Parliamentary questions

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

8. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the investor court system as contained in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement would impact Government policy and decision-making on environmental regulations, especially on mining and prospecting for minerals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6900/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

9. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has carried out analysis on the potential of the investor court system, as contained in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, to impact negatively Ireland's capacity to reach climate emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7455/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

23. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the risks to Irish consumers, SMEs and the State by ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6896/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Holly Cairns

24. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has bilateral investment treaties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

25. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on referring the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment for pre-ratification scrutiny before it is voted on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

26. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are environmental rights protections in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6901/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

27. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on referring the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action for pre-ratification scrutiny regarding environmental and climate issues before it is voted on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6902/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

28. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on referring the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-ratification scrutiny regarding the impact on the rights of Irish residents before it is voted on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6904/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

39. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement could enable corporations to try to sue governments under a special investor court system, a mechanism that would bypass domestic and EU courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7452/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

40. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legal mechanisms that will be available to the Government to challenge the final decision of the investor court system, that is, after the conclusions of tribunals and appeals processes as outlined in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7453/21]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Holly Cairns

41. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on deferring ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement until ongoing court cases regarding the ratification of the agreement are concluded in other European jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7454/21]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

89. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues with reliable broadband in west County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6903/21]

Cycle to Work Scheme

Holly Cairns

214. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance his views on adjusting the cycle-to-work scheme to cover the purchasing of child seats or trailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6883/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

238. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the outdoor activities sector is excluded from the Covid restrictions support scheme due to the fact that most of its business activity is not being delivered at a fixed business premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7456/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

257. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the minimum turnover of €50,000 was included in the criteria for the tourism business continuity scheme; the funding that will be made available for businesses that fall outside this criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/21]

Foreign Policy

Holly Cairns

368. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking in relation to the recent military coup in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6884/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

505. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on extending the pandemic unemployment payment scheme beyond 31 March 2021 due to the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6906/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

547. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Data Protection Commissioner has written to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes over the destruction of recordings of witness testimony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6907/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

548. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on extending the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to ensure the full recovery of all evidence received by and all documents created by, or for, the commission, including all recoverable recordings of witness testimony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6910/21]

Proposed Legislation

Holly Cairns

549. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline he is working to for the publication and passing of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 in view of the fact that the Bill lapsed at the end of the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/21]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Holly Cairns

550. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target quarter for the introduction of the commitment in the programme for Government to double the target for employment of persons with disabilities in the public service to 6%; if these targets will be changed on a phased basis or in one go; if on a phased basis, when he plans to commence the phasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6913/21]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

551. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target quarter for the signing of the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6914/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

602. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if estate agents can operate during level 5 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7451/21]

Garda Recruitment

Holly Cairns

632. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice her views on providing an exemption for the requirement of two languages to enter An Garda Síochána for persons who otherwise meet the criteria but have a learning difficulty relating to learning languages such as dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6905/21]

Coroners Service

Holly Cairns

688. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the dialogue there has there been with the coroner whose jurisdiction includes Bessborough, Cork with respect to the holding of inquests for the deaths associated with the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home as provided for under the Coroners Act 1962; if there have been requests for inquests; if so, the number; the way in which they have they been responded to; if the coroner has informed her of conclusions they have reached under S1.7-F33 (1); if not, if she will seek their views; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7461/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

833. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of pay restoration for workers in the remaining 250 section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6880/21]

Vaccination Programme

Holly Cairns

834. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the plan to vaccinate staff working in disability long-term care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6881/21]

Vaccination Programme

Holly Cairns

835. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for mass vaccination centres in south-west County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6882/21]

Disability Services Data

Holly Cairns

836. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason for the long delay in publishing the capacity review of disability services; the target date for publication to which he is working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6911/21]

Ministerial Meetings

Holly Cairns

976. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his engagement with a group (details supplied) regarding the CervicalCheck tribunal since 21 October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7462/21]

Aquaculture Licences

Holly Cairns

1011. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received an aquaculture licence application (details supplied); the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6885/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

1012. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial support and incentives there will be to encourage farmers to pilot calf-at-foot strategies; the agency which will be responsible for implementing and monitoring this measure; when the trials will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6886/21]

EU Directives

Holly Cairns

1013. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department has taken to implement and uphold the EU Pigs Directive Council Directive 2008/120/EC; if there are outstanding parts of the Directive that need to be addressed under legislation; the measures he plans to take to support the development of a high-welfare outdoor-reared pig and poultry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6887/21]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

1014. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if only greyhounds presented for racing, that is, greyhounds which have at least one race record in Ireland will be tracked by the proposed new traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6888/21]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

1015. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his understanding of the position which applies when greyhound pups fail to produce a qualifying and acceptable time and are not presented for racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6889/21]

Greyhound Industry

Holly Cairns

1016. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded births of greyhounds annually between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6890/21]

Organic Farming Scheme

Holly Cairns

1017. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports being offered to assist applicants to the organic farming scheme given the high rates of refused admissions in the 2018 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6892/21]

Organic Farming Scheme

Holly Cairns

1018. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being put in place to help cattle and sheep farmers successfully apply to the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6893/21]

Common Agricultural Policy

Holly Cairns

1036. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has made to the EU regarding Common Agricultural Policy negotiations to ensure that the next round of funding will be used to promote improved animal welfare on farms as is committed to in the programme for Government; the amount of funding that will be available to address animal welfare issues on farms in Ireland in 2021; the way in which it will it be distributed; the agency that will be responsible for implementing and monitoring animal welfare improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7458/21]

Animal Breeding Regulations

Holly Cairns

1037. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he plans to take to regulate the breeding, ownership, sale or supply of exotic species; when he plans to introduce legislation to that effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7459/21]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

1038. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional urban horse welfare programmes he will introduce in 2021 as per the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7460/21]

Health and Safety Inspections

Holly Cairns

12. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspections of meat processing plants that have been carried out for compliance with Covid-19 regulations since 10 September 2020; the number that were unannounced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5242/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

13. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the responsibilities of employers in cases in which an employee contracts Covid-19 in the workplace; the duties of care in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5243/21]

Housing Data

Holly Cairns

269. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a report by an organisation (details supplied); and his views on the findings of the report with particular reference to the findings relating to affordability. [5235/21]

State Examinations

Holly Cairns

368. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a report by a union (details supplied); and her views on the results of the report with particular reference to student opinions on the junior and leaving certificate examinations. [5244/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

668. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of reported Covid-19 cases found in meat plant workers between 1 January 2020 and 26 January 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5241/21]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

930. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to animal welfare and rescue organisations by organisation in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5236/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

931. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to cases of Covid-19 in meat processing plants in County Cork between 1 December 2020 and 26 January 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5237/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

932. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded cases of Covid-19 in a meat plant (details supplied) in County Cork for the period 1 December 2020 to 26 January 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

933. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the measures in place to monitor the health and working conditions in meat plants to prevent further clusters of Covid-19. [5240/21]