Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

23. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [8774/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

24. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 60th annual Munich Security Conference. [9016/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [12451/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [15187/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ruairí Ó Murchú

27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 60th annual Munich Security Conference. [16356/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

28. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [15145/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

29. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [15148/24]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

54. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to address the concerns raised by organisation (details supplied) in relation to the 2023 draft specifications in leaving certificate biology, chemistry and physics. [16255/24]

Public Sector Pay

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

55. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will support the introduction of a Dublin allowance for teachers to help to address the teacher retention crisis in the Dublin area. [16343/24]

School Accommodation

Sorca Clarke

56. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her plans to tackle the oversubscription of secondary schools across Ireland. [16256/24]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

57. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her current and future actions to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in primary and secondary schools in the wake of Ireland’s annual teacher conferences which took place recently. [16490/24]

School Admissions

Sorca Clarke

58. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that no child is left without an appropriate school place. [16257/24]

Grant Payments

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

59. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on the minor works grant; when she expects this to be paid this year for schools in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16156/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

60. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education for an update on when construction will commence on new school buildings (details supplied). [16349/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig O'Sullivan

61. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with a school (details supplied) regarding the urgent need for an ASD unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16186/24]

Education Schemes

Marian Harkin

62. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the reason no counsellor is available to a school in north Leitrim under the Counselling in Primary Schools pilot (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16346/24]

School Accommodation

David Stanton

64. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a new second level school in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16461/24]

Disadvantaged Status

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

66. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the proposal to introduce a DEIS plus scheme for the most acutely disadvantaged schools in the country. [16367/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Sorca Clarke

76. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to remove the Catholic certificate that is required to teach in most schools in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16253/24]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

1. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain why he missed all of his affordable housing targets in 2023. [15880/24]

Housing Policy

Ivana Bacik

2. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the adequacy of Housing for All building targets; when revised targets will be published; his plans to speed up delivery of housing in line with established need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15950/24]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

3. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what he intends to do to address rising levels of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

4. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the introduction of a specific zoning for affordable housing will be considered by this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/24]

Defective Building Materials

Eoin Ó Broin

5. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the growing concerns among impacted homeowners with the defective concrete block grant scheme. [15882/24]

Housing Provision

James Lawless

6. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is confident that all key housing indicators are continuing on a positive trajectory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15672/24]

Vacant Properties

Michael Moynihan

7. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the initiatives being taken to bring vacant properties back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15708/24]

Departmental Reports

Eoin Ó Broin

8. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the report from the Housing Commission on the right to housing. [15610/24]

Housing Policy

Michael Moynihan

9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans in relation to the provision of one-off housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15709/24]

Heritage Sites

Robert Troy

12. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support the establishment of a consultation forum for the future development of Columb Barracks, Mullingar by the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15700/24]

Heritage Sites

Barry Cowen

13. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress being made by the Land Development Agency in providing affordable and social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/24]

Housing Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

15. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the cost rental tenant in situ scheme and the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill. [15607/24]

Vacant Properties

Martin Kenny

22. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide a breakdown of the number of Croí Cónaithe grants (including the vacant property refurbishment grant) paid out across Sligo and Leitrim since the beginning of the scheme. [15675/24]

Vacant Properties

Éamon Ó Cuív

32. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when statistics for the vacant homes grant for quarter 4 of 2023 and quarter 1 of 2024 will be published; whether he is satisfied with the uptake of the grant to date, including the number of applications, the number of approvals and the number of grants paid; if he has any proposals to improve the terms of the scheme or its administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/24]

Housing Provision

James Lawless

35. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his assessment of the number of commencement notices, that is, residential construction starts, to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15671/24]

Housing Provision

Colm Burke

49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes completed in Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/24]

Vacant Properties

Cormac Devlin

64. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on how the vacant property refurbishment grant is addressing vacancy and making the bringing of existing properties back into use more affordable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15662/24]

Vacant Properties

Fergus O'Dowd

91. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the details on how he and his Department will simplify and enhance the application process and application timelines for the Croí Cónaithe scheme considering the very worrying figures reported in a paper (details supplied) on the number of applicants who have successfully drawn down funding on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15674/24]

Fuel Prices

Pearse Doherty

1. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will cancel the increases in excise duty on petrol and diesel scheduled for August and October of this year, given the cost-of-living pressures facing households, and their impact on trade for businesses in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15273/24]

International Sanctions

Pearse Doherty

2. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has engaged or will engage with fellow members of Economic and Financial Affairs Council, ECOFIN, to secure financial and economic sanctions against the State of Israel in response to flagrant violations of international law committed by the State of Israel in Gaza and the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15274/24]

Fuel Prices

Danny Healy-Rae

3. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the serious implications of the recent increase in fuel prices on motorists, hauliers, commercial business, farmers and especially rural communities, where people do not have any alternative options but to use their cars. [15418/24]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Pearse Doherty

4. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the value of money disbursed under the mortgage interest tax credit to date, together with the number of successful applicants; the number of applicants who have received a partial credit; the number of applicants who were rejected on the grounds that they had an insufficient income tax liability; and if he will consider amending the credit to ensure struggling mortgage holders experiencing an increase in their mortgage costs can receive the full credit. [15275/24]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

5. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered how the tax system might make a better contribution towards adjustment to a longer and more fruitful retirement through supporting rightsizing, early release of pension savings in certain circumstances, more flexibility in continued working from employers, better recognition of family carers and in other ways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15262/24]

Fuel Prices

Ged Nash

6. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider deferring the planned excise duty increase on petrol and diesel due for August; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15013/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pearse Doherty

7. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance for an update regarding the issue of mortgageability as it relates to homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks, including his Department's engagement with the Department of Finance and the proposal of bridging finance products by the banking sector under the enhanced defective concrete block scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15231/24]

Tax Reliefs

Pearse Doherty

8. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the benefit-in-kind exemption for employer contributions to PRSAs, legislated through section 22 of Finance Act 2022, is facilitating aggressive tax planning; if his Department received recommendations from an organisation (details supplied) in June 2022 warning that such a risk would materialise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15232/24]

Departmental Reviews

Marian Harkin

9. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the review of the disabled drivers scheme; and the new criteria being considered line with international best practice. [15225/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if, following the recent film industry stakeholder forum, he is planning any future changes to section 481 the film tax credit to ensure greater security of employment and incomes for workers in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/24]

Departmental Reviews

Pádraig O'Sullivan

18. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance when the new primary medical certificate criteria will be introduced; if he can provide any update on the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/24]

Fuel Prices

Pádraig O'Sullivan

31. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the reinstatement of fuel excise relief in April 2024; and the estimated cost of the reinstatement in August 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15286/24]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance for a status update on his Department's work to develop a new scheme to replace the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme as recommended by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group; the number of meetings held by the senior officials group to date, and the dates of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14380/24]

European Council

Matt Carthy

1. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his position on the adoption of qualified majority voting rather than the current requirement of unanimity on matters relating to defence at the European Council. [13142/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific projects that are being undertaken by Ireland under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, including Permanent Structured Cooperation, PESCO; his plans for future projects under this programme and the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme, ITPP, through NATO’s Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12256/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

3. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will ensure that proposed amendments to the Defence Acts provide for a role for representative associations on the external oversight body, do not infringe on the rights of any Defence Forces personnel to be a member of a representative association and do not excessively prohibit the freedom of expression of members of the Defence Forces. [13143/24]

Departmental Meetings

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reasons his Department facilitated a meeting between an organisation (details supplied) and the EDA’s CEO in September 2023; if he will publish the names of the persons who participated in the meeting between those two organisations; the topics that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13292/24]

Tribunals of Inquiry

Catherine Connolly

6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 23 January 2024, the status of the tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/24]

Defence Forces

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

7. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to list the military equipment, munitions and hardware purchased from Israeli-based or Israeli-owned defence companies in each of the past ten years; the current contracts that are awaiting delivery over the next five years; and the value of each. [13274/24]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

8. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the annual cost of providing Army security at Portlaoise prison; the number of prisoners in the prison that this security relates to; whether the need for an Army presence there is under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13033/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

9. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the engagements between his Department and-or the Defence Forces with the Israeli Defence Forces or other Israeli bodies since January 2023; and if proposals for further engagements are currently under consideration or review. [13158/24]

White Papers

James Lawless

11. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an overview on the implementation of the White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13023/24]

Naval Service

Cathal Berry

12. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the proposed procurement of a multi-role vessel for the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13281/24]

Naval Service

Thomas Gould

13. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of sailings the Naval Service cancelled in the past 12 months due to staffing shortages. [13241/24]

Defence Forces

Thomas Gould

14. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether he has engaged on the reported €10 million payouts on Defence Forces claims in the past three years. [13242/24]

Defence Forces

Cathal Berry

15. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the combined budget for the Defence group Vote each year from 2020 to 2024; the percentage uplift each year from the previous year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13282/24]

Road Safety

Martin Kenny

64. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on his Department’s work in relation to road safety and to tackle the continuing rise in road fatalities. [13496/24]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

65. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the current waiting times for driving tests in all County Tipperary test centres; the number waiting in each test centre; the reason for the extended delays in each test centre; the steps he is taking to address these driving test delays; these matters require immediate attention and swift action to alleviate the distress and inconvenience caused to persons in County Tipperary who are waiting for a profound period of time to have their driving test completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13476/24]

Aviation Industry

Martin Kenny

66. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he can provide an update on the national aviation strategy and its impact on Dublin Airport and regional airports. [13497/24]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

67. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the cancellation of a service (details supplied) from Galway to Dublin Airport; if he is considering steps to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13234/24]

Road Projects

Pádraig O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport about the progress that will be made on the Mallow relief road in the coming months given recent allocations from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11867/24]

Bus Services

Aindrias Moynihan

69. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his plans and timelines to upgrade bus services across mid-Cork, including Macroom to Cork, Macroom to Bandon and other local services based around Macroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/24]

Active Travel

Thomas Gould

70. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of an uneven allocation in funding for active travel in 2024 in Cork city. [13240/24]

Road Projects

David Stanton

71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the amount of extra funding support his Department has provided to Cork County Council for the repair of roads damaged by flooding in the wake of Storm Babet; his plans to provide further allocations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13047/24]

Driver Licences

Martin Kenny

72. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he can provide an update on the proposed changes to category W licences; if he has engaged with the RSA to discuss the changes prior to the announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13232/24]

Public Transport

Neasa Hourigan

73. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address anti-social behaviour and abuse directed at workers on the public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/24]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

75. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council for much-needed improvement works to the non-national road network in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/24]

Bus Services

Mark Ward

76. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to increase the capacity of public buses along the C spine route from Lucan; what measures are being taken to address overcrowded buses at peak times along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/24]

Programme for Government

Mary Lou McDonald

1. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [7937/24]

Programme for Government

Alan Dillon

2. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the programme for Government. [9029/24]

Programme for Government

Pádraig O'Sullivan

3. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [9218/24]

Programme for Government

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [9335/24]

Programme for Government

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

5. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [9336/24]

Programme for Government

Cian O'Callaghan

6. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [10350/24]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [10619/24]

Programme for Government

Paul Murphy

8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [10622/24]

Programme for Government

Mick Barry

9. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [12453/24]

Departmental Offices

Mary Lou McDonald

10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit in his Department. [7939/24]

Departmental Offices

Mick Barry

11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit in his Department. [9340/24]

Departmental Offices

Cian O'Callaghan

12. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit in his Department. [10351/24]

Middle East

James Lawless

13. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [7943/24]

Middle East

Seán Haughey

14. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. [9015/24]

Middle East

Mary Lou McDonald

15. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [9140/24]

Middle East

Mick Barry

16. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [9341/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [10615/24]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

18. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [10621/24]

Middle East

Matt Carthy

1. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urgently set a date on which Ireland will officially recognise the state of Palestine. [11047/24]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the call of the UN Secretary General for an independent investigation into the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians as they sought aid in Gaza; the action he has taken to avoid mass starvation in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11215/24]

European Union

Matt Carthy

3. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his position regarding the proposed reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission considering her interventions in respect of Israel's aggression against the people of Palestine. [11048/24]

International Relations

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Israeli ambassador has not been summoned by his Department after the killing of a person (details supplied) despite the Russian ambassador rightfully being summoned in the wake of another death in Russia; and the reason the same standards are not applied to both. [11135/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Matt Carthy

5. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposed new embassies and consulates that will be opened in 2024; if he will ensure that a new Irish consulate is opened in Australia in light of the growing Irish population there and the strengthening links between Ireland and Australia. [11049/24]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

7. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has made a decision on if and when Ireland will support South Africa's case against Israel in the ICJ, which alleges that the latter is committing genocide in Palestine. [11134/24]

Human Rights

Cathal Crowe

8. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the case of a political prisoner (details supplied) in Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10849/24]