Written Answers Nos. 137-161
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected position in regard to regularisation of residency and-or stamp 4 in respect of family eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51333/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 5 July 2019, is ongoing. On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of residency status and entitlement to naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51334/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, it is an offence under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015 to identify an international protection applicant. Therefore, if an application for international protection has been made in the State, it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or their designated legal adviser should contact the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate. This will enable a full and comprehensive reply to be provided.
The IPO may be contacted either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted by email to info@protectionappeals.ie, by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458) or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51336/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, which governs the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation and an online naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the statutory residency requirements are met.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected position in regard to the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51340/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a decision to deport in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a request from the person concerned for permission to reside in the State.
The Deputy will appreciate that, under the relevant provisions of the Immigration Act, 2004, a non-national may not be in the State other than within the terms of a permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality. In order to allow for a full examination of the person's circumstances, the person concerned should write to Unit 2, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, INIS, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 and provide a detailed account and documentary evidence of their personal circumstances since the expiration of any permission to reside in the State previously held.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected position in regard to an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51342/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
143. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question, the information on published post enactment reports is contained in the table. I can further confirm to the Deputy that work is underway in my Department to complete such reports on a number of other Acts.
Post-Enactment Reports
|
No. |
Title of Act |
Date of publication of Post-enactment Report |
|
1 |
Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 |
5 May 2015 |
|
2 |
Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 |
19 June 2017 |
|
3 |
Court of Appeal Act 2014 |
20 February 2018 |
|
4 |
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 |
13 July 2015 |
|
5 |
Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015 |
9 March 2018 |
|
6 |
Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 |
1 March 2016 |
|
7 |
Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Act 2015 |
22 March 2017 |
|
8 |
Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 |
22 March 2018 |
|
9 |
Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 |
9 March 2018 |
|
10 |
Courts Act 2015 |
20 February 2018 |
|
11 |
Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 |
27 February 2018 |
|
12 |
Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 |
22 March 2017 |
|
13 |
Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2016 |
28 July 2017 |
|
14 |
Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Act 2016 |
25 July 2017 |
|
15 |
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 |
29 March 2018 |
|
16 |
Criminal Justice (Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment) Act 2017 |
29 March 2018 |
|
17 |
Courts Act 2017 |
18 May 2018 |
|
18 |
Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information systems) Act 2017 |
12 September 2018 |
|
19 |
Criminal Justice Act 2017 |
7 August 2018 |
|
20 |
Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 |
22 November 2018 |
144. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Acts passed since March 2011 for which his Department is responsible; the date each Act was signed into law, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question on the number of Acts passed since March 2011 that my Department is responsible for and the date each Act was signed into law, the requested information in relation to this request is provided in the table at the link. In addition I would mention that my Department also currently has seven Bills before the Oireachtas, ten Priority Bills for publication and 23 Bills under preparation or consideration.
145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the grant and funding schemes operated by his Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme. [51409/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that the information sought cannot be provided in the time allowed. As soon as the information has been collated I will write to the Deputy on the matter.
146. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the ongoing delay in commencing Part 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the impact and distress the delay is having on affected families; the timescale to complete the relevant work to allow for commencement in view of the fact that numerous deadlines have been missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51464/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 provides for a number of amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004, all of which have yet to be commenced.
Certain sections in Part 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 provide for the registration and re-registration of the birth of a donor-conceived child. The current position is that these sections need to be amended, to correct technical errors, and have yet to be commenced. These sections fall within the responsibility of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I am advised that the Minister’s intention is to correct these technical errors by means of Committee Stage amendments to the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017.
In addition, these sections cannot be commenced until Parts 2 and 3 of the 2015 Act are brought into operation by the Minister for Health. The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Act 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the 2015 Act. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 and 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. It is the Minister for Health's intention that Parts 2 and 3 of the 2015 Act will be commenced as soon as possible.
Officials from my Department, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Health and the General Register Office are working together to ensure that the appropriate legislative, regulatory and operational mechanisms are in place to allow for the earliest possible commencement of all of the relevant legislation that will allow for birth registration of donor-conceived children.
The commencement of the other sections of Part 9 of the 2015 Act (unrelated to birth registration of donor-conceived children) is dependent on provisions of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 being commenced by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These sections may be commenced separately and do not affect the bringing into force of the provisions on birth registration of donor-conceived children.
147. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51366/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has prepared one post enactment report during the period in question, set out as follows.
|
Name of Act |
Date of Publication of Post Enactment Report on Oireachtas Website |
|
Competition (Amendment) Act 2017 (No. 12 of 2018) |
28 August 2018 |
148. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Acts passed since March 2011 that her Department is responsible for; the date each Act was signed into law, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51382/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA list of all legislation since March 2011 that my Department is responsible for is available on my Department's website at the following address: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Legislation/.
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the grant and funding schemes operated by her Department; the value of each scheme; the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51398/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Vote provides funding in the way of Grants and also to fund a number of discrete Schemes. Grants in the main are provided to support the operating costs and other expenses of the statutorily established State Agencies who operate under the aegis of the Department. The funding provided to the Grants and Schemes supported under the Department's Vote is subject to the approval by the Oireachtas through the Revised Estimates process.
The following Table sets out the details of the various Grants and Schemes which are being funded through my Department's Vote in 2018.
|
Subhead |
Grantee |
2018 Allocation in €000 |
|
A4 |
InterTrade Ireland |
8,125 |
|
A5 |
IDA Ireland |
180,780 |
|
A6 |
NSAI |
6,224 |
|
A7 |
Enterprise Ireland |
146,550 |
|
A8 |
Local Enterprise Development |
32,931 |
|
A9 |
Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme |
500 |
|
B4 |
Enterprise Ireland |
126,778 |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
177,565 |
|
|
Irish Universities Association |
108 |
|
|
Tyndall Institute |
4,500 |
|
|
B5 |
Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions |
14,300 |
|
C4 |
Grant for trade union education and advisory services |
900 |
|
C5 |
Health and Safety Authority |
19,275 |
|
C6 |
Trade union amalgamations |
60 |
|
C8 |
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission |
12,226 |
|
C10 |
Consumer support |
47 |
|
C12 |
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority |
2,105 |
Grants are drawn down in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Circular 13/2014 'Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds'. In those instances where, for operational reasons, grants are paid to Agencies on a prefunded basis, the requisite sanction permitting this has been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Aside from the aforementioned Grants and Schemes, the Department's Vote also provides funding to support the operating costs of the Department itself and that of its Offices and the payment of pensions to a number of staff of Agencies/former Agencies of the Department. In addition, funding is provided under the Vote to support membership of a number of national and international organisations. Finally, the Department's Vote also provides support to meet its obligations as co-funder of particular EU programmes.
150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to reduce inequality in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51414/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLead responsibility for the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 rests with the Minister for Justice and Equality and any steps being taken to reduce inequality in the workplace would be a policy matter for the Minister and his Department.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 that fall under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, outlaw discrimination at work including: recruitment and promotion; equal pay; working conditions; training or experience; dismissal and harassment, including sexual harassment. It prohibits discrimination on nine specified grounds: gender, civil status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and membership of the Traveller community.
Insofar as my Department is concerned, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC's core services include the inspection of employment rights compliance, the provision of information, adjudicating on complaints under employment protection, equality and industrial relations legislation and the provision of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services. Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Director General of the WRC. A case may be lodged through the Workplace Relations Commission's website at www.workplacerelations.ie.
151. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to retain long-stay residential care services at St. Joseph's and Ramelton community hospitals, County Donegal, have been signed off. [51224/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this month, the Department noted the rationale put forward by the HSE for the revisions to its Capital Investment Programme for Residentail Care Centres for Older People and acknowledged that the matter had been considered and decided upon through the established mechanisms within the HSE. As a result, the position in relation to the two community hospitals mentioned has been amended. These two community hospitals will be redeveloped through the HSE's capital plan. In relation to the additional funding identified by the HSE for capital investment in these units, it is a matter for the HSE, in the first instance to prioritise and plan projects, subject to available funding in the coming years. As outlined at the recent meeting on this issue, the HSE will now advance these plans through the established processes. The HSE has confirmed that it intends that this process will begin in 2019, with the commencement of the design phase for both.
152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the building of the proposed new national maternity hospital on the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital is time sensitive in respect of compliance with EU directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51226/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2017 introduce additional energy efficiency requirements for new building developments. Planning permission has been granted for a new maternity hospital on the St. Vincent's University Hospital campus, the design for which exceeds the existing statutory energy efficiency requirements. I understand that the project falls within the transitional arrangements provided as part of the implementation of the legislation.
153. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to include Ataxia on the long-term illness scheme list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51229/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that it is proposed that the LTI Scheme would be included as part of a review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the person or body at national level with expertise in neuro-trauma and-or disability who is leading and responsible for the roll-out of the neuro-rehabilitation implementation framework. [51236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the way in which neuro-rehabilitation services being rolled out under the neuro-rehabilitation implementation framework will integrate with existing services. [51237/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Belimumab is not publicly available to patients here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51241/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
157. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for processing applications under the nursing home support scheme in community healthcare organisation or CHO 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51245/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
158. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when an occupational therapy appointment will be made for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
159. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the contracts the HSE or its agents have with a company (details supplied); when each of these contracts were signed; when each of these contracts were tendered for; the value of each contract from its commencement to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51247/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra161. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the contracts the HSE or its agents have with a company (details supplied); when each of these contracts were signed; when each of these contracts were tendered for; the value of each contract from its commencement to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51250/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 161 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
160. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the HSE to engage with the ambulance personnel branch of an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51249/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe union which is recognised by the HSE as representing ambulance grades is SIPTU. The Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA), which is a non ICTU affiliated union, have negotiating rights for nurses working in psychiatry and intellectual disability sectors. The National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA), which is affiliated with the PNA is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights for HSE ambulance staff.
Whilst individuals have a right to membership of any trade union, HSE ambulance staff who choose to join an association which is not recognised by their employer should be aware that such membership is not facilitated by their employer. I will not be directing the HSE to engage with the PNA in light of the above.
