288. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on Ireland’s position on the indicative roadmap on the introduction of new EU own resources over the 2021 to 2027 period agreed by the EU on 10 November 2020 which includes a plastics-based contribution as of 2021, an emissions trading system-based own resource from 2023, possibly linked with a carbon border adjustment mechanism, a digital levy from 2023, a financial transactions tax-based own resource in addition to a financial contribution linked to the corporate sector or a new common corporate tax base from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37116/20]
287. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to broaden the save-as-you-earn scheme out to financial institutions that take deposits but which may not be a bank. [37115/20]
286. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has received a copy of the terms of reference for the strategic review being undertaken by a bank (details supplied); and if so, if he will publish the terms of reference without delay. [37112/20]
270. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he or the regulator have plans to develop a public information campaign to highlight the potential savings available through mortgage switching as outlined in a recent Central Bank report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36733/20]
269. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the policy of banks requesting mortgage applicants to confirm whether their employer is seeking State Covid assistance through the employment wage subsidy scheme; his views on whether banks may use the publication of the list of firms availing of the scheme to deny entire cohorts of workers the opportunity to obtain mortgages; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36732/20]
268. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the total value in cash terms of the support availed of by a company (details supplied) under the temporary wage subsidy scheme; his views on whether this was an effective use of public funding in view of a recent report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36731/20]
267. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the arrangements under the relationship framework in respect of the relationship between him and a bank (details supplied) in view of Covid-19 and the upcoming national economic plan; his views on whether the State-owned bank could offer business and personal loans at ECB interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36730/20]
256. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the amount of additional ring-fenced funding to be provided to domestic violence services under budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to increased incidence of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37129/20]
173. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of additional ring-fenced funding to be provided to domestic violence services under budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to increased incidence of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37128/20]
157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of additional ring-fenced funding to be provided to domestic violence services under Budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to increased incidence of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37127/20]
145. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the climate action delivery board that have taken place to date in 2020; and the number scheduled for the remainder of 2020. [36072/20]
143. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount of additional ring-fenced funding to be provided to domestic violence services under budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to increased incidence of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond. [37137/20]
136. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce new reforms to ensure enhanced monitoring, transparency and effectiveness of public spending in view of the overspend on a series of flagship projects, including the national broadband plan, with a 500% cost overrun, the national children's hospital, with a 94% overrun, and Dublin Port tunnel, with a 160% overrun; if he plans to introduce new reforms before the completion of the current review of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36581/20]
132. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will implement a right to disconnect policy across the public services given the increased incidence of remote working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/20]
118. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the recent proposals for an EU directive (details supplied) which includes the call for an action plan to promote collective bargaining; his plans to update the national public procurement policy framework to help promote collective bargaining given that countries with high collective bargaining coverage tend to display a lower share of low-wage workers, higher minimum wages relative to the median wage, lower wage inequality and higher wages than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/20]
94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a recent report by the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight, which suggests that parliamentary oversight in the budgetary cycle may be suboptimal; his plans and proposed timeframe for reforms of the budgetary process to improve parliamentary oversight in view of increased public expenditure during the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36582/20]
86. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he plans to introduce legislation to enhance section 22 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015; his views on whether a breach of the section by former Ministers or relevant public officials should be made an offence; his further views on whether sanctions proposed in legislation (details supplied) should be included in any legislation proposing to deal with the matter of public policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36579/20]
303. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by UCD graduate medical students in seeking clarity on the 2% to 4% annual increase in tuition fees for both EU and non-EU students; his views on and response to this campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36077/20]
258. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will consider an appeal (details supplied) for the immediate establishment of a primary teacher supply panel in the south County Louth and east County Meath area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36071/20]
194. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current population equivalent in terms of the operating capacity of the Drogheda wastewater treatment plant at Marsh Road, Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35827/20]
171. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly relating to the Covid restrictions support scheme raised by an organisation (details supplied); his views on same; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36070/20]
116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that should plastic packaging producers eco-design plastic products to mono-material structures, waste managers may still not recycle these products and thus producers would continue to incur eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/20]
115. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if an organisation (details supplied) will develop a definition of recyclable plastics to assist with administering eco-modulated extended producer responsibility fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36075/20]
114. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a common definition of "recyclable plastic" in either Irish or EU legislation; if a definition of "recyclable plastics" is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/20]
113. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of quarterly progress reports on the Climate Action Plan published in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36073/20]
150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPSN will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35538/20]
96. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans currently in arrears and over three months by local authority in tabular form; if bad debt provisions under this scheme are carried by the local authorities or another agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35570/20]
95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are directly funded the actual cost to the authority of funding and administering the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; if the scheme creates a contingent liability on the balance sheet of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35569/20]
70. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Central Bank has been routinely renewing the licences of moneylenders annually for the past 17 years, including licences with associated interest rate charges of as high as 187%; his views on whether the Central Bank’s actions in approving these charges annually is consistent with its consumer protection role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35553/20]
69. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Central Bank has ceased to enforce the consumer protection code, as evidenced by the fact that the Central Bank conducted 26 enforcement actions for breaches of the code between July 2006 and July 2016 but since July 2016 has not conducted a single enforcement action for a breach of the code aside from enforcement actions related to the tracker mortgage scandal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35552/20]
63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance when the HSE will be in a position to resume issuing primary medical certificates in the context of the disabled drivers tax concession scheme, which was halted in 2020 as a result of a Supreme Court ruling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35531/20]
578. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that management at the Irish Management Institute which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of University College, Cork refuse to engage with a union (details supplied) which represents the majority of IMI staff for the purposes of collective bargaining; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this position is at odds with the well-established industrial relations norms and conventions at UCC in which a union has worked with management to create a positive and progressive industrial relations environment; if he will encourage the President and the governing body of UCC to respond to correspondence from the union issued to the college authorities and UCC-IMI on 29 September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35349/20]
341. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the independently-managed, comprehensive database on the non-profit sector established and maintained by an organisation (details supplied) will continue to be freely and publicly available into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34612/20]
340. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which he plans to ensure the continued availability of independent, reliable, publicly-accessible and timely information on the €14 billion non-profit sector and its work if an organisation (details supplied) ceases to operate on 31 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34611/20]
339. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the findings of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34610/20]
338. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the basis on which his Department has chosen to end funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34609/20]
326. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on-course bookmakers are excluded from accessing the CRSS initiative on the basis that they do not possess a business premises; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that on-course bookmakers pay significant rents for defined pitches at race courses; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that details relating to these arrangements are in the possession of Horse Racing Ireland; if he will ensure access to the scheme for on-course bookmakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35257/20]
225. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the options available to families for the disposal of medical waste that is not incontinence wear (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35231/20]
212. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications when high speed broadband will be provided at a location (details supplied) in County Louth; when the locality and infrastructure will be surveyed as part of the national fibre network roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34776/20]
Bill entitled an Act to confer functions on the Central Statistics Office and the National Economic and Social Council in relation to the publication of indices, to be known as Genuine Progress Indicators, designed to take fuller account of the quality of life and well-being of the community by incorporating environmental and social factors, in relation to the publication of National Distributional Accounts that aim to measure the distribution of national income and economic growth and in relation to an annual report on the impact of the Budget on economic and social inequality, poverty reduction and income and wealth redistribution; and to provide for related matters
76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his plans the address the substantial issues faced by US driver licence holders seeking to secure an Irish driver licence upon return or relocation here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is a barrier for persons to secure work (details supplied); his plans to simplify the process; if so, the timeline for completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34242/20]
75. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his views in relation to learner drivers that have been unable to finish their EDT lessons and driver examination due to Covid-19 level 5 restrictions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that learner drivers that are essential workers are unable to drive unaccompanied to work and the practical problems this may cause due to Covid-19; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34241/20]
Bill entitled an Act to provide employees working remotely with a right to switch off from out of working hours work-related electronic communications, to disapply subject to conditions certain provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in the case of certain employees working temporarily from home, and to provide for related matters.
1429. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the progress on an initiative to develop a hospice unit in Drogheda, County Louth to serve the population of the north east; if the HSE still has plans to develop such a unit; the stage at which these plans are currently at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33747/20]
1363. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the agency contract signed between the HSE and a company (details supplied) in relation to the terms and conditions of level 2 Covid-19 contact tracers and the individual contracts and terms and conditions of employment makes it clear that those that have been hired to undertake this critical job do not enjoy the same sick pay terms as level 1 tracers that are in the direct employment of the HSE; his further views on whether the lack of full sick pay cover could potentially see such agency workers placing themselves at risk and in a compromised position in the workplace; if he and the HSE will address this deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33365/20]
1262. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by acupuncturists at their inability to practice and provide a service to their clients under the Covid-19 level 5 restrictions; if he will consider reviewing the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32825/20]
1024. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if HEIs and SUSI will extend the deadline by which a student must withdraw from a course before losing eligibility to receive a SUSI grant to at least 31 December 2020 in view of the impact of Covid-19 on students and the commencement of their studies in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33179/20]
1000. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that incomes from social protection, including the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, are not included in the income disregard for the SUSI grant payment; and his plans to address this anomaly given that it puts students who were in receipt of a PUP in 2020 at a disadvantage when it comes to their SUSI grant assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33630/20]
863. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who was self-employed, pays tax but does not make PRSI contributions is eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32651/20]