Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

684. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that up to 80 persons arrived in Ireland from the UK and South Africa up to 17 January 2021 without having provided evidence of a negative Covid-19 test; the person or body responsible for ensuring that newly arrived travellers or migrant workers from the UK and European countries with high rates of infection, South Africa or South America self-isolate for 14 days; the means by which they will ensure such self-isolation takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3686/21]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

780. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way and location in which providers of home care services can register for the vaccination of home care workers on the Covid-19 vaccination list. [4030/21]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

791. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position of adults with special needs on the Covid-19 vaccination list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4079/21]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

882. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to 200 horses along with up to 350 trainers, jockeys and grooms are preparing to go to the UK for Cheltenham week from 16 to 19 March 2021 at a time when infection rates of the British variant of Covid-19 are likely to be still very high; if he has been notified of and or approved these travel preparations; if any of those preparing to go to Cheltenham are in receipt of or benefit from the €76.8 million of State funding to Horse Racing Ireland, directly or indirectly; if Horse Racing Ireland will be sending an official delegation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3687/21]

Naval Service

Paul Murphy

168. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a position with the Naval Service as a radio and radar technician; his plans to change the entry age limit; if so, the date on which such a change will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3243/21]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will reopen the redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse in schools and require it to act in accordance with various court recommendations from a case (details supplied) such that survivors of sexual abuse in schools are not required to demonstrate a prior complaint and likewise not required to seek redress through the courts or any other adversarial procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3268/21]

JobPath Programme

Paul Murphy

231. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the continued operation of JobPath is inappropriate in the current circumstances of mass layoffs, job losses and restrictions on travel due to Covid-19; if the motion taken in Dáil Éireann on 6 February 2019 to close down the JobPath scheme will be acted upon; if she will terminate the contracts for Turas Nua and Seetec and cease pressurising persons on the pandemic unemployment payment and jobseeker's with threats of payment cuts to apply for jobs or job interviews they are unlikely to get; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3381/21]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

353. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including the parents and carers of persons with particular underlying conditions (details supplied) who are especially vulnerable to Covid-19 and any person in receipt of family, carer’s allowance or benefit in the Covid-19 vaccination category of front-line healthcare workers given their essential role in the care of particularly vulnerable persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3067/21]

Hospital Appointments Status

Paul Murphy

395. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the delayed provision of an MRI scan and delayed autism assessments and treatments for a person (details supplied). [3245/21]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Paul Murphy

435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the authorisation of medical procedures that were applied for before the end of December 2020 to be carried out in Belfast under the cross-border directive. [3323/21]

Felling Licences

Paul Murphy

497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in a specific case (details supplied), a felling licence was obligatory; if so, if a felling licence was sought; and if it was granted. [3322/21]

Dublin Bus

Paul Murphy

103. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if there is a plan to reduce the frequency of Dublin Bus Monday to Friday services to Saturday times. [2748/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

285. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the status of boarding schools, given the general closure of schools announced until the end of January 2021 as a consequence of the pandemic. [2221/21]

State Examinations

Paul Murphy

309. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if a deadline will be set for a decision on whether the leaving certificate oral and practical exams are to proceed, given the spread of Covid-19 infection and the possibility that schools will remain closed beyond 31 January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2530/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

310. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if funding to schools will be increased to ensure full PPE provision, given the need to stop the spread of Covid-19 infection now and into the future and taking account of the concerns of teachers, students and their families regarding the safe functioning and reopening of schools, in particular in special education settings; if she will review the procedures for contact tracing in schools to give schools the deciding role in identifying close contacts of persons who attended with confirmed Covid-19 infection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2531/21]

State Examinations

Paul Murphy

311. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will give leaving certificate students the option of predicted grades or sitting the written exams, given the spread of Covid-19 infection and the possibility that schools will remain closed longer than 31 January 2021; if she will set a date to announce these options along with the relevant details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2532/21]

Departmental Inquiries

Paul Murphy

421. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if an inquiry into the operation of spy cops in Ireland will be initiated in view of the revelation that UK so-called spy cops infiltrated Irish political and civil rights groups and in further view of the undercover policing inquiry in the UK that held its opening statement and first evidence hearings from 2 November to 19 November 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2595/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

568. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has a record of animal testing laboratories that are located in Ireland; and if so, if this information will be provided. [2597/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

569. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the funding being allocated towards finding non-animal testing methods; and if his Department is actively encouraging third level institutions to apply for such funding. [2598/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

570. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the details of experiments will be disclosed on animals listed as having a severe level of suffering during experimentation as listed in the latest report by the Health Products Regulatory Authority. [2599/21]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

613. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that student nurses are included with other front-line health workers as a priority group to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, given that student nurses are an essential part of the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2696/21]

National Car Test

Paul Murphy

31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if, in the context of the need to stop the spread of Covid-19 infection, he will immediately instruct the RSA to close the NCT test centres as was done from 28 March to 8 June 2020 and similarly extend the validity of NCT certs by four months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/21]

Driver Licences

Paul Murphy

159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if the current extensions for driving licences and learner permits will be extended by six months in order to alleviate the pressure on and risks to National Driving Licence Service, NDLS, staff and to reduce the need for persons to travel long distances and increase the risks of infection in order to renew same in a context of already long waiting times. [1118/21]

Taxi Licences

Paul Murphy

197. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct the National Transport Authority to reduce the renewal fee for small public service vehicle licenses that are due for renewal in 2021 from €250 to €50 in the context of the dramatic reduction of incomes of taxi and small public service vehicle drivers due to the Covid-19 restrictions. [1734/21]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Paul Murphy

244. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance when assessments for applications for primary medical certificates will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1312/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

284. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will publish the full list of recipients of funding under the music industry stimulus package including the allocations by first music contact, her Department and the Arts Council of Ireland; the criteria by which recipients are chosen; the criteria used by the allocating bodies to dispense funding in each case to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44715/20]

School Admissions

Paul Murphy

435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education her views on whether a school admissions policy that states a written request should be made to the principal of the school (details supplied) and provides no further information is in compliance with section 62(7)(n) of the Education Act 1998, which requires schools to publish an admission policy that provides details of the school’s arrangements in respect of any student who wants to attend religious instruction or in cases of students under 18 years of age in which it is the wish of the parents of the student. [44825/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

642. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in the context of the closure of schools and colleges to reduce the spread of Covid-19 infection, he will instruct all education and training boards to close all Youthreach centres in line with the closure of the other educational establishments for the duration of the current Covid restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1780/21]

Citizenship Applications

Paul Murphy

721. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a comprehensive report on all applications for Irish citizenship submitted since 1 January 2014 for each application under headings (details supplied). [1231/21]

Paediatric Services

Paul Murphy

813. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of progress for the recruitment of a third paediatric rheumatologist, which was promised for 2019 in the context of children waiting up to three years to see a paediatric rheumatologist; the status of reducing waiting times for paediatric rheumatology and MRI scans for children with Down's syndrome associated arthritis to not more than 12 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44905/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Paul Murphy

157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the workings of the Workplace Relations Commission. [43851/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Paul Murphy

184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the future work plan of the Workplace Relations Commission. [43852/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

382. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the procedures in place to protect school staff and students, some with underlying medical vulnerabilities, from Covid-19 infection in a situation in which a student refuses to wear a mask and social distancing of two meters is not possible; the specific evidence and documentation of medical need to not wear a mask required in order to be exempted from the requirement to wear one; the procedures in place to protect school staff and students in situations in which a student has a medical exemption to not wear a mask and social distancing of two meters is not possible (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44238/20]

Community Services Programme

Paul Murphy

677. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure that all community services programme workers and the organisations in which they work, many of which have continued to provide essential services during the Covid-19 crisis, have their full funding needs guaranteed by her Department for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic and for the subsequent ongoing service requirements caused by the pandemic. [44607/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of staff in his Department on the #antiviral social media campaign. [42052/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

117. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 232 and 248 of 8 December 2020, if her Department will issue an official statement or circular clarifying the situation. [43755/20]

Economic Policy

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the progress of his plans for a high-level review of the economy to be led by his Department. [43141/20]

Economic Policy

Paul Murphy

3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if his Department has convened the well-being expert group as committed to in the programme for Government. [43143/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the person or body that represented his Department at the first meeting of the high-level task force on Covid-19 vaccination. [41722/20]

Higher Education Institutions

Paul Murphy

45. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the practice of postgraduate students being expected to do unpaid teaching hours. [41659/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

96. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to review the employment status of postgraduate students who also work for third level education institutions as part of their degree. [41658/20]

Brexit Issues

Paul Murphy

214. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the taxes that will apply to used cars imported from the UK after 1 January 2021. [43373/20]

Education Policy

Paul Murphy

320. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the sanctions in place for schools that fail to meet the legal requirement to include in their admission policies detailed arrangements for those not attending religious instruction. [42887/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Paul Murphy

350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if it will be ensured that when a person applies for the pandemic unemployment payment that the Revenue Commissioners and-or her Department include in the calculation a person's annual income, for the purposes of deciding on the appropriate rate of payment, any income from State benefits including maternity or parental benefits to avoid discriminatory underpayment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43093/20]

Student Accommodation

Paul Murphy

411. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when universities will implement his policy statement of 6 December 2020 (details supplied) that any college-owned accommodation refunds should be provided for; if such rent refunds will be backdated; if so, the date from which they will be backdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42944/20]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

485. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending the free flu vaccine scheme to children up to 17 years of age in view of the relatively low rates of take-up of the nasal flu vaccine by children aged two to 12 years of age [42889/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

100. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when restrictions on partners attending at maternity hospitals will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42443/20]

Nursing Education

Paul Murphy

173. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a commitment will be given to pay student nurses and midwives properly for their labour; if the number of permanent nurses and midwives will be increased to adequate levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40485/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Paul Murphy

286. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent outbreak of war between Eritrea and Tigray; the position of the Government on the events taking place in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray; his views on reports of mistreatment of refugees and civilians by the Eritrean Government; the steps Ireland is taking in the EU and at the UN to ensure that humanitarian and food supplies are not cut off from the civilian populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42610/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Paul Murphy

308. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if recipients of illness benefit or Covid-19 illness benefit will receive the Christmas bonus; if not, if she will take steps to ensure that recipients of the benefits will get the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42596/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

311. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider amending the regulations for the Covid-related additional three weeks maternity and parental leave to allow women and parents finishing their maternity leave before April 2021 to add the extra three weeks of parental leave to the end of their existing maternity leave rather than having to return to work before being able to take the extra leave from April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42716/20]

Ministerial Advisers

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the number of advisers appointed in his Department, including press advisers; and the annual cost. [42050/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the economy last met. [42051/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work being conducted by a consultancy firm (details supplied) for his Department. [40645/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department is spending on consultancy firms advising on Covid-19 related matters. [40646/20]

Programme for Government

Paul Murphy

6. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he plans to publish a review of the progress made in implementing the programme for Government. [40066/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

77. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work being conducted by a company (details supplied) for his Department. [41723/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of his Department’s spend on consultancy firms advising on Covid-19-related matters. [41724/20]

Domestic Violence Policy

Paul Murphy

35. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce paid leave from employment for those experiencing domestic violence. [40023/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Paul Murphy

74. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that all workers from the performing arts and live entertainments industries including those who by the nature of their work are self-employed and who might have gaps or periods of unemployment between contracts and based upon such workers being certified by a reference from a relevant previous employer or cultural organisation here, are made eligible for full payment of the pandemic unemployment payment for the duration of the shutdown of live entertainments and artistic events due to Covid-19. [39983/20]

Carer's Allowance

Paul Murphy

247. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the rate of carer’s allowance to the full pandemic unemployment payment rate for the duration of the Covid-19 restrictions in recognition of the work of family carers especially during the Covid-19 restrictions; if she will instruct the HSE to redirect funding not spent on HSE respite services to the carers themselves to facilitate them getting respite care from private providers for those who have had reductions in HSE respite provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41067/20]

Immigration Data

Paul Murphy

302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of times for the period from 2004 to date UK immigration officials have been present in Irish airports or ports whether this be in any role, including advisory or training course or exercise; when and the location this has this taken place; the role of liaison officers; the departments and location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40803/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

5. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee dealing with foreign affairs will next meet. [40064/20]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Paul Murphy

9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if his Department plans to publish a statement of strategy. [40065/20]

Medicinal Products

Paul Murphy

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the availability to patients with PKU in Dublin and throughout Ireland of the HSE-approved medicine kuvan; the reason kuvan it is not being made available to children with PKU at Temple Street Hospital or adults with PKU at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; the reason the care pathway stipulates that patients must be admitted for 48 hours to have blood spot tolerance tests done since these are the same tests that patients do on a weekly basis at home leaving some with no option but to travel to another country to have the testing done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40672/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the status of plans for reopening after level 5 Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. [38834/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Paul Murphy

40. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the method used to decide the allocation of special education teachers for a school (details supplied) in the context of a current school population of 330 rather than the earlier 171 and the high number of children with special and additional needs, including 12 children with complex needs in the ASD evergreen unit classes; if she will make a recommendation to the NCSE to review the number of special education teachers allocated to the school and to consider the request from parents for a minimum allocation of six special education teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39981/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Paul Murphy

62. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the method used in the new SNA allocations model (details supplied). [40041/20]

Student Assistance Fund

Paul Murphy

210. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the funding students receive from the student assistance fund will be regarded as taxable income for those students who are not eligible or in receipt of a SUSI grant; and if so, if he will consider exempting all payments from the student assistance fund from being regarded as taxable income. [39685/20]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

304. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ban on hare coursing will be extended until at least the end of March 2020 in a context in which any extension of the current coursing season into March 2021 would be to allow coursing during the height of the breeding season and potentially disrupt the reproduction of the Irish hare population. [40240/20]

EU Issues

Paul Murphy

321. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current expected cost of the European Peace Facility to Ireland for each of the years 2021-2027 noting that the Athena mechanism and the African Peace Facility are funded through his Department and the Department of Defence, respectively; the Department that will have primary policy responsibility for the European Peace Facility; the expected timetable for bringing the European Peace Facility before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40035/20]

Third Level Fees

Paul Murphy

555. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether a scenario in relation to a person (details supplied) is fair and equitable; if he will request the university to cease demanding such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39743/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

96. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has modelled the economic impacts of pursuing a zero-Covid policy compared to the current policy of intermittent lockdowns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39168/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Murphy

118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will act to ensure that the Revenue Commissioners have the powers necessary to fully investigate potential cases of bogus self-employment. [39169/20]

Military Aircraft

Paul Murphy

170. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of US troops and military personnel that have passed through Shannon Airport in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020. [39421/20]

Military Aircraft

Paul Murphy

171. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the amount paid to Shannon Airport or to the Shannon Airport Authority in landing charges for US military aircraft or in landing charges for US-leased aircraft carrying non-civilian passengers or goods in each year from 1 January 2001 to date. [39422/20]

Dublin Bus

Paul Murphy

179. 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) [39344/20]

Driver Test

Paul Murphy

191. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide additional resources for the RSA to enable it to expedite driver theory tests for which there are now excessively long waiting lists (details supplied). [39432/20]

School Staff

Paul Murphy

394. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the advice the HSE is providing in relation to women who are 28 weeks or more pregnant and are working in schools as in the case of a teacher (details supplied) but who are being denied health and safety leave on grounds of the advice that an organisation is receiving from the HSE; if the HSE will amend its advice to the organisation and in general regarding women who are 28 weeks or more pregnant in accordance with the advice of the professional colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39429/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

12. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality is due to meet next. [36616/20]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Paul Murphy

142. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is financially independent is currently being paid €5.45 per day in short-time work support while the person's over-25s colleagues with the same employer and with the same reduced hours of employment are currently being paid €40 per day in short-time work support possibly in breach of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39082/20]

General Practitioner Services

Paul Murphy

199. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE to issue an instruction to all general practitioners to cease charging the holders of general practitioner cards or medical cards for blood tests and other such diagnostic tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38950/20]

Fur Farming

Paul Murphy

273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fur farming will be ended fully after the culling of minks which has been announced. [38946/20]

Fur Farming

Paul Murphy

274. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any remaining mink in Ireland will be culled as a safety measure against the spread of Covid-19; if he is introducing measures to keep the associated fur farms closed thereby ending fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38964/20]

Future of Media Commission

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Future of Media Commission. [36612/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses climate change will next meet. [38833/20]

Constitutional Amendments

Paul Murphy

119. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to hold a referendum on the right to water and public ownership of the water infrastructure. [31331/20]

Election Monitoring Missions

Paul Murphy

410. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the Oireachtas Select Committee on Public Accounts in 2018 that the five year duration of the election observation roster should be reviewed as to whether it is excessive; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that EU countries refresh their election observation rosters every two or three years; the plans he has to replace the current roster; if officials in the audit unit examined the roster; if he will detail their findings and recommendations; the date on which it was decided to suspend the contribution by Ireland to international election observation missions of the OSCE; the basis upon which that decision was made; if other Departments were consulted in advance of the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37818/20]

Defence Forces Deployment

Paul Murphy

467. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if members of the Permanent Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing are still deployed in Mali; if so, the nature of their mission; and if there is a timeline for their withdrawal. [38726/20]

Pensions Council

Paul Murphy

552. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure that the Pension Commission includes representation of those who would be most affected by an increase in the State pension age by including representation from organisations (details supplied) in the membership of the commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37998/20]

Courts Service

Paul Murphy

714. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of rape cases commenced and concluded in each of the years 2017 to 2019 which resulted in convictions. [38030/20]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

965. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the ban on hare coursing until at least the end of March 2020, in a context in which any extension of the current coursing season into March 2020 would be to allow hare coursing during the height of the breeding season and potentially disrupt the reproduction of the Irish hare population. [37984/20]

Census of Population

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider revising the 100-year rule and bring forward the date for publication of the 1926 Census to 2021. [37322/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

26. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans in place to support the creative and performing arts community for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis and the recovery period beyond. [37321/20]

Tax Collection

Paul Murphy

129. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will suspend the deduction of stamp duty on debit and credit cards for persons in receipt of State welfare benefits including unemployment or Covid-related payment, sick pay, lone parents benefits, carer's allowance and benefit given that a deduction of almost €30 amounts to 14% of a jobseekers’ or pandemic unemployment payment of €203; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37508/20]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Paul Murphy

254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the transfer of refugees from the Greek island of Lesbos to Ireland; the age and sex of the refugees transferred here to date; the dates for future transfers of refugees from Lesvos here; the accommodation provided for recently transferred refugees; the accommodation planned for future refugees coming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/20]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education is due to meet next. [36611/20]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

91. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent death in an Israeli prison of a Palestinian detainee (details supplied) who died from the medical negligence of their cancer; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Israeli state has also withheld their remains from their family in an act of collective punishment; if he will write to the Israeli Ambassador in Ireland to call upon the government of Israel to immediately release the remains of the person to their family for a proper funeral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37357/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

139. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 1 October 2020, his views on whether the requirement by the National University of Ireland Galway for PhD students to make contributions of on average five hours per week over 24 weeks over three academic years without extra payment, breaches the requirement of the same postgraduates to sign a declaration to the Revenue Commissioners that there would be no element of service directly or indirectly between the sponsor and the scholarship recipient or between the colleges university and the scholarship recipient. [37364/20]

Third Level Staff

Paul Murphy

140. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether requiring unpaid postgraduate workers to carry out in-person teaching at NUI Galway such as lab demonstrations which cannot be done online during a global pandemic should be regarded as an integral part of the training of a research masters or PhD student. [37365/20]