Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Courts Service

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the reason the work of the Jury Reform Group has been stopped; the costs to date of the work of the group; if there are plans for reform in this area; if the group will deliver a report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36702/21]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

114. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered demands from the family of a person (details supplied) for an independent inquiry into their death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36701/21]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the nature of any investigation taking place into the cancellation of emergency calls by An Garda Síochána by her Department; the person or body that is undertaking the investigation; if such investigations will reveal the location and personnel involved in cancellation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36698/21]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on progress made by the scoping inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36699/21]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

226. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will request the State Examinations Commission to conduct a review, re-evaluation and a full clarification in terms of the marking standard and the decision to exclude the use of traditional Chinese in leaving certificate Mandarin Chinese in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36957/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee dealing with housing will next meet. [34845/21]

Nursing Homes

Bríd Smith

133. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he plans to act on the recommendations of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Response and commission an inquiry into the deaths that occurred in long-term residential nursing homes from Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30442/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

191. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to vaccinate those who could not avail of their vaccination slot through no fault of their own (details supplied); the steps they can take in order to obtain the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30602/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination last met; and when it will next meet. [34689/21]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the new social dialogue unit of his Department will next meet. [33406/21]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has read the recent report on deaths in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36225/21]

Children in Care

Bríd Smith

73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children taken into care are being accommodated in hotels in recent months; if this is a regular situation; the steps he plans to take to ensure children in such situations are provided with appropriate care and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36226/21]

Legislative Programme

Bríd Smith

376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has not yet been fully enacted over five and a half years later; the definitive timeline for its enactment given the human rights implications of the anachronistic Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 which is still being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36412/21]

Ombudsman for Children

Bríd Smith

472. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the important work on the issue of period poverty carried out by the youth advisory panel with the ombudsman for children; if he will acknowledge the indignity experienced by young people who cannot afford appropriate period products every month and the statement made by the UN Committee on Rights of the Child’s General comment No. 20 (2016) on implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence; if he will take steps to ensure that all public buildings including schools are equipped to provide free period products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29579/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her position on the choice of devices selected by secondary schools for students; and if guidelines around type, costs and usage of same will be further developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34945/21]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the outcome of discussion with representatives of school secretaries; if further discussion is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34946/21]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to meet with representatives of local employment job schemes in relation to the proposed tendering of services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34949/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the way her Department will process applications for various social protection payments that require certificates such as birth or death registration given that the recent cyber-attack seems to be impacting the ability to obtain these documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34950/21]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

187. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the warmer homes scheme will currently consider applications from pensioners that are on qualifying payments, have medical conditions, other than respiratory in nature, but have had previous minor work done under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35451/21]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

188. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage breakdown of the work done under the energy efficiency schemes administrated by the SEAI between work categorised as shallow, deep and deep heat by the SEAI since 2010, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35452/21]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the SEAI can consider a person (details supplied) for inclusion in the warmer home schemes despite having had some minor energy efficiency work completed some years ago; if consideration is given to the health and age of such applicants and the nature and limitations of any previous work done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/21]

School Curriculum

Bríd Smith

238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her plans to progress the recommendations of the special Dáil Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution report specifically its recommendations on sex education in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28818/21]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

405. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of his plan for a review of the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018; the form this review will take; if it will include hearings or submissions from interested parties; when it will be concluded; if the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health will have a role in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28817/21]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

406. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to progress the recommendations of the special Dáil Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution report, specifically its recommendations on free contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/21]

Anglo-Irish Relations

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [34688/21]

Heritage Sites

Bríd Smith

233. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the community monuments fund will be available for restoration and heritage preservation work at the Kilmainham Mill, Dublin 8, if he will meet with community activists working on the site; and his views on the possible restoration at the historical site. [34768/21]

Departmental Reviews

Bríd Smith

500. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2018 in relation to the review of the abortion legislation, his predecessor promised a comprehensive evaluation of the law, data and operations (details supplied); the reason the review being carried out appears to be an internal, Departmental coordinated review with no oversight from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health or an independent chair; the reason for the departure departed from the original commitment; if he will commit to the original plan for an external and independent review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27140/21]

Rental Sector

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his policy to prevent evictions of tenants in the coming period on economic grounds or other grounds which are unconnected to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33805/21]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

152. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if in view of ongoing violence against Palestinian people by the Israeli state, he will reconsider Irish Israeli relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33806/21]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions the State will take as a result of the recent actions by the Hungarian Government in relation to LGBT rights; if he will express the solidarity of the State with the LGBT community in Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33807/21]

Rental Sector

Bríd Smith

221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he will take to prevent tenants facing double yearly rent increases in the coming period as a result of previous Covid-19 measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33804/21]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

375. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the public health restrictions on partners of pregnant persons will be lifted to allow them attend prenatal care, labour and delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26129/21]

Eating Disorders

Bríd Smith

377. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding given to private companies providing treatment for persons with eating disorders either on an outpatient or inpatient basis including counselling, psychotherapy or any psychological support for each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26157/21]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

378. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants for public funding to access inpatient treatment at private hospitals and facilities since 2010; the number of these applicants who successfully accessed funding either under the treatment purchase fund or other schemes; the number of applicants refused funding for inpatient treatment for eating disorders and related illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26162/21]

Health and Safety

Bríd Smith

446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided regarding the public health requirements for travel and quarantining for a fully vaccinated Irish citizen who has been working abroad for six months and who will be returning home in summer 2021. [26421/21]

Economic Policy

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of his Department in preparing the national economic recovery plan. [33404/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will meet next. [33405/21]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the significant impact that the pandemic and public health restrictions have had on young person's mental health will be acknowledged; if requests by secondary school students for the provision of a counsellor to schools to help address the mental health and emotional issues during and post public health emergency will be viewed favourably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment last met. [31404/21]

United Nations

Bríd Smith

336. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will propose a call for a global ban on fracking at the United Nations General Assembly on climate mitigation, public health, environmental protection and human rights grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33125/21]

Oireachtas Committees

Bríd Smith

52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to act upon the recommendations of the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport on decarbonisation and public transport; if the process of examining the provision of free public transport will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32212/21]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

75. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to proposed changes to routes operating out of Clontarf garage as part of the proposed BusConnects plans and that the proposed rostered and schedules connected with this first phase of BusConnects represents a severe diminution of drivers existing rosters and schedules; if it is not the intention of Government or the NTA to use the BusConnects plans to introduce changes to drivers' existing rights or conditions without prior agreement; if he has or plans to meet with workers’ representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32211/21]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to engage with trade union representatives advocating a four-day working week; if he will consider such a proposal for the civil and public sectors; if he has examined similar proposals in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32214/21]

Public Sector Staff

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in relation to remote working arrangements for civil servants and other public sector workers; if the results of the recent survey among civil servants in relation to remote working will be taken on board by his Department in the months ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32213/21]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

195. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the process under which sea air rescue services are intended to be procured in 2023; if there is a review into the operation of the previous contracts; if the Defence Forces will have a role in its future operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25106/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the report on the compulsory use of electronic devices at a school (details supplied); if the findings of the report will inform her policy on the use of electronic devises at secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32662/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

329. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the full budget allocated by her Department in each year since 2010, to secondary schools for the purchase and use of devices by students such as a device (details supplied) and tablets, laptops and so on or other forms of devices in tabular form. [32663/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

330. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her Department has a policy or plans to adopt any proposal on the usage of electronic devices in secondary schools; her views on the issue of which device should be preferred for junior certificate students; if a uniform approach will be implemented across all schools; and if a uniform platform such as the use of applications (details supplied) will be adopted by her Department; if not, if such choices will be left to individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32664/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

331. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a grant aid scheme for parents in schools that enforce a compulsory use of device policy (details supplied) especially in schools in deprived areas and with low income households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32665/21]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

332. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she has examined a study (details supplied); if the study and other studies will inform her policy on the advance use of electronic devices in schools especially given concerns regarding their use in aiding and hindering study and life skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32666/21]