Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Regulatory Impact Assessment Submissions

Damien English

129. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department will be making a submission to the Department of Health’s Regulatory Impact Analysis on proposed legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35656/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

1115. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his plans to hold a public consultation on the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes; when this consultation will begin; if the drafting of the legislation will commence after the consultation has been completed and submissions assessed by his officials; if these submissions will be published online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35134/13]

Regional Road Network

Damien English

1195. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he has taken to date in 2013 to protect the regional road network nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35105/13]

Regional Road Network

Damien English

1196. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he has taken to date in 2013 to protect the local road network nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35106/13]

Road Improvement Schemes

Damien English

1197. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to his announcement of the 5 June 2013 whereby an additional €50,000,000 for the repair and restoration of regional and local roads was issued, if he is confident that each local authority will prioritise works over the summer and autumn months to repair and restore the roads most in need of repair work in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35107/13]

Regional Road Network

Damien English

1198. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his plans for the protection of the regional and local road networks nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35108/13]

Higher Education Institutions Expenditure

Damien English

325. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total annual cost in Trinity College Dublin of providing free open online courses worldwide as part of a new global partnership with Futurelearn; if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of the programme design, server maintenance, advertising and any other line item costs associated with free online courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31777/13]

Higher Education Institutions Expenditure

Damien English

326. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an overview of the headline financial situation in terms of revenue, deficit and debt in Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31778/13]

EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues

Damien English

436. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the recently published European Commission country specific recommendations for Ireland under the Europe 2020 strategy which recommended that faster progress in implementing certain key policies, including in terms of activation redeployment of staff as case managers, outsourcing certain activation functions to private sector providers and reforming employment support schemes, is needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31513/13]

National Dementia Strategy Implementation

Damien English

675. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress of the National Dementia Strategy, which will seek to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for persons living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; when he expects the report to be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31848/13]

Student Support Schemes Issues

Damien English

104. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in issuing copy correspondence from Student Universal Support Ireland in relation to an appeal on an application for higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30924/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Damien English

228. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance his views on the decision by Irish banks not to implement the business to business aspect of SEPA for February 2014; if he has discussed the implications of this for business with the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30702/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Damien English

229. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the conditions under SEPA in which a business can seek a refund of a direct debit within eight weeks from the date on which the amount was debited from the account of the debtor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30704/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Damien English

230. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the conditions under SEPA in which a business can seek a refund of an unauthorised transaction within 13 months from the date on which the amount was debited from the account of the debtor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30705/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Damien English

231. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he has any concerns regarding the availability of credit for business following the changes being introduced by SEPA and the non-implementation of the business to business element; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30706/13]

Local Authority Housing Rents

Damien English

645. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person participating in the JobBridge scheme has their payment included in the calculation for means within the differential rent scheme means tested; if the rules are consistently applied by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28100/13]

Citizenship Applications

Damien English

196. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will issue on an application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24597/13]

Bus Éireann Services

Damien English

726. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that commuters face in accessing bus services on route 109, Dublin to Cavan, at the Mater Hospital and Navan Road bus stops, specifically the 4.30pm and 5.30pm M3 motorway service originating from Busáras, due to there not being enough capacity for passengers; if he will raise the matter with Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24358/13]

Unemployment Statistics

Damien English

172. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection further to a report commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute by her Department entitled Work and Poverty in Ireland: An Analysis of the Central Statistics Office Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2004-2010 and published jointly in 2012; her views on this report highlighting that the rate of joblessness at household level here was very high by European standards even during the boom years prior to the recent recession; and if this requires structural reforms of the social welfare system to remedy the situation. [23577/13]

Social Welfare Offices

Damien English

173. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Intreo offices that are currently operational; the number that she or her Department plan to open in the future; when these will be opened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23578/13]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Damien English

70. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the high demand by local and regional sporting clubs to access funds under the successful 2012 Sports Capital Programme, if he will outline the future plans he has to support this community and voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/13]

Road Safety Strategy

Damien English

80. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of higher than expected levels of fatalities and injuries experienced on Irish roads to date in 2013, the actions he or his Department are considering to enhance safety for all road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22911/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

592. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on negotiations between member states on the European Commission’s proposal for a revision of the tobacco products directive; if a political agreement or partial agreement is likely to be reached between member states on this important public health legislation at the EPSCO Council meeting in June 2013; if he will detail the contact he, his officials or the Irish permanent representative have had with their Lithuanian and Greek counterparts on this directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22219/13]

EU Directives

Damien English

593. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed update on the progress of the EU’s clinical trials proposal and two medical devices proposals which could have an impact on the 25,000 people employed in the pharma and medical technologies sectors here; if these proposals will be on the agenda for the EPSCO Council meeting in June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22220/13]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Damien English

594. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the European Commission’s Proposal for a decision on serious cross-border threats to health remains a priority for the Irish EU Presidency; if he will provide a detailed update on the current status of this proposal; if the proposal will be discussed at forthcoming meetings of the Working Party on Public Health in May and June 2013; if, in view of the recent horse meat scandal, the specific issue of contaminated foodstuffs will be discussed in relation to the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22221/13]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Damien English

93. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, if he will outline the way that this figure is calculated for primary schools; if he will list the posts that are used for this calculation and the posts that are not used for this calculation;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19356/13]

Tourism Capital Investment Programme

Damien English

55. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the measures introduced for the tourism industry since March 2011; his views on whether these measures have had a positive impact on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15031/13]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Damien English

132. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to tackle inpatient and day case waiting lists in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, County Meath; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14297/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

146. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the recently published Retail Ireland submission to the Department of Health’s June 2012 consultation on the Your Health is Your Wealth public health framework which warns that ever higher taxation and proposals to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products would be a further boon to the illegitimate supply channel; if he agrees with the Retail Ireland position; if he has communicated any such concerns to the Department of Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11200/13]

Hidden Economy Monitoring Group Remit

Damien English

147. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 80 of 23 January 2013, if he will provide details of the persons who make up the hidden economy monitoring group; if he will elaborate on the areas of the hidden economy covered by the group's remit; if he will provide a detailed description of the group's work since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/13]

Public Procurement Contracts

Damien English

240. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to begin the process of reviewing the government form of contract which were introduced in 2007 to deal with cost and time overruns on large public sector projects the contracts which is now due to be reviewed by the GCCC under the aegis of his Department; if he will outline when the review will begin; if he will provide the name, title and Department of the individual members of the GCCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11195/13]

EU Directives

Damien English

460. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the EU medical devices and clinical trials directives; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of med-tech and pharma industry bodies have raised concerns that progress has been slow and that more should be done to progress these directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11197/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

461. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health his views on the joint submission, recently received by his Department to its June 2012 consultation on the Your Health is Your Wealth public health framework from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, TransAtlantic Business Dialogue, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Association of Manufacturers, National Foreign Trade Council and US Council for International Business; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this submission calls on the Irish Government to exercise great caution when considering the possible introduction of legislation that could damage Ireland’s reputation as a leading jurisdiction for intellectual property rights; if he is concerned that EU proposals in a number of fields could threaten Ireland’s reputation for having a strong intellectual property rights regime and as a result, impact on foreign direct investment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11198/13]

EU Directives

Damien English

508. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the progress that the Irish EU Presidency has made to date in progressing the EU medical devices and clinical trials directives; if these dossiers remain a priority for the Irish EU Presidency; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by a number of med-tech and pharma industry bodies that progress to date on these directives has been slow; if additional resources will be allocated during the Irish Presidency to ensure that this issue is a top priority during our tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/13]

Tobacco Control Measures

Damien English

509. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions made to the public consultation on the EU tobacco products directive which closed on 16 January 2013; if he will publish the submissions made on this important legislative proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11203/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Damien English

66. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Stormont Assembly Minister, David Ford, denied until the last minute compassionate parole to persons (details supplied); if he will raise with Minister Ford at their next meeting the need to address compassionately requests from both in view of the limbo position in which they have been placed, having being neither charged with an offence, nor given a release date, granted bail or seeing the evidence against them; and his views on a royal pardon issued to one of the persons in the 1970s being conveniently misplaced. [8957/13]

Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times

Damien English

30. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in Connolly Hospital, Dublin; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7568/13]

Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times

Damien English

75. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, County Meath, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7552/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

213. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5390/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

219. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5384/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

259. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5383/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

310. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5381/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

362. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5388/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

381. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5386/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

437. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of all funding programmes in her Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if she will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5389/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

520. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5377/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

533. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5379/13]

Local and Community Development Programme Planning

Damien English

567. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5382/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

641. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates of each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5387/13]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

680. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of all funding programmes in his Department that community, voluntary and sporting organisations may apply to for funding; if he will provide a brief overview of each programme; the opening and closing dates for each programme; the minimum and maximum amounts of funding that may be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5380/13]