Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

202. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the regulations made in relation to the items supermarkets and other shops may sell during the operation of level 5. [33711/20]

National Car Test

Paul Murphy

315. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if the NCT testing centres will be closed for the duration of the new Covid-19 restrictions with workers pay maintained at least at the level of the TWSS, as they were from March to June 2020; if and when the test centres reopen, if the employers will provide the workers with full and appropriate PPE including masks; if he will provide for test exemptions during periods of Covid-19 travel restrictions for those persons that may have to travel significant distances or across county boundaries for tests due to problems in some test centres with ramps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/20]

Public Transport

Paul Murphy

339. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if action will be taken to ensure that sufficient capacity will be provided on a Dublin Bus route (details supplied). [33221/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

428. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if viable coach and tourism businesses can access the CRSS scheme to keep workers employed and bring them back to work when the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33143/20]

Public Sector Staff

Paul Murphy

464. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will examine working arrangements for public sector staff as specified in Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during Covid-19 document published by his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32828/20]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

606. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will suspend hare coursing in view of the level 5 restrictions and instruction from the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if an order will be given to release all hares in captivity. [32943/20]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

637. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of rabbits and hares that have tested positive for RHD2 since 1 January to date in 2020; the locations in which these hares and rabbits were discovered; and the names of the coursing clubs not permitted to hold a coursing meeting in the 2020-2021 coursing season as a result of their proximity to these locations. [33670/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Paul Murphy

830. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the earnings threshold of €480 per month will be introduced for self-employed persons that are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment to allow same to take up occasional work opportunities and keep their payment. [33196/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Paul Murphy

861. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons can collect social welfare payments such as jobseeker’s allowance on a fortnightly basis rather than weekly, as was provided for during the previous period of high-level Covid-19 restrictions. [32626/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

1201. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide data on confirmed Covid-19 infection among persons in the age group from four to 12 and 13 to 18 years, respectively, by week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32633/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

1221. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to avoid hunting becoming the cause of the spread of Covid-19, for example, in respect of unnecessary travel, close proximity to others, crowds of more than 15 persons and persons travelling through miles of farmland. [32705/20]

Parental Leave

Paul Murphy

118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will bring forward the implementation and the date of eligibility for the recently promised additional three weeks of parents leave from April 2021 to the 1 December 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32108/20]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

119. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the cases of political prisoners (details supplied) in Bahrain who were sentenced to death. [31932/20]

Early Years Sector

Paul Murphy

43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his views on the lack of increase in funding for childcare services in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31315/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Paul Murphy

52. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020; if he will table amendments to provide immediate access for all affected persons and families to all records concerning them. [31314/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

97. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the pay and conditions for postgraduate students whot work in third level colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31334/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

107. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some postgraduate students have to do unpaid teaching work as part of their scholarships; his views on same; and his plans to address the issue. [31335/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

225. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the banks and financial institutions will be instructed to suspend residential mortgage repayments for persons who request such suspensions for the duration of Covid-19 restrictions that are introduced by the Government which puts persons out of work and undercut their ability to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31473/20]

School Accommodation

Paul Murphy

485. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to ensure students will not have to pay rent or lose deposits for accommodation they no longer need due to the cancellation of in-person teaching in colleges and universities. [28324/20]

Stardust Fire

Paul Murphy

521. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if funds will be set aside to pay for the previous and ongoing work of the independent researchers into the Stardust fire (details supplied). [31148/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied with the level of funding allocated to his Department for its responsibilities regarding the welfare of workers, for example through the Health and Safety Authority, HSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30563/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the level of discretion afforded to employers at the different levels of the Living with Covid-19 plan in deciding if work on site is necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30562/20]

Redundancy Payments

Paul Murphy

46. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has discussed proposals by unions (detail supplied) to establish a fund to safeguard the redundancy entitlements of workers in the event of a liquidation. [27550/20]

Industrial Disputes

Paul Murphy

56. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has made contact with a company (details supplied) and the trade unions to discuss the difficulties staff are having with the company. [27549/20]

Health Services Provision

Paul Murphy

259. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will request the NRDO to report on its initiatives for the treatment and provisions of supports through the HSE to persons that have EDS; the initiatives planned by the NRDO to provide treatment through the HSE for EDS; if the NDRO plans to provide financial support for persons that need treatment for EDS to travel abroad for treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30654/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

46. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the discussions she has had with the teachers' representatives regarding safety in schools. [29977/20]

School Staff

Paul Murphy

81. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the additional resources being provided to support teaching principals in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. [29978/20]

Child Protection

Paul Murphy

166. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of staff in her Department that are working on the report for the Council of Europe on the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, ruling in a case (details supplied); the reason the filing of that report was delayed to 8 December 2020; and if outside groups or persons are being consulted in the drafting of the report. [30434/20]

Pharmacy Regulations

Paul Murphy

254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify in respect of SI No. 401 of 2020, which gives permission for pharmacists to administer vaccines outside of a pharmacy premises, if the changes make provision for a pharmacist who is neither a pharmacy owner nor affiliated with any pharmacy to procure independently vaccines from the national cold chain service and subsequently independently make a claim for payment from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. [30406/20]

Disabilities Data

Paul Murphy

276. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age that have an acquired brain injury, ABI; the person or body that records data on children who have ABI; if the national strategy is for rehabilitation of children who have an ABI; his plans to implement the national strategy; if such a strategy exists for children who have an ABI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30519/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Paul Murphy

266. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will request her officials to provide for the temporary retention of a fourth first class teacher at a school (details supplied) for the duration of the 2020/2021 school year. [30107/20]

DEIS Scheme

Paul Murphy

312. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on buying individual portions of bottled water as part of the school lunch programme in DEIS schools; the amount spent per each school involved in the programme; and the average according to the expenditure per student covered in the programme, in tabular form. [30016/20]

HSE Staff

Paul Murphy

441. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the policy of the HSE with regard to administrative hospital staff working from home where possible during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29654/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

555. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if occupational therapists and speech and language therapists in Cheeverstown are being reallocated to track and tracing. [30257/20]

Coast Guard Service

Paul Murphy

15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence his plans to take the Irish Coast Guard air rescue service back into full public ownership. [28815/20]

Third Level Admissions

Paul Murphy

224. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the CAO offered a place to a person (details supplied) which they accepted and made preparations for start of term, on an arts degree course at UCD only to have it subsequently withdrawn via a phone call from the CAO on 25 September 2020; and if he will request and provide this Deputy with copies of all relevant correspondence. [29389/20]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the treatment and supports available through the HSE to children and adults who have EDS; his plans to provide comprehensive treatment through the HSE for EDS as this appears to be unavailable at present; his plans to provide adequate financial support for persons who need treatment for EDS to travel abroad and thereby avoid debt or over-reliance on family and fundraising to pay for travel; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29390/20]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Paul Murphy

124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if the Attorney General and her Department have completed the review of the State ex-gratia scheme which the Tánaiste informed Dáil Éireann was happening on 12 December 2018. [28998/20]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Paul Murphy

125. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education when her Department made its latest report to the Council of Europe on the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in a case (details supplied); and when the report will be uploaded to be accessible to the public. [28999/20]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if a decision has been made regarding the eligibility of abuse victims in a school (details supplied) for the ex-gratia scheme. [29000/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses the economy will next meet. [25608/20]

Rent Controls

Paul Murphy

31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ban on evictions will be reinstated in view of the reinstatement of Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in cases. [28327/20]

Housing Policy

Paul Murphy

36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that public land is reserved for the building of public housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28326/20]

Homelessness Strategy

Paul Murphy

39. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the causes of the recent increase in homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28322/20]

Direct Provision System

Paul Murphy

57. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has been consulted on the role his Department can play in ending direct provision. [28325/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

79. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a scheme will be put in place for private sector rent write-offs for tenants who have lost income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. [28323/20]

US Presidential Election

Paul Murphy

100. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he discussed the upcoming US presidential elections and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement during his visit to Washington, DC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28444/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland on the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28445/20]

Driver Test

Paul Murphy

219. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider instructing the Road Safety Authority to install sheltering facilities such as ultra cabins at driver test centres in which approved driver instructors can await the return of their vehicles which are being used by driver test candidates for the duration of the practical exam (details supplied). [28328/20]

Tax Code

Paul Murphy

285. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the measures which provide for staycation payments to render them payable as a grant rather than as a tax rebate in order that persons on pensions or other benefits whose incomes are below the tax threshold can also avail of the grant. [28785/20]