Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Ukrainian Conflict

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland’s position on the deteriorating situation in the Ukraine; if he has had contact with his Russian counterpart on this matter; if he will provide an update on the discussions he has had about the incursion into Irish airspace by Russian military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/15]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Crowe

2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his recent trip to Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan; and if his Department have plans to formally recognise the state of Palestine. [8447/15]

Syrian Conflict

Maureen O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will stress the urgency at European Union and United Nations levels in realising a political solution to the crisis in Syria; and if he will ensure commitments made on humanitarian aid are realised. [8342/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8341/15]

Northern Ireland

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set a date to meet the Justice for the Forgotten group and the Pat Finucane Centre in relation to issues concerning them in the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8239/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

6. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has learnt lessons from the 2011 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, intervention in Libya, where matters have continued to deteriorate of late; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/15]

International Relations

Ruth Coppinger

7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on meetings, or contact, he has had with the new Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs. [8250/15]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Seán Kyne

8. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will elaborate on the aim, contained in the Global Island, Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World, of Ireland as a neighbour of the United Kingdom, to work to encourage that country's continued membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8268/15]

Middle East Peace Process

Thomas Pringle

9. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding Israel's recent intensification of plans to construct 450 new settlements in the West Bank; the representations his Department will make denouncing any potential fast-tracking of construction of illegal settlements in the lead-up to Israel's March 2015 elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8303/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Clare Daly

10. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to transfer responsibility for the oversight of all military aircraft, including civilian aircraft carrying troops, and seeking weapons exemptions, passing through Irish airports and airspace, to his Department, in the interests of transparency and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8085/15]

Northern Ireland

Clare Daly

11. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views in relation to the representations he has made to the British and Northern Ireland authorities in relation to the escalating tensions in Maghaberry prison and the failure to implement the stock take agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8086/15]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet with the Administration of the United States of America in relation to the urgent need to progress the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/15]

Humanitarian Aid Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

13. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address, at United Nations and European Union levels, the seriousness of the ongoing crisis in South Sudan, the lack of air access to hard-to-reach areas, the real possibility of famine, in the coming weeks, and the lack of political will, to bring about a resolution to the current crises. [8238/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Crowe

14. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to an attempted coup in Venezuela that was foiled and revealed on 12 February 2015; his views on attempted anti-democratic coups in Venezuela; and if he will contact the Venezuelan Government to outline his support for the democratic institutions of the Venezuelan state. [8278/15]

Electoral Reform

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an outline of the discussions he has had with Irish emigrant groups in relation to their ongoing campaigns to participate in the Irish electoral process, such as elections to a reformed Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/15]

UN Committees

Maureen O'Sullivan

16. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support Ireland's engagement and participation in the first session of the UN debt resolution mechanism ad hoc committee, which Ireland voted against, due to take place in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4707/15]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

17. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to take any particular initiative in relation to the need to progress outstanding aspects of the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements including the establishment of a civic forum, the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the introduction of an Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8237/15]

UN Funding

Seán Crowe

18. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the current shortfall crisis around funding that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is experiencing; his plans to increase Ireland’s funding to the agency; and if he will encourage international partners to increase their support to the vital work of the agency. [8275/15]

Ukrainian Conflict

Bernard Durkan

19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the European Union, the United Nations and the international community, in general, are in a position to bring about a peaceful solution to the situation in Ukraine, with particular reference to the need to establish safe areas and zones for the civilian population; if European Union or United Nations peacekeepers will be effectively deployed to the area, at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8280/15]

Northern Ireland

Maureen O'Sullivan

20. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his engagement with the British Secretary of State and Northern Ireland authorities, regarding the ongoing issues in Maghaberry Prison; and his views that the serious tensions in the prison have to be addressed in a fair and equitable way. [8241/15]

International Summits

Maureen O'Sullivan

21. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the priorities for Ireland at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit; and the way he will address these matters in the May 2015 meeting here. [8240/15]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

22. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to business practices being conducted by Irish companies in Western Sahara; if his attention has been drawn to San Leon’s operations in the country; and if he will request that Irish companies operating there immediately suspend their business, until such time as the Saharawi people directly benefit from the presence of international companies in their country. [8276/15]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

23. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his European Union and United Nations colleagues continue in their endeavours to bring about a cessation of the public and private execution of innocent civilians, prisoners, detainees and captives by any organisation, for whatever political or other objectives; the extent to which any such perpetrators will be charged before the international war crimes court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8281/15]

Trade Strategy

Seán Kyne

24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the role his Department and the embassy network are playing regarding the Year of Irish Design 2015, which is aiming to promote and support Irish craft and design at home and abroad. [8267/15]

Official Engagements

Paul Murphy

25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to Palestine and Israel; if he will also report on his meetings with political leaders there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/15]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide, as a matter of urgency, additional overseas development aid for South Sudan, due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/15]

Human Rights

Thomas Pringle

27. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent executions carried out by the Jordanian Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8304/15]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken to address the persecution of Christians in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8233/15]

Human Rights

Richard Boyd Barrett

29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the latest developments in Egypt particularly in relation to the mass trials of protestors and including Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa at the recent European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7794/15]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

30. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to rallies held in Bahrain on 14 February, 2015, to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the beginning of protests demanding democratic freedoms and political reform; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the protesters were tear-gassed, had rubber bullets fired at them; that approximately 50 human rights activists, journalists, religious personalities and political opposition members were stripped of their Bahraini citizenship, in January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8277/15]

Consular Services Expenditure

Terence Flanagan

31. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of maintenance and repair work in the top ten Irish embassies for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8088/15]

Northern Ireland

Ruth Coppinger

32. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on meetings he had with political leaders in the North and-or in the United Kingdom regarding the Stormont House Agreement. [8251/15]

Ukrainian Conflict

Seán Crowe

33. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the agreed ceasefire in Ukraine, that was due to come into place on 15 February 2015 will hold, especially in the key strategic town of Debaltseve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8279/15]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the Irish Government's involvement in any discussions, at European Union level, on the ongoing crisis in Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/15]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Terence Flanagan

35. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding Irish Aid's spend for 2014; the checks and controls in place to ensure there is no fraud and that value for money is achieved for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8087/15]

Human Rights Issues

Paul Murphy

36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the ongoing displacement of Tamil people in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8301/15]

Respite Care Grant Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

37. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if respite grant-care will be offered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8562/15]

Job Initiatives

Colm Keaveney

38. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons within the Tuam area, County Galway, who are currently on job activation schemes, detailed by type of scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8478/15]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the payment a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 may qualify for while on a back-to-education course in view of the fact that the person was refused a back-to-education allowance and jobseeker's allowance, but was on jobseeker's allowance for three months before commencing a course, which would qualify her for a back-to-education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8490/15]

Magdalen Laundries

Mary Lou McDonald

41. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if all social welfare offices have received a directive that the payments to Magdalen laundry survivors, made under the restorative justice scheme, are not to be considered income under any means test. [8492/15]

Disability Allowance Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

42. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8506/15]

Living Alone Allowance

Patrick O'Donovan

43. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to the decision to backdate the living alone allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, if a review of this decision will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8533/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Applications

Tom Fleming

44. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine, and expedite, applications for a domiciliary care allowance and a carer's allowance, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8547/15]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Noel Coonan

45. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for a carer's allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8554/15]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Bernard Durkan

46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the basis on which it was determined a person (details supplied) in County Kildare received an overpayment of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8561/15]

Dara Calleary

47. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in each electoral district, engaged in the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8577/15]

JobsPlus Scheme

Willie O'Dea

48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report outlining the cost of increasing the current assistance rate to an employer to employ a person in the JobsPlus scheme, to a rate which would provide each employer with a subsidy of 70% of the minimum wage, for 37.5 hours per week, for each employee, for a period of 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8578/15]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Michael Creed

49. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8581/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Bernard Durkan

50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an increase in rent support can be approved in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8637/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

51. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8638/15]