Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Nuclear Waste

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

775. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to EU Directive 2011/70/EURATOM (Nuclear Waste), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this legislation will allow for the importation of nuclear waste into the Republic of Ireland by private operators, the role of government being diminished to that of independent licensing authority; his views on whether the RPII, whose responsibility it is to advise Government on the Directive, is impartial , in view of it's links to a person (details supplied), the Irish representative to the Scientific and Technical Committee of Euratom, the Committee responsible for the Directive, and an ex-CEO of the RPII, who is a self-professed member of the the pro-nuclear lobby group BENE; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that past expert advice from within the nuclear industry has shown that nuclear waste cannot be isolated in the geological environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34667/13]

Redundancy Payments Waiting Times

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

219. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason special needs assistants have to wait up to nine months to receive their redundancy payments; his views on whether this delay is unacceptable and that it puts those who were already on low earnings in a very vulnerable position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33327/13]

Naturalisation Applications

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

194. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has lived here for 13 years and is married to an Irish citizen has to pay €980 for an Irish passport; his views on whether this is a very exclusionary fee and would limit those with limited resources to gain an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30654/13]

Waste Management Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

522. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to a Parliamentary Question of 18 December 2012 regarding charges for plastic bags for segregating waste, when his Department will complete the report he referred to in his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31815/13]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

687. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to consider providing through the GMS a newer generation of ileostomy pouches which are longer lasting and hence more cost effective; his views on whether the current ileostomy product range available from the HSE is out-dated and that a better selection should be made available to those who have need to use such due to illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32020/13]

Schools Building Contractors

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

93. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will put in place to reduce the barriers to small building contractors tendering for public works, such as the building of extensions to primary schools; if he will address the minimum turnover of €400,000 that is required to enter a tender process; his views on whether such work would be welcomed by the smaller contractors, many of whom have been very hard hit since the downturn in the construction industry started in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30899/13]

Forestry Management

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

205. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 230 of 16 May 2013, if he will explain the process used here to adapt the international principles to the Irish principles of sustainability. [30879/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

73. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the location within County Roscommon of the units (details supplied) referred to in A Vision for Change for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with difficult to manage behaviours; the date on which they will be operational; the location of the regional forensic mental health units; the location at which patients currently in need of this provision will be treated and detained; with regard to the Roscommon mental health service, if he will give details of the development plan for the roll out of A Vision for Change and the timescale envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30653/13]

Environmental Policy

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

402. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the person that owns a site (details supplied) in County Cavan; the person responsible for maintaining this site; if the Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring this site and any emissions that may come from the drilling there; if he will outline the history of ownership and operations at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/13]

Mental Health Services Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

608. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health in view of the closure of St Luke’s secure unit in Ballinasloe, County Galway, the location to which it is proposed that patients leaving the Central Mental Hospital requiring secure care will be placed; if he is satisfied that the public, patients and staff are safe when placing them in admission units; if he will confirm that one such male patient when placed in the admission unit in Roscommon hospital, absconded due to lack of security, refused to return to the unit, and was checked into the local hotel and left unattended overnight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30677/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

207. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No.177 of the 9 May 2013, in view of the fact that the answer refers only to salary expenses being recouped if he will confirm that pension and other employment costs benefits, and so on, are not recouped; when did the salaries in respect of the two persons begin to be recouped from Horse Sport Ireland Ltd; further in view of the fact that persons (details supplied) who served with Irish Horse Board and Horse Sport Ireland, his views on whether the role of Director General and CEO of these organisation goes well beyond the provision of support services; his plans to introduce legislation or Department rules and regulations to prohibit future public funds from being used to pay the salaries of the chief executive officer of private companies such the Irish Horse Board Cooperative Society Ltd and Horse Sport Ireland Ltd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29733/13]

Departmental Investigations

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

5. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he is taking in view of the report on alleged fraud in Coillte which was delivered to him by this Deputy and members of the timber saw milling industry some weeks ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29587/13]

Garda Communications

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

171. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that an inspector, acting on behalf of the superintendent at that Garda station (details supplied) in County Offaly, has instructed a member of the public in writing, on 10 May 2013, that in future all correspondence should be forwarded here through his or her solicitor; if this is acceptable practice; if he will undertake to investigate the circumstances surrounding this case and the reason a member of the public cannot address the gardaí directly; and if this request could impact on any subsequent legal case with regard to the statute of limitations. [29693/13]

Child Protection Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

492. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she can account for the inadequate provisions made at a meeting (details supplied), which involved a convicted sex offender, for an initial child protection conference and where no Garda or probation officer attended, as promised; the reason the sex offender, while not on the schedule of attendees as circulated, did attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29295/13]

EU Funding

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

774. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives that are under the purview of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives related to horse breeding; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives related to equestrian sports and activities; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund any initiatives related to horse breeding and equestrian sports and activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27265/13]

Bovine Disease Controls

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

195. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason calves born with the BVD virus and found to be persistently infected animals do not warrant compensation in the same way that those found with TB or brucellosis do; if he will consider reviewing the current situation with regards to compensation for PI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25967/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

131. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will engage in discourse with ISM school in Tripoli, Libya, on the issue of payment of moneys owed by ISM to 17 Irish teachers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to banking restrictions in Libya, ISM can only pay outstanding moneys into a Government bank account; if he will organise and facilitate a payment schedule on behalf of the 17 teachers since ISM cannot at this point issue individual payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25633/13]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

182. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if persons (details supplied) completed an application form for the Central Bank of Ireland to become regulated as a retails credit firm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25549/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

274. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage in discourse with ISM school in Tripoli, Libya, on the issue of payment of moneys owed by ISM to 17 Irish teachers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to banking restrictions in Libya, ISM can only pay outstanding moneys into a Government bank account; if he will organise and facilitate a payment schedule on behalf of the 17 teachers in view of the fact that ISM cannot at this point issue individual payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25632/13]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

35. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the proposed maximum financial award for the new structures being reduced by half to €40,000 reduces red tape and increases competitive advantage; the way the proposed maximum award at local level of €40,000 will improve access to funding for start up and indigenous enterprises in view of the fact that these awards are no longer locally based which essentially creates the same delays being faced by small and medium enterprises in accessing bank finance as all decisions are made nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

37. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the expected cost savings to be achieved by the new structure; the expected cost of the transition for 2013; if he will confirm that these funds are not reducing funds available to start up enterprises and the initiatives necessary to support job creation for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24362/13]

State Examinations Commission

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

346. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the leaving certificate is going ahead in Malta in June; if his Department or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have made any appeals to the Libyan Government to ensure that the contracts of 17 Irish teachers who worked at the ISM International School in Tripoli, Libya, will be honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/13]

State Examinations Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

118. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider withholding the results of leaving certificate exams for students of a foreign based school (details supplied) until the wages of 17 Irish teachers have been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23372/13]

Forestry Management

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

230. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a copy of the Principles of Sustainability with which Coillte should adhere in order to comply with their commitment to sustainable forest management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23458/13]

EU Directives

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

141. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding EU Directive 2011/70/EURATOM (Nuclear Waste), Under Article 6 (3) describing financing of Competent Regulatory Authority, Member States are required to ensure that the competent regulatory authority is given legal powers and human and financial resources necessary to fulfill its obligations in connection with the National Framework as described in Article 5 (1) (b), (c), (d) and (e); if he will provide a preliminary figure signalling that the cost of this will reflect the general principle given in Article 4 (1) that each Member State shall have ultimate responsibility for management of radioactive waste generated in it, and that the figure will reflect that responsibility and only that responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21949/13]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

177. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 12 March 2013 (details supplied), the number who were seconded to both the Irish Horse Board and Horse Sport Ireland; his views on whether a total of at least four employees were seconded to IHB (details further supplied) and at least three employees were seconded to HSI; if the salaries of all the seconded Department employees were reimbursed; if he will show in the IHB and HSI accounts at his Department that the wages and all employment expenses such as pension, taxes and so on were fully reimbursed to his Department from both IHB and HSI. [21954/13]

Garda Operations

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

158. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if Gardaí are required to issue a receipt upon seizing assets which may be used in a court case at a later date; the minimum requirements for such a receipt; if any such receipt must include date, place of seizure, estimated value and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21665/13]

Communicating Europe Initiative

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

117. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate the person funding the Leviathan series of lectures entitled Communicating Europe; under what Department has it been promoted; the person responsible for the selection of speakers at this lecture series; the percentage of the fees paid to the Leviathan organisation that is coming form Irish taxpayers' money; if there was an open competition for the contract to facilitate and host these lectures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/13]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

150. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in both absolute and percentage terms, the amount of the debt being written down by wholly and partly State owned lending institutions for Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited and Independent News and Media Limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21415/13]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

152. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the percentage stake the State will now hold through Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland in Independent News and Media Limited as a result of the debt for equity swop to facilitate the write down of INM Limited debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21424/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

207. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if any community welfare officers employed by her Department issued rent allowance from her Department's funds, or previously from funds from the Department of Health via the Health Service Executive, to recipients living in properties owned by community welfare officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21168/13]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

208. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will supply the names of furniture shops that received payments from those in receipt of the new accommodation grant scheme to purchase furniture and other household items; if there is a register of such shops and if she will make any such register available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21171/13]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

212. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the provision that exists to make rent allowance available to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo, who find themselves with their name still on a mortgage but no longer enjoying the benefits of a family home, and no longer involved with servicing the mortgage, as they have had to move out post-separation and are unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21222/13]

Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

171. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the provision that has been made within the Insolvency Service of Ireland rules for the foster care allowance which is paid out by the Health Service Executive; if the fostering care allowance should be excluded as income by lending institutions when calculating mortgage repayments (details supplied) in County Roscommon; his views on whether including such an allowance in mortgage repayments calculations is to put the welfare of fostered children in jeopardy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20875/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

202. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new computer system for AOS 1 will be in place; when payments under AOS 1 will be processed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was promised payments in December has not yet received any payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20874/13]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

139. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if the fostering care allowance should be excluded as income by lending institutions when calculating mortgage repayments (details supplied); his views on whether including such an allowance in mortgage repayments calculations will put the welfare of fostered children in jeopardy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19774/13]

Back to Work Allowance Payments

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

301. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible to have one year's payments for a back to work allowance participant (details supplied) paid up front so that they will be able to finance a new start-up business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19937/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

342. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the 75 raised bogs which are designated national heritage areas, if he will assure the turf cutters that there will be no restrictions on cutting turf next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19945/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

5. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the cutting of turf on special area of conservation bogs, the number of SAC designated bogs that have now been resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, including the turf cutters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19725/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

88. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with regards to the proposed local enterprise offices that local authority rates will not be deducted from grant awards before payment to businesses under the new structures; if he will confirm that all local authority staff to be transferred to new local enterprise offices will have the relevant business expertise to add value to the espoused objectives of job creation, business support and overall economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/13]

Rural Social Scheme Applications

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

20. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the maximum duration that a participant can stay in rural social scheme employment; her views on situations that have now developed whereby participants are on such schemes indefinitely; the steps she will take to ensure that there will be a turnover of participants to prevent the exclusion of certain applicants due to incumbents now having almost permanent status on such schemes [18692/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Remit

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

115. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the proposed LEOs are going to be less confusing for businesses; if the limit of 10 employees is maintained for the LEOs; if the LEOs will be able to engage with indigenous companies who employ more than 10 but do not export; if he will confirm that the new LEOs will have an independent evaluation committee based on independent business experts and professionals who chair such committees; if he will explain the reason the current proposal to have county managers or their representatives chair such an expert committee is supportive of achieving economic development and job creation in view of the fact that it is not their area of expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19465/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

116. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which the proposal to maintain in excess of 30 LEOs meets the criteria of reducing the number of quangos in the McCarthy report; the way in which the suggested structure of new enterprise offices based on local authorities reporting to county managers with a service level agreement with Enterprise Ireland, that is, adding the complexity of local authorities, does not in fact create another layer for businesses to deal with; if he will explain the way the proposed new structure and the reporting requirements within it are enterprise focused; and if he will outline the reason start up businesses should see why engaging with a local authority that sets and demands rates is a positive and innovative reform. [19467/13]

Departmental Bodies

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

179. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reconsider the appointment of a person (details supplied) to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, that this person's position is in conflict with his directorship of Mainstream Renewable Power, which is seeking to build hundreds of wind turbines in the midlands; in view of the fact that the SEAI have been tasked by him to determine issues related to deciding the appropriate separation distance between wind turbines and family homes, if minimum separation distances are increased wind farm developers state that they will be building fewer turbines which will impact their ability to generate profits; if he will consider appointing the EPA, as the statutory body for issues concerning noise; if he will undertake matters related to the review of the guidelines, as the SEAI have a conflicting role in that they are tasked with promoting wind energy; his views on whether this person's involvement as director and advocate for Mainstream Renewable Power undermines the credibility of the SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19358/13]

Health Services

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

231. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the frequency of contact between the Health Service Executive and a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim: if he will instruct the HSE to reduce the level of contact it has with this person in view of the fact that it is affecting their health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/13]

Private Security Authority Remit

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

485. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans, if any, to meet with electricians' trade representative bodies, including RECI, to discuss the development of the Private Security Authority and the new powers that have been granted to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18507/13]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

561. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the district veterinary office in Roscommon will accept single farm payment forms this year; if received on the closing date, will this count as received on time by his Department; if staff at the DVO office in Roscommon will be able to assist in the completion of the single farm payment application forms as in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/13]

Animal Diseases Issues

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

562. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No 172 of 13 February 2013 regarding all the bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis reactors removed under section 20 of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 as referred to in his written reply of the 13 February 2013, if he will confirm the actual number of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis reactors that have been taken possession of by agreement in accordance with section 20(a)(i) of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 since its inception; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in failing to take possession of all bovine TB and brucellosis reactors by agreement in accordance with section 20(a)(i) of the Diseases of Animals Act he is committing a criminal offence;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19135/13]

Garda Investigations

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

201. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the computer and DVDs taken 10 months ago from a person (details supplied) in County Galway have not been returned; the legislation under which An Garda Síochána are entitled to hold this private property [17943/13]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

711. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the location of maps that give the exact outline of the boundaries of special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17052/13]