Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Public Sector Pensions

Ruth Coppinger

15. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the approval of the marriage equality referendum, if he will revise the arrangements for the spouses and children's superannuation scheme for civil servants who opted not to avail of the scheme prior to August 1984 in view of the circumstances lesbian, gay and transgender persons faced at the time but who have subsequently entered civil partnerships or plan to marry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26380/15]

Fur Farming

Ruth Coppinger

40. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 361 of 24 March 2015, his views on the fur farming review group's conclusions; if he is satisfied with the outcome of its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26097/15]

Departmental Correspondence

Ruth Coppinger

58. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the method used to send inquiries regarding possible changes in circumstances for those in receipt of child benefit; if there are certain categories of recipients who receive a higher number of letters checking their status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26595/15]

Pension Provisions

Ruth Coppinger

59. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will report on any possible remedy in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15, where there is a reduction in pension payments to pay back previous overpayments. [26597/15]

Passport Applications

Ruth Coppinger

232. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a telephone line service for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact the Passport Office regarding queries from constituents. [26491/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ruth Coppinger

14. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the last meeting he had with Atheist Ireland. [25818/15]

Education Policy

Ruth Coppinger

114. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the maintenance of religious beliefs as grounds for teachers and other workers in education to be refused employment or to be disciplined. [25806/15]

School Enrolments

Ruth Coppinger

117. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the use of religion to determine admission to schools. [25805/15]

Financial Services Sector

Ruth Coppinger

224. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his views on delivering a standard bank account through the post office network to increase financial inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25731/15]

Overseas Missions

Ruth Coppinger

347. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Defence the welfare of migrants taken aboard the LÉ Eithne on 22 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25756/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Ruth Coppinger

409. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an over-reliance on nursing homes due to changes in payments and services for elderly persons living at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25732/15]

Register of Electors Data

Ruth Coppinger

631. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a position paper (details supplied) and the recommendations contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26292/15]

Post Office Network

Ruth Coppinger

650. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a comprehensive commercial review of the post office network with the purpose of ensuring its viability into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25729/15]

Post Office Network

Ruth Coppinger

651. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the post office network being used to be the provider for all Government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25730/15]

HIQA Reports

Ruth Coppinger

150. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 9 June 2015, when he expects Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to finalise the action plan on improving child welfare services in direct provision centres, referred to in the reply. [25552/15]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Ruth Coppinger

11. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the criticism of the changes to the one-parent family payment scheme by children's advocacy groups, if she will revise her plans to progress with the changes to the scheme, which will affect lone parents with children over seven years of age. [24828/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Ruth Coppinger

26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of reports (details supplied) of rising numbers entering the private rented sector, if she will revise the cap on rent supplement. [24827/15]

Currency Circulation

Ruth Coppinger

85. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the phasing out of one and two cent coins. [25228/15]

Currency Circulation

Ruth Coppinger

86. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance if there are implications for the validity of existing one and two cent coins and coins entering the State from other eurozone countries; his views on the handling of one and two cent coins that enter circulation here, following the phasing out of the coins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25229/15]

Currency Circulation

Ruth Coppinger

87. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the monitoring of prices when one and two cent coins are phased out for cash transactions. [25230/15]

Direct Provision System

Ruth Coppinger

171. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the report (details supplied) that recommends that the weekly allowance paid to asylum seekers be increased significantly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25378/15]

Child and Family Agency

Ruth Coppinger

183. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the 20% funding reduction fromTúsla - Child and Family Agency; if there has been a study by his Department on the impact it will have on women's aid services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25379/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ruth Coppinger

230. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure there is financial assistance for students on education and training board courses who are not entitled to social welfare payments or other financial assistance. [25368/15]

Third Level Staff Data

Ruth Coppinger

232. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic positions in third level educational institutions filled through labour activation and training schemes including but not limited to Youthreach, JobBridge, Tús work placement initiative, JobsPlus, MOMENTUM, the vocational training opportunities scheme, Foras Áiseanna Saothair - the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, Solas, international work experience and training, Gateway and community employment in 2014. [25374/15]

Third Level Staff Data

Ruth Coppinger

233. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic positions in third level educational institutions that have been filled through labour activation and training schemes, including, but not limited to Youthreach, JobBridge, Tús work placement initiative, JobsPlus, MOMENTUM, the vocational training opportunities scheme, Foras Áiseanna Saothair – the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, Solas, international work experience and training, Gateway and community employment since the beginning of 2015. [25375/15]

Third Level Staff Data

Ruth Coppinger

234. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic staff employed by third level educational institutions during 2014. [25376/15]

Third Level Staff Data

Ruth Coppinger

235. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic staff employed by third level educational institutions during 2015 to date. [25377/15]

National Cultural Institutions

Ruth Coppinger

282. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 18 June 2015, when she anticipates capital investment works in the National Archives, mentioned in her reply, to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25214/15]

National Library

Ruth Coppinger

283. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will make the necessary investment in the National Library to ensure there is adequate fire prevention measures to protect the collections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25215/15]

Eurozone Issues

Ruth Coppinger

100. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his discussions with other European Union Ministers for Finance regarding Greek debt, related agreements between Greece and the European Union and the latest situation in Greece; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24698/15]

Tax Code

Ruth Coppinger

102. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance noting the lower returns to the Revenue Commissioners in recent years, arising from an increase in sub-contracting and self-employment in the construction sector, and the resultant increased use of relevant contracts tax, his views on the measures the Revenue Commissioners and his Department have taken, or are taking, to ensure that relevant contracts tax is not used in a manner to deny workers in the sector the basic rights enjoyed by construction workers who are directly employed with registered employment agreement rates, sick pay and holiday pay; that the use of relevant contracts tax, rather than the prevalence of direct employment in the sector, does not result in the Exchequer foregoing revenues it would otherwise receive under the universal social charge, pay-related social insurance and pay as you earn. [24699/15]

Bank Restructuring

Ruth Coppinger

103. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department has had any discussion with Allied Irish Banks over the outsourcing of application and development management, ADM, services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24507/15]

Banking Sector Staff

Ruth Coppinger

128. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his views on the outsourcing of application and development management services by Allied Irish Banks; his views regarding outsourcing of these services, in view of the central role the bank's payment services and information technology play in the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24508/15]

Banking Sector Staff

Ruth Coppinger

135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance his views on the planned outsourcing of the application and development management section of the information technology division in Allied Irish Banks; if he is concerned regarding the outsourcing of a key sector of this and regarding the erosion of job security and working conditions in the banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/15]

Abortion Legislation

Ruth Coppinger

429. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the number of requests for terminations of pregnancy that have been made under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; and the number granted. [24722/15]

Beit Collection

Ruth Coppinger

660. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will intervene in the sale of the Alfred Beit art collection; if she will report on discussions held with the Alfred Beit Foundation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24723/15]

Irish Language

Ruth Coppinger

16. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the Comprehensive Linguistic Study on the Usage of Irish in the Gaeltacht 2006 to 2011 by persons (details supplied); and the measures her Department will take, based on this study. [23904/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Ruth Coppinger

35. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on meetings with workers in Aer Lingus and their trade unions concerning the sale of the State's share of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23477/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Ruth Coppinger

38. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on meetings held with Aer Lingus executives concerning the sale of the State's share of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23476/15]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Ruth Coppinger

5. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on Construction 2020, housing, planning and mortgage arrears last met. [21844/15]

Postal Services

Ruth Coppinger

113. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has studied the impact of likely competitive pressures on An Post, arising from the Postal Services Amendment Bill 2015, from the point of view of jobs and conditions of work. [23130/15]

Post Office Network

Ruth Coppinger

178. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to revise her Department's prioritising of the use of bank accounts for electronic payments over post office accounts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23181/15]

Parliamentary Questions

Ruth Coppinger

181. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will conduct a study on the number of staff hours in her Department that are spent on requesting Members of Dáil Éireann to withdraw parliamentary questions. [23205/15]

Employment Rights

Ruth Coppinger

326. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a report (details supplied) by the Young Workers Network, and especially the finding that 90% of those under 35 years of age struggle, due to low pay and zero hour contracts. [23326/15]

Abortion Services Provision

Ruth Coppinger

536. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the Amnesty International report on the criminalisation of abortion here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23310/15]

Hospital Services

Ruth Coppinger

564. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that units (details supplied) at Connolly Hospital in Dublin 15 will remain open, and that existing places for residents will remain secure, until the new unit is open. [23182/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ruth Coppinger

592. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department has taken to ensure that the over 480,000 patients who are on a waiting list across the State's hospitals awaiting treatment receive such treatment as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23311/15]

Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation

Ruth Coppinger

593. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if his Department will act on the National Positive Ageing Strategy 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23312/15]

Human Rights Issues

Ruth Coppinger

673. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the use of excessive police force against young persons and minority groups (details supplied) in McKinney, Dallas, Texas, United States of America, with the authorities in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/15]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Ruth Coppinger

803. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the extension of the scheme to support national organisations funding for another year, his plans to put in place sustainable funding beyond June 2016 for the organisations in question. [23845/15]