Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Tax Reliefs Application

Robert Dowds

219. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if tobacco companies with operations here availed of the tax credit for research and development expenditure in any of the past three years for which figures are available. [10203/13]

Fire Service Staff

Robert Dowds

452. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be any recruitment of Fire Service staff in the foreseeable future; and if so, if there will be any age limit placed on such recruitment when it recommences. [10102/13]

Garda Recruitment

Robert Dowds

511. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be any age limit for the recruitment of gardaí when recruitment recommences in 2015, in view of the fact that there has been a moratorium in place for some time; and if so, if it is possible to say at this point what the age limit will be. [10100/13]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Robert Dowds

636. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health his views on the statement in the BreastCheck programme's annual report for 2011 that sustainability of the programme's current level of service at the current resource levels in the long term is unlikely. [9637/13]

Health Services Staff

Robert Dowds

637. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the number of radiographers employed by the Health Service Executive in each region for the past four years for which data is available. [9638/13]

HSE Staffing

Robert Dowds

696. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if there will be any recruitment of paramedics in 2013, 2014 or 2015; if there will be any process by which those wishing to become paramedics may become familiar with the job to better prepare them and if there will be any age limit placed on the recruitment of paramedics. [10101/13]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

74. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the way income from farming and related activities is calculated for tax purposes. [9357/13]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Robert Dowds

270. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to revise an agreement with Zambia on avoiding double taxation which dates from 1971, which Action Aid says is implicated in losses to the Zambian Exchequer through transfer pricing. [8614/13]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Robert Dowds

271. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if multinational companies with offices here are required to disclose international related-party transactions which may give the company a tax advantage; and if not, if he will consider introducing regulations on this issue. [8615/13]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Robert Dowds

272. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which Ireland shares information about taxation with developing countries, for example Ireland's long-term development partner countries in order to help developing countries address tax avoidance by multinational companies. [8616/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Robert Dowds

298. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistants may assist their assigned pupils with academic tasks, while at all times being under the direction of the teacher; if not, if he will explain the reason and if he will consider reviewing the current procedures in the context of the new public service agreement which is currently under negotiation. [8056/13]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Robert Dowds

498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any recruitment moratorium for fire and emergency services; and if so, whether it is possible to say at what point that moratorium will be brought to an end. [8280/13]

Residential Institutions Issues

Robert Dowds

543. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his consideration of issues relating to the Bethany Home and the redress issues surrounding that home, in view of the completion of the Magdalen Laundries report. [8203/13]

Hospital Services

Robert Dowds

680. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reasons the epilepsy units at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and at Cork University Hospital have not yet been opened; and when he expects to be able to open them in full. [8204/13]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Robert Dowds

681. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if persons with epilepsy who require specialised treatment are eligible to seek treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme while the opening of the epilepsy units at Cork University Hospital and at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, is pending. [8205/13]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Robert Dowds

691. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health when there will be further recruitment of paramedics by the Health Service Executive. [8279/13]

Services for People with Disabilities

Robert Dowds

722. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the number of persons nationally who have been waiting for the completion of an assessment of need, under the Disability Act 2005 and regulations, for more than six months. [8617/13]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Robert Dowds

78. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will explain the way he is addressing the issue of the continuing non-payment of a training allowance for full-time clinical placement to student medical scientists registered with Dublin Institute of Technology; and when students may expect to be paid this allowance. [7435/13]

Traveller Community

Robert Dowds

205. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on funding for the Clondalkin Travellers' Development Group bicycle repair shed project, which was expected to have been delivered late last year; if this funding will still be provided, and if so, the date of same; and if it will not be provided, at what stage was it cancelled and the communication there was between her Department and the development group and-or the special initiative on Traveller enterprise in this regard. [7804/13]

Child Custody and Access

Robert Dowds

153. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline current legislation regarding the right of unmarried fathers to have access to their children; and the changes expected to this in view of the recent Children's referendum. [7615/13]

Sale of State Assets

Robert Dowds

155. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to ensure the continued open access for recreation to land owned by Coillte in the context of the sale of parts of Coillte to private interests; if he plans to write into any sale agreement that there must be access to Coillte owned land for recreational users after the sale takes place, that car parks must be kept open, and that any damage to paths by machinery is repaired; and his view on the importance of land access to Coillte lands for recreational users [5407/13]

Scottish Independence

Robert Dowds

216. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide clarification regarding the Government's view as to whether Scotland would or should continue to be a member state of the EU if it were to become independent; and his views on the importance of maintaining an excellent working relationship with the Scottish Government and its people. [5177/13]

Drug Treatment Court

Robert Dowds

649. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has plans to expand the area of operation of the Drug Treatment Court; and, if so, if this will include the areas of southwest Dublin. [5535/13]

Property Taxation Application

Robert Dowds

241. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the methods of payment available to persons in relation to the property tax. [3933/13]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Robert Dowds

497. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the incentives available for the development of wind energy in Ireland. [3861/13]

Fuel Prices

Robert Dowds

498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reduce the cost of imported oil. [3862/13]

Fuel Prices

Robert Dowds

499. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reduce the amount of oil imported into Ireland. [3863/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Robert Dowds

57. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will give an up to date account of his discussions in Belfast regarding the flag protests and riots in Northern Ireland; and the way in which Northern Ireland might move away from such behaviour. [3525/13]

Exploration Industry Data

Robert Dowds

142. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the evidence for oil and gas on the Porcupine Bank, west of County Galway. [3526/13]

Immigration Status

Robert Dowds

163. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons waiting for decisions on their leave to remain here; and in tabular form, the length of time such persons have been waiting. [3531/13]

Immigration Status

Robert Dowds

164. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to speed up processing of applications for leave to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3532/13]

Residential Institutions Numbers

Robert Dowds

165. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update in relation to his consideration of issues relating to Bethany House and the redress issues surrounding that home. [3535/13]

Disease Incidence

Robert Dowds

198. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide data on the prevalence of sickle cell disease here. [3527/13]

Disease Incidence

Robert Dowds

199. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths from sickle cell disease or related complications that have been recorded here over the past five years for which data are available. [3528/13]

Disease Incidence

Robert Dowds

200. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will consider setting up a comprehensive programme of testing for sickle cell disease here. [3529/13]

Disease Incidence

Robert Dowds

201. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health his plans to centre the treatment of sickle cell disease in one hospital here. [3530/13]

Property Taxation Collection

Robert Dowds

220. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his views on issuing every household who pays property tax with an annual receipt outlining the way their money was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/13]

Banks Recapitalisation

Robert Dowds

226. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on recent financial interactions that he has had with Bank of Ireland. [3006/13]

National Internship Scheme Numbers

Robert Dowds

375. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have availed of the JobBridge scheme to date; and the number of persons known to have moved from JobBridge into full-time employment. [2891/13]

Waste Management Regulations

Robert Dowds

459. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in any plans he has to introduce a bin waiver scheme. [2889/13]

Security of the Elderly

Robert Dowds

460. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the future of financing for the senior alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/13]

Data Protection

Robert Dowds

494. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to use the influence afforded to it by the EU Presidency to seek to amend the proposals set out last year by the EU Justice Commissioner to the effect of lessening the sanctions that will be imposed on companies and persons for breaches of EU data protection directives. [2544/13]

Data Protection

Robert Dowds

495. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is planning or has any plans to seek to amend the penalties for breaches of EU Data Protection Law as set out in proposals last year by the EU Justice Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2545/13]

Data Protection

Robert Dowds

496. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he fully supports the proposals set out in 2012 by the EU Justice Commissioner for new EU data protection laws and if he specifically supports the proposals which will place fines on companies which are in breach of data protection legislation; and his views on whether such fines as set out in the proposals are appropriate. [2546/13]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Robert Dowds

637. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reviewing the age cut-off for dependents on the drugs payment scheme 23 years old to bring it into line with the cut-off for dependents on the medical card/general practitioner visit card scheme 25 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2875/13]

Friends of the Hospital Organisations

Robert Dowds

638. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all the hospitals which have a Friends of the Hospital organisation. [2876/13]

Friends of the Hospital Organisations

Robert Dowds

639. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the activities which are undertaken by Friends of the Hospital organisations. [2877/13]

Friends of the Hospital Organisations

Robert Dowds

640. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if there is scope for Friends of the Hospital organisations to involve themselves in activities other than fundraising, such as visiting patients or providing activities for children, at present [2878/13]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

110. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the arguments for and against a tax on stud farms; and if he will provide an estimate of the amount that may realistically be raised by such a tax. [58034/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

173. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if there is any provision in the recent changes to pensions to allow self employed people to withdraw money from their pensions ahead of schedule; and if not, if he will state whether he is considering such a provision. [1634/13]

Third Level Institutions Mergers

Robert Dowds

243. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the Church of Ireland College of Education and Trinity College Dublin in relation to a possible merger. [57928/12]

Third Level Institutions Mergers

Robert Dowds

244. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra and Dublin City University in relation to a possible merger. [57929/12]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Robert Dowds

505. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the vetting or inspection that takes place of persons in receipt of carers' payments, or who have applied for such payments, to ensure that they are acting as carers. [1429/13]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Robert Dowds

617. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who owns one property but who is living elsewhere in rented accommodation has to pay the non-principal private residence tax for the house which they own. [1016/13]

Immigration Policy

Robert Dowds

752. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his reasons for increasing the registration fee for most categories of legal immigrants from outside the EEA by 100% from November; and if he intends to continue the fee at its current level. [58032/12]

Visa Applications

Robert Dowds

753. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the €60 charge for a single use re-entry visa for non-EEA nationals leaving and returning to Ireland; and his plans to review same. [58033/12]

Upward Only Rent Reviews

Robert Dowds

769. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is any prospect of bringing an end to existing leases with upward-only rent review clauses in view of the fact that many businesses are still struggling with rents which do not reflect market value. [1030/13]

Disabled Drivers Grants

Robert Dowds

932. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if the material transport grant for persons with a disability who require a car for going to work is being maintained and at what rate per annum. [1015/13]

Maternity Services

Robert Dowds

961. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of maternity hospitals that currently test pregnant women to see if they carry the sickle-cell gene; if there are plans for all maternity hospitals to test for this if they do not already do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57927/12]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Robert Dowds

622. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the numbers of ambulances being held up for significant lengths of time that is greater than half an hour at each of the Dublin hospitals (details supplied) because the ambulances are waiting for their trolleys to be returned; the figures for the first three months of 2012; and the length of time each ambulance has been delayed [56510/12]

Health Services Provision

Robert Dowds

626. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing regular bone density scans to at risk groups to allow early diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56592/12]

Medicinal Products Prices

Robert Dowds

627. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his efforts to reduce the price of prescription medications; and if he will provide an estimate of when he anticipates that many price cuts to medication will take effect [56593/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Robert Dowds

679. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the parameters that were used to allocate sports capital grants in 2012. [56430/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Robert Dowds

680. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any specific aspect of sport or of club governance which should be made clear in every application for sports grant funding. [56431/12]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Robert Dowds

681. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a further call for applications for sports capital funding in the foreseeable future, and if so; when this may happen. [56432/12]

Work Permit Applications

Robert Dowds

81. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employers per annum that have been prosecuted for breaches of section 2 of the Employment Permit Act (2003) since its enactment for each year for which data is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56128/12]

Work Permit Applications

Robert Dowds

82. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employees per annum that have been prosecuted for breaches of section 2 of the Employment Permit Act 2003 since its enactment for each year for which data is available. [56129/12]

Work Permit Applications

Robert Dowds

83. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections of employment premises that have been carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2012; and in which sectors of employment have such inspections been carried out. [56130/12]

Constitutional Convention

Robert Dowds

108. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the expected cost of the Constitutional Convention to take place this year and next year. [55225/12]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Robert Dowds

239. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if the amount due on the mortgage every month can be used to offset rental income for the purposes of claiming means tested social welfare payments, in particular jobseeker's allowance. [55224/12]

Local Government Elections

Robert Dowds

294. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to publish proposals on a directly elected mayor for Dublin; and the date on which he expects to publish same. [55226/12]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Funding

Robert Dowds

295. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it will be possible to amend the mortgage-to-rent rules to include persons who bought under affordable housing schemes in cases in which the county council is the mortgage lender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55227/12]

Waste Management Regulations

Robert Dowds

297. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 25158/11, if he will provide an update on the possibility of a glass bottle deposit scheme, which he has said would be considered as part of a review of packaging. [55300/12]

Coillte Teoranta Lands

Robert Dowds

360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include provisions which will ensure public access to Coillte land for recreational purposes, as part of any move to sell any assets of Coillte in the future. [55266/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Robert Dowds

470. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures, in tabular form, of the amount of money spent by the Health Service Executive on the provision of sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years; the number of persons who have been provided with such sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years; and using this information, if he will provide figures on the cost per patient for the provision of sleep apnoea machines in each of the past six years. [55230/12]

Employment Support Services

Robert Dowds

281. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she is using to ensure that persons in receipt of jobseekers' payments are actively looking for work or training opportunities, or are pursuing training or education. [53884/12]

Departmental Investigations

Robert Dowds

282. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of investigations that have been launched into persons suspected of claiming jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit under false pretences in the most recent twelve months for which figures are available. [53885/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

201. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the financial emergency measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life under the provisions of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

202. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide figures, in tabular form, on the amount of revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer if the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 was amended to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life respectively under the provisions of the Act. [52260/12]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Robert Dowds

169. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has embassies physically located in each of the G20 countries, particularly Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and in the case of any of these countries where we do not currently have an embassy, if there are plans to open embassies in these countries to more accurately reflect the changing nature of the global economy. [51465/12]

Employment Support Services

Robert Dowds

330. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the way JobBridge is audited to ensure that employers do not use repeat internships to avoid employing new paid staff and if her attention has been drawn to any cases where this practice has been noticed and halted. [50869/12]

National Internship Scheme Administration

Robert Dowds

331. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider asking employers partaking in JobBridge for a contribution to the cost of maintaining an intern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50870/12]

Rent Supplement Scheme Applications

Robert Dowds

356. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the proposed transfer of some of the administration of rent supplement to county councils, and if she has given further consideration to the payment of rent supplement directly to the landlord as a default option. [51012/12]

Proposed Legislation

Robert Dowds

178. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his efforts toward commencing section 15 of the Fines Act 2010; and if he will provide an estimate of when he will be able to commence it. [50568/12]

Garda Civilian Staff Numbers

Robert Dowds

497. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified accountants employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50014/12]

Garda Civilian Staff Numbers

Robert Dowds

498. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified solicitors employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50015/12]

Garda Civilian Staff Numbers

Robert Dowds

499. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of qualified barristers employed on a full time basis by the Garda Bureau for Fraud Investigation. [50016/12]

Health Services Provision

Robert Dowds

610. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the action he will take in relation to persons who are affected by narcolepsy as a result of the Pandremix vaccine for swine flu given in 2009-10; if a paper will be put to Dáil Éireann on this issue and the timeline for same [49626/12]

Pension Provisions

Robert Dowds

96. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the rate at which the pension provisions of senior managers in the banks in which the State has a stake will be taxed; and if he has considered levying a high rate of tax on these pension provisions in order to provide some measure of social equity. [49158/12]

Middle East Peace Process

Robert Dowds

162. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the recent interception by Israeli forces of the flotilla sailing to Gaza with basic equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47826/12]

Illegal Israeli Imports

Robert Dowds

163. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the purchase of goods by EU countries from Israeli-occupied areas of the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47827/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Robert Dowds

222. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will put in place measures to enable couples where each partner owns a residence and both are in negative equity to allow them both to sell in order to buy a joint residence. [47825/12]

Teaching Qualifications

Robert Dowds

380. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Montessori teaching qualifications are not recognised as qualifying a person to teach in primary schools, and the action that needs to be taken to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/12]

Housing Adaptation Grants Expenditure

Robert Dowds

749. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider setting aside a specific budget for the housing adaptation grant scheme, as funding for accessible living environments has been prioritised in the National Carers' Strategy, but programmes in most local authorities are either on hold or are moving very slowly because of a lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48678/12]

Animal Welfare Issues

Robert Dowds

878. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the law to make it illegal for circuses to hold performing animals in captivity and use them as part of their performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47836/12]

Live Exports

Robert Dowds

903. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend the law to prohibit the live export of animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47971/12]

VAT Rate Increases

Robert Dowds

56. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that although many unhealthy foods and beverages are taxed at the standard rate, anomalies exist whereby products high in fat, sugar and salt are taxed at a reduced, or zero, rate;his plans to address these anomalies in the Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46975/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Robert Dowds

104. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time a social welfare appeal has taken to reach a decision in the past six months for which data are available, and the comparable figure for the previous six months and for the same period year-on-year. [46974/12]

Criminal Prosecutions Data

Robert Dowds

6. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the contact that he has had with the Garda Commissioner regarding the conviction rate for white collar crime as reported in a publication (details supplied); his views on the statistics outlined in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter [46310/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Robert Dowds

157. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the requirements under the VRT and VAT tax relief scheme for drivers and passengers with disabilities regarding persons from whom a used car may be bought to qualify for the scheme, that is, authorised dealers. [44151/12]