Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Safety of Irish Citizens Abroad

Gino Kenny

357. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will telephone President Duterte on behalf of a person (details supplied); if he will meet with the person's spouse to hear their perspective; and if he will verify the location of the person's passport. [1743/17]

Religious Persecution

Gino Kenny

684. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to an armed raid conducted by Pakistani police on the administrative offices at the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Rabwah, Pakistan on 5 December 2016 (details supplied); if he will protest to the Pakistan Government regarding this state-sanctioned sectarian violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41129/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

959. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene on behalf of very young children awaiting assessment under the Disability Act 2005 such as a person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the HSE local CHOs in areas such as Dublin mid west and Dublin south west admitting that delays and deficiencies are due to lack of resources, waiting lists are not reducing but are in fact growing, particularly for therapy services such as OT, SLT and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41384/16]

Health Services Provision

Gino Kenny

967. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the implied previous work on developing a clinical programme that has taken place for children when the HSE states in its service plan for 2017 that it will continue to develop the clinical programme for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41414/16]

Hospital Services

Gino Kenny

968. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the change that was recorded in trolley numbers at St. Vincent's hospital before and since the downgrading of the accident and emergency department at St. Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41415/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Gino Kenny

1012. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the result of the health technology assessment by the NCPE of the human alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor drug Respreeza is processed in a timely way, so that it can be promptly reimbursed by the HSE as it is reimbursed in other countries (details supplied); if he will ensure that those persons currently on the drug with beneficial results are guaranteed continued reimbursed use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41569/16]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Gino Kenny

1288. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that flash glucose monitoring systems are available on the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/17]

Middle East Issues

Gino Kenny

1477. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Digital Research Centre, NDRC, whose budget is paid entirely from State funds, refused to support an initiative to assist the fledgling start-up ecosystem in Palestine citing NDRC’s purported politically neutral status in view of the fact that it has provided support and sponsorship to a programme of engagement with the start-up ecosystem of Israel (details supplied); his plans to influence the NDRC to co-operate in extending support to the Palestine start-up ecosystem or to cease support for the Israeli start-up ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41592/16]

Garda Investigations

Gino Kenny

4. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who was killed in 2011 in a hit-and-run incident; if her attention has been further drawn to the family's concern that if the guilty party had been properly dealt with before the fatal incident, the person would not have been killed, and that the family allege there is evidence of failure, cover up and corruption at the level of the Garda, the courts, her Department and the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP; if she will call for a public inquiry into the circumstances of the person's death and its aftermath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40592/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

11. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views as to whether there is a legal barrier in view of the lack of any barrier to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from a legal perspective and only from a policy point of view; the policy of Government that has informed the failure to ratify the convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40440/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

37. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been delayed for over nine years in view of the fact that international agreements have the force of law to the extent determined by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40439/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

41. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the significant blockages or barriers to ratification and enactment of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2007, in view of the fact there is no legal impediment to ratification from the United Nations perspective; the action that has been taken to address the putative barriers or blockages to date; when ratification is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40302/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on whether it is the cuts to disability services which has prevented the Government ratifying the convention in view of the lack of any barrier to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from a legal perspective and only from a policy point of view; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40441/16]

Child Protection Services Provision

Gino Kenny

46. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason children in care at a residential centre run by Tusla in County Tipperary were exposed to behaviours and situations that were higher risk than the situations they were removed from, according to HIQA; the safeguards for their care that have been put in place to ensure their current safety and security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39934/16]

Child Protection

Gino Kenny

47. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason senior child protection sources who spoke to RTÉ said apparent discrimination by Tusla, reported by the HSE, which may have excluded children from child protection services was ongoing, but Tusla have issued a statement saying this was an issue only in the past; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39933/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

118. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the nature of the significant blockages or barriers to ratification and enactment of the 2007 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in view of the fact that there is no legal impediment to ratification from the United Nations perspective; the measures taken to address the putative barriers or blockages to date; when ratification can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39886/16]

Teaching Contracts

Gino Kenny

217. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he will address the anomaly whereby teachers that have taught outside of the EU are capped at seven years' credits, while teachers that have taught in other countries inside the EU receive credits on a year for year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40061/16]

Teaching Contracts

Gino Kenny

218. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will review Circular 10 of 2001, in particular section 4.2 thereof, which caps credit in respect of service given in states outside the EU at seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40062/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Gino Kenny

421. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the assurances he can provide that community employment schemes in the health and social care service will not be used to replace permanent positions in the service nor to exploit jobseekers along the lines of previous discredited schemes such as JobBridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39448/16]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

4. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the preparations he is making across his Department to ensure rights will be vindicated for the persons with disabilities in the care of the health service and under his area of responsibility in view of the imminence of the Government's commitment to ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38167/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

30. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the urgent respite that can be offered to such carers and the long-term remedy he is considering in view of the reply to parents of disabled adults that there is a ten-year waiting list for residential care and that the HSE is unable to provide them with an average waiting time, or indicate when a bed may be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37964/16]

Prescriptions Data

Gino Kenny

36. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the monitoring of trends in the prescription of psychoactive psychotropic drugs here, especially to children, over the past 20 years; if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the rise in problems associated with prescribed medications, especially opioid painkillers and benzodiazepine sedatives in terms of drug dependency and overdose, including fatal overdose; the measures being taken to address the rise in prescription rates and associated problems regarding prescription medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37968/16]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

64. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of assessments of needs under the Disability Act 2005 that were contracted out to therapists in private practice and or carried out by agency staff between 2011 and 2015; the reason HSE employed staff are not being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37966/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gino Kenny

69. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite special education assessments, in the view of the National Disability Authority and the Disability Act 2005, due to the failure to commence sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; the action he is taking in his dealings with the Department of Education and Skills and others to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37967/16]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

82. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason that, according to the HSE, in cases of completed applications received for an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005, between 2011 and 2015, less than two thirds of assessment reports were completed and of those completed, less than two thirds had service statements completed despite the clear requirements of the Act to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/16]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Gino Kenny

160. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person with multiple sclerosis and diabetes can hold a long-term illness card for life but a person with a long-term mental health diagnosis such as schizophrenia is ineligible for the same card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37771/16]

Health Services Expenditure

Gino Kenny

161. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the way in which Ireland is ranked in relation to OECD countries in relation to overall spending in health both public and private and Ireland's ranking for the public funding of health spending in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37772/16]

Child Abduction

Gino Kenny

378. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); if he will intervene by contacting the Algerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37486/16]

Consular Services Provision

Gino Kenny

379. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he has taken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37487/16]

Coroners Service

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is within her remit to direct an inquest to be held by a coroner; if she can direct an inquest into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36630/16]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

180. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that prescribed low protein foods are required to prevent neurological damage and to supplement the diet of adults and children with phenylketonuria, PKU; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that no new low protein products have been added to the long-term illness card list in more than six years; if he will ensure a full and appropriate updated list of foods prescribed for PKU is added to the reimbursement list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36618/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Data

Gino Kenny

402. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been treated in the past 12 months for whom data are available, using NTPF funding, by a consultant doctor who also had persons on his or her waiting list who had been treated in the same period by a different consultant doctor using NTPF funding; the number of persons who were treated using NTPF funding by a consultant doctor working solely in private practice; the number who were treated in total; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35800/16]

Ministerial Travel

Gino Kenny

140. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is appropriate that the Minister of State with responsibility for training, skills and innovation, who has said that Israel's treatment of Palestinians is appalling and unacceptable and would not be tolerated by any other state in the world, would visit Israel and meet a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35613/16]

Water Fluoridation

Gino Kenny

216. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will recommend a public consultation on the issue of fluoridation of public water (details supplied) and consider a plebiscite to ensure a public mandate to continue the policy of fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35614/16]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Gino Kenny

457. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will support the west Clare community request that all the recently cut Shannondoc primary care medical services be restored to Kilrush, Ennistymon and Killaloe and that the 24-hour emergency department in Ennis General Hospital will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34481/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Gino Kenny

599. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the arrangements he has made to enable compassionate access to cannabis based medicines for a person (details supplied) and other persons with medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/16]

Banking Operations

Gino Kenny

41. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance his views on the closure by a bank (details supplied) of the accounts of the Ireland Palestine Support Campaign, IPSC, and in particular the potential risk claimed by the bank despite the ISPC's exemplary banking record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31556/16]

Tax Reliefs Data

Gino Kenny

44. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the total level of capital allowances claimed by aircraft leasing firms for each of the years 2011 to 2015; the total tax paid by leasing companies that have benefitted from a 12.5% tax rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34044/16]

National Digital Research Centre

Gino Kenny

200. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Digital Research Centre, NDRC, whose budget is paid entirely from State funds, refused to support an initiative to assist the fledgling start-up ecosystem in Palestine, citing NDRC's purported politically neutral status and yet has provided support and sponsorship to a programme of engagement with the start-up ecosystem of Israel, namely, the recent start-up Tel Aviv event held on the NDRC premises on 29 June 2016; his plans to influence the NDRC to co-operate in extending support to the Palestine start-up ecosystem or to cease support for the Israeli start-up ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34158/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Gino Kenny

23. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total cost of the defence budget as a percentage of GDP in 2015. [33816/16]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider launching a full investigation into possible negative health effects of drugs used on members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33817/16]

Tax Data

Gino Kenny

90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the number of aircraft leasing companies that have obtained a trading treatment for leasing activities; the number that have obtained trading treatment for a single leasing activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34043/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Gino Kenny

34. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the new child care scheme is to assist the most disadvantaged in society; the way it is justified that those on TEC schemes will be worse off with the child care subvention scheme, considering that those parents are the poorest in society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33544/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Gino Kenny

35. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether €12 million is substantial enough to support persons on the lowest threshold or income; if the support to be provided is realistic enough to meet the needs of low income workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33543/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

311. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the failure of senior officers of the HSE to respond to written communications from Members of Dáil Éireann requesting meetings to address the crises in speech and language, occupational therapy and clinical psychology services for children with special needs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32686/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Gino Kenny

334. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated by the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF, that are on a waiting list for treatment from a consultant who also works privately carrying out that treatment for the NTPF (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32753/16]

Consular Services Representations

Gino Kenny

31. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the presidential decree of law 140 was submitted again for a person (details supplied) in August 2016 and that there is limited time this decree can remain effective; if he will put adequate pressure on the Egyptian Government to ensure the person can be released as many inmates have recently received a presidential pardon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30281/16]

Diplomatic Representation

Gino Kenny

32. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the reports of statesanctioned death squads and vigilantism in the Philippines under President Duterte; the assistance being offered to a person (details supplied) and his or her family in an appeal in the Philippines against a 12-year prison sentence for a trivial offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30277/16]

Immigration Policy

Gino Kenny

37. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the destruction of the refugee camp at Calais; if he has made inquiries regarding the health and safety of the more than 10,000 adults and children living there; if he will advocate for the safety of the residents by strongly protesting at any attempts by the French authorities to forcibly move residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30269/16]

Foreign Conflicts

Gino Kenny

55. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will identify to Dáil Éireann the countries which are taking part in, or supplying weapons or military ordnance to support, military aggression in Syria and Yemen; if he will call in the ambassadors of those countries to account for such action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31808/16]