Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his proposals to swiftly situate Ireland as a carbon dioxide-free energy user; the steps he will take to ensure Ireland no longer relies on imports of fossil fuels, on the future extraction of energy sources or on hydraulic fracturing in Ireland that would contribute to carbon dioxide levels rising, given that carbon dioxide levels have surpassed 400 parts per million and that the rate of increase is greater than at any previous time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16179/16]

Low Pay

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is concerned at a recent report that shows that young persons and women are hardest hit by the growth of low wages; and if the phenomenal increase in the low wage sector undermines any claim this or the previous Government made regarding economic success. [15832/16]

Joint Labour Committees

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action she proposes to take to encourage the joint labour committees to sit, formulate and impose employment regulation orders where the JLCs have not met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15831/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Construction 2020, Housing, Planning and Mortgage Arrears will take place. [14506/16]

National Transport Authority Administration

Bríd Smith

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the tendering process for public bus routes will take account of the record of a company in upholding labour law, in its obligations to its workforce and in conducting negotiations with its workforce on pay and conditions, prior to the awarding of any contracts (details supplied); and if he will ensure that the National Transport Authority or any other agency responsible for awarding these contracts is seen to acknowledge the importance of any company tendering for State contracts upholding labour law and the standards of the State. [15605/16]

After-School Support Services

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her plan in the programme for Government to tender school facilities to community groups and private providers is to use public schools for private child care; if she will offer publicly provided and funded after-school care in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14719/16]

Programme for Government Initiatives

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach his plans for implementing the programme for Government and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/16]

Fishing Industry

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has seen the new documentary, Atlantic, and his views on the conclusions it draws for the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/16]

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will announce funding calls for and the duration of the new grant round under the new asylum migration and integration fund which the European Commission signed in 2015. [14269/16]

School Enrolments

Bríd Smith

190. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that enrolments in a school (details supplied) are being blocked by the school; if he is complicit in the campaign to close the biggest school in the area at a time when number of primary school age children is predicted by the CSO to rise by 20%; and his plans for a new school in the area to cope with the increasing numbers. [14553/16]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Bríd Smith

290. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has lost entitlement to rent allowance upon being placed on a low paid temporary work scheme by a local Intreo office; why it is not possible for the person to receive support from the local community welfare officer, given that this loss has resulted in an accumulation of rent arrears; and why, if the person and the person's partner were 26 years of age plus, and both in receipt of social protection payments and rent allowance, they would have a greater income than what they have been left with, following the person's placement on this temporary work incentive scheme. [14267/16]

Environmental Policy

Bríd Smith

589. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that climate change is the single most pressing issue for humanity, which will impact on every single aspect of our society and economy; that it is a major mis-step at this time to have effectively abolished the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the new Administration and that, notwithstanding recent reassurances, this suggests to the public that environmental issues will be downgraded; that if he is genuine about joined-up thinking he must reorganise Departments with a view to setting up a Department of environment, climate change and natural heritage, which would have a remit to deal effectively with pressing environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity and with water quality and supply; and if he will give a commitment that the correct urgency will be attached to the priorities of his Ministers concerned with environmental matters, and that they will not be seen as an add on or be relegated in the pursuit of corporate or business interests. [14525/16]

Emergency Departments

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of patients per month who register at emergency departments for treatment but who leave before being discharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13768/16]

Pharmacy Services

Bríd Smith

104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the potential cost savings and benefits to health of introducing a national pharmaceuticals policy which ensures that persons receive quality drugs at the lowest possible price and that doctors prescribe the minimum of required drugs to treat the patient's illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13767/16]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits to the public service in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]

Citizens Assembly

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the citizens' assembly will report to Dáil Éireann on the eighth amendment of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13014/16]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of repealing the financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation and public service pay reverting to 2009 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13013/16]

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]

Third Level Charges

Bríd Smith

343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding university fees. [13511/16]

International Agreements

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he examined the agreement on refugees between the European Union and Turkey prior to signing up to it; if it infringes the European Union Convention on Human Rights with regard to the forced movement of persons in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12129/16]