Written Answers Nos. 81-100
81. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if persons who are nursing-home residents will be included in the category of those not to be taxed in the planned vacant property tax in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28300/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s strategy ‘Housing For All’ includes an action for my Department to collect data on vacancy with a view to introducing a Vacant Property Tax. The timeframe for delivery on this commitment is the second quarter of 2022. The Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Act 2021 enabled Revenue to collect certain information in relation to the occupancy status of residential properties including, where unoccupied, the duration and reason for this, in the Local Property Tax (LPT) return forms submitted by residential property owners in respect of the new LPT valuation period 2022-2025. This information, together with information from other available sources, will be used to assess the merits and impact of introducing a Vacant Property Tax.
In considering the case for such a tax it is important to have a sound understanding of the quantity, locations and characteristics of long-term vacant properties. It is also essential to identify the reasons for vacancy, and whether this is long or short-term in nature. There may be genuine and acceptable reasons for vacancy such as refurbishment work, the pending the grant of probate for a deceased person’s estate or, indeed, the temporary absence of the owner for medical reasons.
In the design of any tax, it would be important to achieve an appropriate balance between putting enough pressure on vacant home owners to allow the measure to actually work as an incentive to increase the supply of housing, and ensuring any such tax does not arbitrarily or excessively penalise home-owners in a discriminatory way. This would include consideration of appropriate exemptions from any charge in addition to acceptable periods of vacancy.
Revenue have completed a preliminary analysis of the LPT returns received to date which has been shared with my Department. The results of the preliminary analysis suggest that levels of vacancy are low across all counties. I will consider the issue in consultation with colleagues before reverting to Government with proposals on the appropriate response. I understand Revenue intends to publish a profile of the occupancy data from the LPT returns in due course.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase tax relief to incentivise landlords to rent properties long-term in order to alleviate the current housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28261/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to reducing taxation on rental income in an effort to address rising rent prices; if there are any taxation incentives for landlords which seek to reduce rental prices in the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 88 together.
The Government's comprehensive strategy to address the various policy challenges relating to housing is as set out in ‘Housing for All’.
Under the Housing for All strategy, my Department is committed to review the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on the Tax and Fiscal Treatment of Rental Accommodation Providers (2017) by Q3 2022. I understand that this work is in hand. A copy of the 2017 report is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/51d1c-budget-2018/.
The Deputies may wish to be aware that two options presented in the above report have been implemented. The first relates to allowing deductibility for pre-letting expenditure for previously vacant properties (extended recently in Finance Act 2021). The second restored to 100% from January 2019 the amount of interest that can be deducted on mortgages for residential rental properties. Both measures might be expected to contribute to a modest extent at least to the desired outcome mentioned in Deputy Kerrane's question.
As regards further tax measures aimed at assisting landlords, the position is that proposals for any new tax reliefs must be assessed in accordance with my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines. These make clear that it is important that any policy proposal which involves tax expenditures should only occur in limited circumstances. In particular, they provide that a tax-based incentive should only be considered where it would be more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention.
Currently, I have no plans to introduce measures along the lines of those outlined by the Deputies. I look forward to the outcome of my Department’s review of the 2017 report in due course.
83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the adjustment made for indexation of income tax bands and income tax rates when calculating the budgetary stance for Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to indexing income tax credits and bands in the event that incomes are rising as the economy recovers, so as to prevent an increase in the tax burden and to ensure that low-paid workers are not being brought into the income tax net.
The budgetary stance set out in the Summer Economic Statement 2021 included an assumption of a €500 million tax package each year from 2022 onwards. This assumption will be reviewed as part of the assessment of the overall budgetary stance in the Summer Economic Statement 2022, to be published in the coming weeks.
84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of additional savings that could be made by not indexing income tax bands and income tax rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28286/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”, states that “from Budget 2022 onwards, in the event that incomes are again rising as the economy recovers, credits and bands will be index linked to earnings. This will be done to prevent an increase in the real burden of income tax, to prevent more low income workers being taken into the tax net because of no changes to the tax system and to ensure there is no increase in the number of people having to pay higher income tax and USC rates”.
The Summer Economic Statement (SES), which will be published in the coming weeks, will include a high level update to the fiscal forecast published in April. The SES will also set-out a budgetary framework within which Budget 2023 can be delivered.
For the information of the Deputy, page 9 of Revenue’s post-Budget 2022 Ready Reckoner, published in November 2021, includes the estimated cost of indexation at 1 percent point, across the main tax credits and standard rate income tax bands, as well as USC rate bands and exemption limits. This information is set out in the table below or available at the following link –
www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/statistics/ready-reckoner.pdf.
|
Cost of Indexation at 1% |
First Year €m |
Full Year €m |
|
Personal Tax Credits with rate bands |
120 |
138 |
|
Exemption limits, Personal Tax Credits with rate bands |
125 |
144 |
|
PAYE Credit, Exemption limits, Personal Tax Credits with rate bands |
155 |
178 |
|
Earned Income Credit |
2 |
3 |
|
USC rate bands and Exemption Limits |
20 |
24 |
Apart from providing a basis to calculate indicatively the cost of a given level of indexation, the information in the table may also be used to estimate roughly the annual savings that might arise from a policy of non-indexation.
85. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the estimated net effect of carry-over measures for 2023 resulting from Budget 2022 measures; the way in which this is accounted for in the budgetary-stance projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the cash cost of carryover into 2023 of tax measures announced in Budget 2022 is estimated to be in the region of c. €35 million. This impact on the Exchequer is incorporated into the fiscal projections contained in the Stability Programme Update 2022.
It is important to note that the exact impact of carryover on the Exchequer will be reviewed as part of the normal budgetary process, as there are several moving parts to be considered, such as economic growth and specific tax relevant factors, which could impact on the expected return from the measures.
The budgetary stance was set out in the Summer Economic Statement last year. The stance will be assessed in this year’s edition of the Summer Economic Statement, which will be published by Government this summer.
The net carryover effect into next year of Budget 2022 expenditure measures has not yet been published and will be considered as part of the estimates process.
86. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue yield from an increase in excise on diesel of five cents per litre; the estimated cost of using the diesel rebate scheme to offset such an increase for commercial transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28293/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the yield from a five cents per litre increase in excise on diesel is estimated at €180 million per annum, VAT inclusive. This estimate assumes no behavioural changes in response to this increase.
Based on volumes of diesel on which claims were received in 2021, the cost of using the Diesel Rebate Scheme to offset a five cents increase for qualifying commercial transport is estimated to be in the region of €18 million per annum.
87. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider implementing a windfall tax on energy firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Commission has confirmed that EU Member States can consider imposing temporary tax measures on windfall profits of energy providers.
With regard to tax generally, the trading profits of companies in Ireland are typically taxed at the standard Corporation Tax rate of 12.5%. Some of the main features of the current regime are its simplicity and that it applies to a broad base. Changing the tax rate (or imposing additional levies on certain sectors) could have unforeseen consequences. There is a risk of such taxes leading to higher consumer costs and negative impacts on investment in the energy sector, in particular in the area of renewables.
Proposals for a windfall tax must take into account wider energy policy, under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. A well-functioning EU electricity market is crucial for the integration of our Internal Energy Market and supporting investment in new renewables. The best long-term approach for Ireland to insulate consumers from volatility on international wholesale energy markets is to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Cutting our dependence on fossil fuels and generating power from our own renewable sources will ensure a cleaner, cheaper energy future in the long term.
The complexities of the energy market and the range of producers and contracts must also be taken into account. For example, the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) contains strong consumer protection measures, with wholesale market revenues above the auction price returned to electricity consumers through the Public Service Obligation Levy.
The Government approved and published the National Energy Security Framework on the 13th April. It set out that the Government will work with the European Commission and other Member States to consider the policy proposals outlined under REPowerEU, designed to aid consumers and businesses to deal with increasing energy costs. REPowerEU is a joint European action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy. The European Commission published the REPowerEU Plan on 18 May and analysis of these proposals is currently being undertaken. Consideration of the potential for a windfall tax is a small part of ongoing work in this area.
In addition, the Government has taken a number of measures to reduce the burden on consumers in relation to the cost of energy. This includes providing €200 worth of energy credit to every household in the country; reductions in fuel excise duty; and a reduction in the VAT rate for electricity and gas.
89. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the change in the ownership and company structure at an organisation (details supplied); her views on whether this changed structure means that the organisation is ineligible to draw down the Sports Capital Grant awarded to it in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28203/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,100 applications were submitted. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021.
The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022. Included in this set of allocations was a grant in respect of the club referred to by the Deputy.
The Sports Capital Division of my Department has no record of being informed of a change of ownership of the grantee referred to. With regard to the 2020 SCEP allocation, it should be noted that the grant remains at "provisional allocation" stage. The transfer of a grant from one organisation to another requires the approval of my Department and there are a number of other requirements which must be met before formal approval issues. One of the requirements of the SCEP is that grantees are "not for profit" organisations and my Department may seek proof of this status. In relation to the grant referred to by the Deputy, the status of the grantee will be considered further if a formal approval request is submitted.
90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will fund an astro-turf pitch for a football club (details supplied). [28298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Full details of the Programme including a copy of the latest "Guide to Making an Application" (which sets out the terms and conditions of the scheme) are available at the following link: - www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/#introduction.
My Department has no record of allocating SCEP funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. An allocation was made to South Dublin County Council, however, for an all-weather pitch at Knockmitten under the 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme. The grant remains at "provisional allocation" stage and I understand there has been no delay on my Department's part in relation to the project. In this regard, it is entirely a matter for the local authority to take the next steps to move to "formal approval" stage if it wishes to progress the project.
91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to take on any functions relating to the delivery of the Collaborative Town Centre Health Checks programme operated by the Heritage Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28201/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. The Policy contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business.
Action 4 of the new policy refers to the establishing of a National Town Centre First Office to assist in policy delivery and implementation and coordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level. This Office is currently being established with the recruitment process for the National Town Centre First Coordinator who will head up the National Office underway. In support of this, the recruitment of Town Regeneration Officers within individual local authorities will be undertaken in the coming months.
Action 6 of Town Centre First (TCF) refers to the provision of best practice examples and other resources through the creation of a National Toolkit to assist in the implementation of the TCF policy. Action 6 includes the development of ‘a national, integrated and scaled-up Health Check Model which utilises existing progress through the Heritage Council’s Collaborative Town Centre Health Check approach and builds a national database on our towns’. The National TCF Office is specified as being the lead responsible agency in this regard.
Once established, the National Town Centre First Office will formulate its Annual Implementation Plan (Action 29) and outline its work programme for assisting in TCF implementation. It is anticipated that progressing Action 6 and the identified Health Check Model will be part of this work.
92. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the steps necessary to update the planning regulations for solar panels are due; the date the process of updating the planning regulations to facilitate the installation of solar panels will be finished with updated regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28207/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for apartments and educational/community/religious buildings.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The draft regulations have also been screened for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and the need for AA has been screened out.
Following the conclusion of the AA process on the draft regulations in April, my Department immediately sought to progress the statutory SEA process. A four week statutory consultation with the environmental authorities on the scope of the SEA Environmental Report commenced on the 28 April 2022 and ran until 27 May 2022.
The SEA Environmental Report is currently being updated and finalised on foot of this consultation. Once finalised, the SEA Environmental Report will be published alongside the draft regulations for a period of public consultation of not less than 4 weeks. This public consultation is expected to launch during the week commencing 13 June 2022. Written submissions or observations will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded. Accordingly, the process for finalising the solar panel planning exemptions will be completed in the coming months.
93. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available to a first-time buyer who wants to build a house but does not qualify for the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28252/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
As part of the eligibility criteria applicant(s) of the Local Authority Home Loan must have received insufficient offers of finance from two regulated financial providers to apply for a Local Authority Home Loan. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers and fresh start applicants to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties or to self-build in a suitable price range.
To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan you must:
- be a first-time buyer;
- be aged between 18 and 70 years;
- be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as the primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner
- as a single applicant have an annual gross income of not more than €65,000 if purchasing a home in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow and be earning under €50,000 if purchasing a home in all other counties;
- as joint applicants have an annual gross income of not more than €75,000 combined in all counties;
- not be a current or previous owner of residential property in or outside the Republic of Ireland, unless you are a “Fresh Start” applicant;
- purchase or self-build a property situated in the Republic of Ireland;
- purchase or self-build a property which does not exceed the maximum market value applicable for the county in which it is located. The maximum house price is €320,000 in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and €250,000 in the rest of the country.
The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.
Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.
94. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a report detailing the number of vacant residential units that were returned to active residential use in each local authority after availing of funding from the repair and lease and buy and renew schemes for each year from 2014 to date, in tabular form. [28274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Living City Initiative is a tax-based measure aimed at the regeneration of the historic inner cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford.
The scheme provides income or corporation tax relief for expenditure on refurbishment and conversion work that is carried out in either residential properties or certain commercial properties.
The Initiative targets particular areas of the cities which are most in need of regeneration, especially inner city areas. These are areas chosen by the relevant councils which are largely comprised of dwellings built before 1915, where there is above average unemployment and which demonstrate clear evidence of neglect, dereliction and under-use.
Revenue advise me that it is not possible to specify the extent to which tax relief under the scheme may have supported qualifying work within each of the local authority areas; and that statistical data are not available on the specific number of vacant residential units that have been returned to active residential use under the Living City Initiative from 2014 to date.
Data in relation to claims for the Living City Initiative are available on the Revenue website for the years 2013 to 2018, the latest year for which fully analysed data are available, at:
www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/property-reliefs.aspx.
This report will be updated over the coming months with data for both 2019 and 2020. The available data for the scheme are reproduced below:
Living City Initiative
|
Tax Year |
Amount claimed (€m) |
Maximum tax cost* (€m) |
Number of claimants |
|
2018 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
27 |
|
2017 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
23 |
|
2016 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
15 |
|
2015 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
13 |
|
2014 |
0.2 |
0.10 |
N/A |
|
2013 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
N/A |
*assumed at 40% for IT and 12.5% for CT.
95. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the recently announced vacant home scheme through local authorities towards renovation and other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28335/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
The suite of measures under the pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock includes the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way.
Details in relation to the operation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund are at an advanced stage of development, including the scope and appropriate timeframes, and it will be launched shortly.
96. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 21 April 2021, the number of full-time equivalent vacant homes officers by local authority in tabular form for 2021 and to date in 2022. [28358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department understand that in 2021 there were in the region of 3 full-time and 34 part-time vacant homes officers working in local authorities. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from mid-2022 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer to support the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that vacant homes officers are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of vacant homes officers, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
Local authorities have been requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. I expect that each local authority will have at least one full-time vacant homes officer working in their local authority. Local authorities are continuing with the process of the delivery of the Vacant Homes Officer position on a full-time basis. As this process is ongoing, I will have a full position from local authorities following the delivery timeframe of the end of June .
97. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 21 April 2021, if he receives regular updates on the number of homes applied for through the vacant homes scheme by local authority; and if so, if he will provide the up-to-date figures for 2021 and to date in 2022. [28359/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy is referring to the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme and the Housing Acquisitions Fund.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental properties. The scheme provides upfront funding to carry out the works and, in return, the property owner agrees to lease the dwelling to the local authority to be used as social housing for a period up to 25 years. The maximum loan for property repair available under the Repair and Lease Scheme has been increased by my Department from €40,000 to €60,000.
The Buy and Renew Scheme supports local authorities in purchasing and renewing housing units in need of repair, which can then be made available for social housing use. Local authorities have already purchased c.750 homes for social housing use. Nationally, the average cost to deliver one of these homes under the Scheme is c.€196,000 including the cost for the necessary improvement works to the properties.
The Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund is a €70 million revolving that was established in January 2017 with the objective of enabling the Housing Agency to acquire vacant units from banks and investment companies for social housing use. The fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units primarily to the AHB sector and the funds received are then recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions.
The Table below gives a breakdown of the number of properties delivered under each of the schemes in each local authority up to the end of Q4 2021.
|
LA |
Repair& Lease Total Properties Delivered up to Q4 2021 |
Buy and Renew Dwellings Delivered up to Q4 2021 |
Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund Delivered up to end Q4 2021 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
4 |
37 |
7 |
48 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Clare |
10 |
32 |
7 |
49 |
|
Cork City |
2 |
43 |
8 |
53 |
|
Cork County |
5 |
50 |
71 |
126 |
|
DLR |
2 |
13 |
15 |
30 |
|
Donegal |
0 |
1 |
11 |
12 |
|
Dublin City |
2 |
63 |
164 |
229 |
|
Fingal |
27 |
43 |
94 |
164 |
|
Galway City |
0 |
2 |
17 |
19 |
|
Galway County |
3 |
0 |
22 |
25 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
41 |
21 |
66 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
8 |
75 |
84 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
8 |
11 |
21 |
|
Laois |
1 |
24 |
24 |
49 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
|
Limerick |
28 |
72 |
22 |
122 |
|
Longford |
6 |
11 |
7 |
24 |
|
Louth |
3 |
85 |
11 |
99 |
|
Mayo |
13 |
4 |
6 |
23 |
|
Meath |
1 |
52 |
35 |
88 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
19 |
3 |
28 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
5 |
12 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
SDCC |
0 |
0 |
71 |
71 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
26 |
39 |
66 |
|
Waterford |
126 |
57 |
24 |
207 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
4 |
13 |
18 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
17 |
20 |
64 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
279 |
728 |
845 |
1852 |
98. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of two Bahrainis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28611/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of two Bahraini nationals (details supplied) who are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, following a trial that has been highlighted as grossly unfair by several human rights organisations; the engagement that he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia to call for the commutation of these death sentences and a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the defendants’ claims of torture and ill-treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28365/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 116 together.
Ireland is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and has consistently made our opposition clear to the Saudi authorities. I note with concern the cases referred to by the deputies.
When I visited Saudi Arabia last year, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the continuing use of the death penalty. Officials from my Department have also raised concerns over the use of the death penalty directly with the Saudi authorities.
Ireland urges all States to safeguard the human rights of prisoners and detainees, as set out in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules.
Ireland welcomed the first EU-Saudi Arabia Human Rights Dialogue, held in Brussels in September 2021 and chaired by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore. A number of human rights issues were discussed at the Dialogue, including conditions of detention and the use of the death penalty.
The abolition of the death penalty will continue to be a foreign policy priority for Ireland. I urge Saudi Arabia to establish an immediate moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
99. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28290/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28318/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra103. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicants travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra104. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28324/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28326/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28327/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28328/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28329/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra110. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28330/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra111. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra112. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application by a person (details supplied) will be processed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal who is travelling on 5 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28418/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28522/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra139. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28525/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 131, 136 and 139 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
100. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue for children (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra114. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue to a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in time for their travel plans. [28355/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue for a child (details supplied) who is travelling on 17th June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28420/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a child (details supplied). [28496/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28517/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra133. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28518/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 114, 120, 126, 132 and 133 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicants as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.
