companies (details supplied) for non-audit services from 2004 to date. [49315/13]

Defence Forces Deployment

Lucinda Creighton

126. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his role with the Department of Defence in determining the deployment of members of the Defence Forces on EU training missions; the reason the EU training mission in Somalia has seen a decrease in the number of Irish Defence Force personnel stationed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49043/13]

Defence Forces Deployment

Lucinda Creighton

127. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Defence Forces deployment with the EU training mission in Somalia is to continue in 2014 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49088/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

128. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the total number of ministerial led trade missions that have taken place as part of St. Patrick's Day festivities since 2011; if he will further provide the country for each of these missions; the names of each business who have operations here who accompanied the respective Minister on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro terms each business who accompanied the Minister is doing with that country since the trade mission; the total number of businesses the Ministers met with that were potential foreign direct investors here; the total number of these businesses that have subsequently created jobs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49237/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

129. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the total number of trade missions he or a Minister for State within his Department have been on since he became Minister; if he will provide the country for each of these missions; the names of each business who have operations here who accompanied him on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro terms each business who accompanied the Minister is doing with that country since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; the total number of businesses the Ministers met with that were potential foreign direct investors here; the total number of these businesses that have subsequently created jobs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49238/13]

Banking Sector

Lucinda Creighton

200. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 97, 100 and 101 of 12 November 2013, the number of days it will take for the information requested to be provided; if he will also provide the data requested in Parliamentary Questions Nos. 97, 100 and 101 with respect to the National Treasury Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49314/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

284. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the total number of trade missions that he or a Minister of State within his Department, has been on since becoming Minister; the country for each of these missions; the name of each business, with operations here, which accompanied him on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro each business who accompanied him is doing since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49234/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

285. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the total number of trade missions Enterprise Ireland have been on where neither a Minister nor a Minister of State has been present since March of 2011; if he will provide the country for each of these missions; the names of each Irish business who accompanied them on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro terms each business who accompanied Enterprise Ireland is doing with that country since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49235/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

287. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 12 November 2013, if he will retrieve the relevant files in relation to the Office of Director of Consumer Affairs, which ceased to exist in 2007 and whose functions were transferred to the National Consumer Agency and provide any additional expenditure to senior counsel for the years requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49324/13]

Social Insurance Yield

Lucinda Creighton

296. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional PRSI revenue yield between the 1 July 2011 and 31 December 2013 had the halving of the 8.5% employer rate to 4.25% not happened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48797/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

379. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 12 November 2013, if he will provide the data requested for Departments now under his responsibility that existed between 2003 and the establishment of a single Department on 2 June 2011; if he has no responsibility for this data, if he will indicate which Minister or Ministers have responsibility for providing this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49322/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

380. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 12 November 2013, if he will provide the data requested for Departments now under his responsibility that existed between 2003 and the establishment of his single Department on 2 June 2011; if he has no responsibility for this data, if he will indicate which Minister or Ministers have responsibility for providing this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49323/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

468. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 281 of 12 November 2013, if he will provide the data requested between 2003 and 2008 as specified in the original question and as other Departments have provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49319/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

469. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 12 November 2013, if he will provide the data requested between 2003 and 2008 as specified in the original question and as other Departments have provided; if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 12 of November 2013, he will include the costs associated with the planning tribunal as it relates to moneys paid to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49320/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

470. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 12 November 2013, if he will now provide the cumulative amount paid by his Department to senior counsel from 2003 to 2008 as requested and as other Departments have provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49321/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Lucinda Creighton

528. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 327 of 12 of November 2013, the reason his Department’s computer records relating to legal fees do not allow his Department to disaggregate the expenditure between senior counsel and junior counsel when all other Departments were able to furnish this Deputy with the figures for senior counsel in the same time period requested; if he will now provide the cumulative amount paid by his Department to senior counsel each year since 2003 as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49318/13]

Overseas Missions

Lucinda Creighton

553. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces deployment with the EU Training Mission in Somalia is to continue in 2014 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49089/13]

Overseas Missions

Lucinda Creighton

558. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence the way deployment to the Somalia EU Training Mission for Irish Defence Forces is determined; the level of interdepartmental consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on such decisions; the reason the total number of Defence Forces deployed in Somalia fell between June 2013 and November 2013 from 11 to eight; if this was a strategic redeployment of Defence Force members to other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49041/13]

Defence Forces Deployment

Lucinda Creighton

559. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the total number of Defence Forces personnel deployed to the Golan Heights since March of 2011; if he will breakdown the figures by each six month deployment during that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49042/13]

Trade Missions Data

Lucinda Creighton

594. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the total number of trade missions he or a Minister for State within his Department have been on since he became Minister; if he will provide the country for each of these missions; the names of each business which have operations here which accompanied him on each trade mission; the amount of additional business quantifiable in euro terms each business which accompanied him is doing with that country since the trade mission; if he will provide the total cost to his Department for each of these trade missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49233/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Lucinda Creighton

733. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 12 November 2013, if he will provide a breakdown of the total cumulative amount per year paid to senior counsel since 2004 as there is no data detailing the person who is senior counsel on his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49316/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

734. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 521 and 522 of 12 of November 2013, the current Minister and Department responsible for providing the figures for tourism and sport prior to March 2011; the current Minister and Department responsible for providing figures relating to local roads prior to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49317/13]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Administration

Lucinda Creighton

37. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the total amount in euro the National Pensions Reserve Fund provided in a bridging loan facility to Irish Water to meet the costs arising to the end of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48598/13]

School Staffing

Lucinda Creighton

59. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of retired teachers who are currently employed in non-fee paying secondary and primary schools as substitute teachers; his views that this practice is reducing the number of teaching places available for new teachers; if any measures will be taken to prevent the continuation of teachers who are already receiving pensions working as substitute teachers, particularly in the school where they were previously in full employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48590/13]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Lucinda Creighton

60. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the total income and breakdown of income from registration and assessment fees for the Teaching Council as reported in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; the total expenditure for the Teaching Council as reported in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; the total taxation paid by the Teaching Council as reported in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; the total net current assets of the Teaching Council as reported in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; the total staff costs, wages and salaries, pension costs and number of employees in the Teaching Council as reported in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48591/13]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Lucinda Creighton

61. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the annual wage of all employees in the Teaching Council who are reported as employees, rather than agency staff or temporary employees, in its financial statements for every year since its inception to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48592/13]

Voluntary Work Option Issues

Lucinda Creighton

88. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider ensuring that all social welfare officers are required to promote volunteering to those who are currently in receipt of the jobseeker's allowance; if she will provide specific guidelines for social welfare officers assessing VW1 forms; if she will consider creating these guidelines with the aid of Volunteers Ireland; the total number of VW1 applications that have been refused since the system came into operation; the most common reasons for VW1 applications are being refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48622/13]

Local Authority Funding

Lucinda Creighton

109. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has responsibility for determining how the local property tax revenue is spent; if he will outline his involvement in the decision to defer defining 80% of the proceeds of the local property tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015 as a decision taken in the context of budget 2014; if he will confirm the reason this decision was taken and the economic changes that occurred to force a change in the Government's position on the way in which these revenues were to be distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48674/13]

Irish Water Funding

Lucinda Creighton

111. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the full cost of the domestic water metering programme of €539 million, excluding VAT, will be paid out by whichever party is responsible for payment; if any of the €240 million direct equity investment by the Exchequer in 2014 into Irish Water will be used to repay the liability of the bridging loan facility given by the National Pensions Reserve Fund to Irish Water in 2013; if any of the €240 million direct equity investment in 2014 by the Exchequer will be used for the cost of the domestic water metering programme; if the €240 million in direct equity investment by the Exchequer into Irish Water in 2014 is in addition to the €296 million Exchequer payment for the water services investment programme in 2014 as detailed in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/13]

Water Services Funding

Lucinda Creighton

112. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form all projects that received funding under the water services investment programme in 2012 and 2013; if he will confirm that all of the allocation of €371 million in 2012 and €329 million in 2013 under the programme has been spent; if either of these Exchequer payments was used to fund any part of the domestic water metering programme; if he will detail for each year the total amount of Exchequer funding that was used to fund the domestic water metering programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48601/13]