Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Youth Justice Strategy

Mick Wallace

159. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied that detention for children is used only in cases of last resort, as mandated in the Youth Justice Action Plan 2014-2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7753/15]

Company Registration

Mick Wallace

223. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a comprehensive list of all multinational companies that have their headquarters here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8124/15]

Parole Boards

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her legislative plans to reform the Parole Board of Ireland, in view of recent criticism, particularly about the decision-making process and the extent of ministerial input into temporary release; her views on failures identified in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7069/15]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Mick Wallace

3. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence the Defence Forces resources allocated to aiding the civil power duties at Shannon Airport to date in 2015; if he is satisfied that this is an effective use of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7071/15]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence his long-term plans for the participation of the Irish Defence Forces in the United Nations disengagement observer force operation in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7072/15]

Air Navigation Orders

Mick Wallace

14. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if the Irish air force has any capability to monitor or communicate with foreign military aircraft flying through Irish airspace, including aircraft that have their transponders switched off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/15]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he has a long-term understanding of what the Irish Resolute Support Mission hopes to achieve in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6878/15]

UN Missions

Mick Wallace

31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence his plans to initiate a review of the participation by Irish Defence Forces in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force operation in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6881/15]

International Agreements

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details on the recent memorandum of understanding signed by Ireland and the United Kingdom in the area of defence co-operation; the agreement this will involve in practical terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6882/15]

Military Aircraft

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if there have been discussions between his Department and the Departments of Justice and Equality and Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the presence of foreign military aircraft in Irish territory, and the possible transportation of weapons and other lethal war materials in view of comments by the United States of America on the civil war in Ukraine; his plans for a more active role for personnel of the Irish Defence Forces in these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6880/15]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

103. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if, in discussions with the United Nations, he will consider proposing that Irish troops be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they could play a very positive role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7073/15]

Respite Care Services Availability

Mick Wallace

177. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on respite services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in County Wexford over the past five years; the way this funding is distributed with regard to expenditure on the provision of services in comparison to expenditure on managerial and administrative costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7331/15]

Respite Care Services Availability

Mick Wallace

178. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of current service providers for respite services in County Wexford; the method and selection process used in selecting these providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7332/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mick Wallace

179. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on home nursing care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and-or long-term serious illness in County Wexford over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7333/15]

Drugs in Sport

Mick Wallace

153. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to deal with persons or shops who are found to have sold illegal substances for use in the greyhound industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6675/15]

Drugs in Sport

Mick Wallace

158. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if shops selling tonics and other legal substances for greyhounds are being monitored to ensure that they are only selling substances that comply with Bord na gCon guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6674/15]

Promissory Notes

Mick Wallace

209. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that there have been savings of €50 billion on the promissory note and sovereign bond deal of February 2013; if he will provide, in tabular form, and by comparison with the original promissory note schedule, using reasonable assumptions on future interest rates, the way in which, and where, those savings have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6926/15]

Garda Remuneration

Mick Wallace

312. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with her Department's allocation for the current wage scale for new Garda recruits, particularly in view of the removal in 2014 of the rent allowance allocation of roughly €4,000 per year, which constitutes a significant cut to the pay package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5774/15]

Garda Remuneration

Mick Wallace

313. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on the implications of the Haddington Road agreement on salaries in An Garda Síochána, in particular, in relation to the pay package for new Garda recruits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5775/15]

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Mick Wallace

7. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to ensure transparency and openness, in and about the trade talks, relating to the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6093/15]

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Mick Wallace

27. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on developments from the eighth round of negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership from 2 to 6 February 2015, his position on the regulatory co-operation proposal in view of concern expressed by civil society groups and the public that this measure is heavily weighted in favour of corporations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6094/15]

Hare Coursing

Mick Wallace

157. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to revoke hare coursing licences here, particularly in view of figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service which indicate that during the 2013 coursing season over 100 hares required assistance, due to injuries sustained during races; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5523/15]

Pension Provisions

Mick Wallace

13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the action she will take in relation to the situation for Tara Mines pensioners (details supplied); her views on amending section 50 of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended by section 35 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012, in order to offer more protection to employees against unfair reductions in their pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4983/15]

Child Poverty

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department has taken since the start of 2015, and the measures envisaged in the short and long-term, to deal with rising child poverty here in view of recent statistics from the Central Statistics Office. [4984/15]

Tax Code

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 3 December 2014, the progress made since the beginning of 2015 on the public consultation on the introduction of a tax on vacant sites, as outlined in his budget speech in view of rising property prices and a shortage of supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4705/15]

Debt Conference

Mick Wallace

25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will support Syriza's call for a European debt conference; his views on offering Ireland as a venue for such a conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4704/15]

Penalty Points System

Mick Wallace

131. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on measures his Department has taken or will take in order to rectify malpractice in the penalty points system, particularly in view of the recent Garda report which found that abuses are still occurring in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/15]

Air Navigation Orders

Mick Wallace

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on his Department's role in the processing of exemptions for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the arrangements between his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in this regard; the number of such exemptions granted by his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/15]

Gas Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

6. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if and when interim reports will be published on the research being undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency for the environmental impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction study, particularly in relation to the possibility of granting exploration licences for fracking here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3916/15]

Gas Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details on measures his Department is taking to prevent the practice of fracking in this country, particularly in view of its well documented health and environmental impacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3917/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that the Government plans to take in order to achieve the 80% reduction in emissions on 1990 levels by 2050, in line with our EU commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3645/15]

Building Regulations Application

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify article 9(2) of SI 9 of 2014; if he will provide details on the type of house extensions that will fall under the new rules regarding the 40 sq. m limit; if this provision is cumulative or if it could permit multiple and possibly concurrent extensions, each of less than 40 m; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3646/15]

School Guidance Counsellors

Mick Wallace

129. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the current system regarding guidance counselling services in second level schools, in view of the fact that since 2011 the guidance provision is managed from within the standard teacher allocation, requiring principals to use their individual discretion in balancing subject provision and guidance counselling needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3374/15]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Mick Wallace

134. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the use of public private partnerships to build schools; the number of such projects in the future that will include the management and maintenance of schools; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3375/15]

Tax Code

Mick Wallace

211. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce financial transaction taxes and carbon tax on airline ticket levies in order to raise additional resources to fund sustainable development at scale, as encouraged by the UN Secretary General in his December 2014 Synthesis Report on the post-2015 sustainable development agenda (A69/700); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3693/15]

Tax Code

Mick Wallace

212. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a 1% billionaires' tax as proposed by the UN in the World Economic and Social Survey 2012 the revenue of which could be used to aid Ireland in its commitment to a more carbon-efficient economy, particularly in view of the estimation by Princeton Environmental Institute director (details supplied) that the 500 million richest persons on the planet are responsible for about half of all global emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3694/15]

Bord na gCon Administration

Mick Wallace

256. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been or will be testing of greyhounds for the new and reportedly widely-used drug stanozolol, particularly in view of the fact that despite the annual €2 million spent on regulation in the greyhound industry the Irish Greyhound Board has yet to identify a dog with stanozolol in its system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3542/15]

Bord na gCon

Mick Wallace

257. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on the move to replace five of the seven board members of the Irish Greyhound Board, IGB; if he will provide details of the five outgoing members of the IGB board; when they will be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3543/15]

Homelessness Strategy

Mick Wallace

531. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for interim measures to deal with rising homelessness before the promised social housing is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47081/14]

Building Regulations

Mick Wallace

559. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he is taking to provide and promote energy-efficient housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3886/15]

Renewable Energy Generation

Mick Wallace

562. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to follow the example set by certain German cities, such as Munich and Frankfurt, which have pledged to move to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and 2050, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3887/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

582. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has read the document Investing in Our Transport Future: A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport; his views that it will be in line with the objectives laid out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, in particular in relation to our commitment to lowering our carbon emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 across the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3884/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

583. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the role of clean light rail transport in tackling carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/15]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Mick Wallace

591. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to expand bicycle lanes here; the projects ongoing or planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3490/15]

Public Transport Fares

Mick Wallace

592. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce public transport prices and expand bus and rail services to incentivise the use of public transport, particularly in view of the need to lower carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3491/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

613. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that his Department's document Investing in Our Transport Future: A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport effectively addresses the need for carbon emission mitigation, as outlined in our commitments to the 2020 and 2050 EU carbon emissions climate legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3937/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

614. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason in the recent document, Investing in Our Transport Future: A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport, the role of rail has been given such a low priority, particularly in view of the fact that rail is universally considered to be a low-carbon alternative to road transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3938/15]

Coastal Erosion

Mick Wallace

615. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to protect coastal road and rail infrastructure from storms; the projects that are currently under way in this regard; if he views the promised €250 million over the next five years to be sufficient to deal with the current and expected damage occurring as a result of more extreme weather conditions due to global warming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/15]

Ministerial Correspondence

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 15 January 2015, if he will provide information on his correspondence with the UK authorities regarding reported tapping of the underground cable between Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2658/15]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Mick Wallace

25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has requested or his plans to request an unredacted version of the sections relevant to Shannon Airport in the recent US Senate intelligence committee report on CIA torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2659/15]