554. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the IDA has put forward any concerns to her that the CETA agreement will potentially lose US investment here as Ireland will no longer be needed as a gateway into the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35763/16]
384. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce cancer trial research units in hospitals to complement the current number of 14 located nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35708/16]
335. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the building of 1,600 plus homes for Israeli settlers in the illegal settlement of Katzrin in the occupied Syrian Golan; and the dialogue he has had with his Israeli counterpart and at EU level regarding the disregard of international law that these settlements encompass. [36083/16]
334. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland and the EU can assist with the worsening humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria, especially for children, in view of donor commitments not being fulfilled. [36076/16]
333. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason national contributions to EU development co-operation have increased in the past two budgets; the parts of the EU development budget to which they are allocated; if these contributions will allow Ireland to influence EU policies in a more progressive way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36075/16]
247. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 2 November 2016, his views on the designation of Phibsborough, as defined by the boundaries of the Phibsborough local area plan in October 2008 as a local electoral area for the purposes of the local elections scheduled to take place in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35817/16]
246. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with Dublin City Council, DCC, on the way the budget to deal with pyrite issues in a location (details supplied) has been used; if DCC has confirmed the budget has been well spent in addressing those issues; and if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of residents. [35816/16]
139. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if sitting Members in the Houses of the Oireachtas are eligible to apply for the job-sharing scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria set out in chapter 5, section 4 of the terms and conditions of employment for registered teachers in recognised primary and post-primary schools published on 30 September 2016 in his Department's web book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35612/16]
99. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation amending the Official Secrets Act 1963 in view of recently passed related legislation dealing with protected disclosures in the public interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35554/16]
89. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his response to damning national and international reports on puppy breeding farms here; his plans to cease this barbaric treatment of animals and ensure enforcement of the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32205/16]
87. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued any further alerts to Irish embassies abroad since October 2014; and if not, the reason. [35393/16]
86. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Magdalen restorative justice scheme has now been advertised in a publication (details supplied), as promised by her and as reiterated in her response of 4 February 2016; and if not, the reason. [35392/16]
85. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the information note on the restorative justice scheme for survivors of the Magdalen laundries, circulated in October 2014 to local Irish communities by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its embassies, did not find its way to the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers in the United States (details supplied). [35391/16]
30. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether subjects such as social, personal and health education, SPHE, have a role to play, with particular reference to mindfulness in view of recent reports of an increase in substance abuse among students; and the current programmes in schools to deal specifically with substance abuse. [35185/16]
149. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the request for An Grianán to be included in the redress board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34901/16]
49. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of outstanding issues regarding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; if it is sitting; the number of appeals waiting to be heard; and if vacancies have been filled. [34822/16]
235. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when proton beam therapy will be available in hospitals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34199/16]
45. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to enhance the Air Corps capability by upgrading or replacing the current fleet of PC9s with jet aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33799/16]
516. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures which have been taken to provide services to needy children and families, especially those who, due to their undocumented status, are not eligible for a range of other State supports (details supplied); and the level of intercultural training which has been provided for all Tusla staff. [33576/16]
515. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the provision of legal services and so on to children and families to Tusla annually; and the way and by whom these services are monitored and evaluated with regard to value for money and effectiveness. [33575/16]
492. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the reports to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly by a UN independent expert warning that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is incompatible with the rule of law, democracy and human rights and gives undue power to corporations at the expense of national governments and human rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33383/16]
112. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance to set out the overall tax burden after budget 2017 and the expected overall tax burden for each year to 2021; the way in which this compares with the out-turn levels reported by his Department during the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33397/16]
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of the unfortunate record of treatment of some unaccompanied minors and young asylum seekers, she has satisfied herself that the care system for these most vulnerable young persons is appropriate and up to international best practice. [33522/16]
30. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the involvement of her Department in the area of prevention and education relating to addiction. [33521/16]
433. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the departmental programmes promoting agritourism here; the programmes specifically relating to research in the area of agritourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/16]
427. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person or body who has overall authority over the use of bus lanes and review of usage of the bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32617/16]
426. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the need for an outer orbital dual carriageway for Dublin or upgrades to the M50 in view of recent surveys and reports that the M50 route is at breaking point with a 19% increase in traffic volumes since 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32616/16]
243. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the precise scoring system used to assess each application for an individual election observation mission; if his Department regards each invitation for observers for a particular mission as an open competition; the reason applicants have to complete a new application form for each mission when the data required is virtually the same; and the appropriate action on those occasions when applications are mislaid or end up in quarantine with that candidate not being considered at all. [32660/16]
210. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement with the young persons concerned in taking available training places across the further education and training sector in view of figures supplied in respect of unemployed young persons between 18 and 24 years of age in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32687/16]
138. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the implications of his Department's decision informing a centre (details supplied) that it must incorporate its contingency funds into its core budget particularly in view of the centre's careful management of a contingency fund which was used to cover a variety of purposes and the fact that this change could lead to loss of jobs. [32683/16]
36. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on calls by animal welfare groups to decrease, if not cease, financing the greyhound industry, which is seeing a significant decrease in public interest, and instead invest in industries which do not support cruel treatment of animals in the name of sport. [32206/16]
63. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the nominal GNP numbers for 2015-2021 that underpin budget 2017; the reason he excluded these figures from the budget documentation published on budget day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32287/16]
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to tackle reliance on fossil fuels following the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change; and his further plans to develop programmes utilising renewable energy sources, which, in the case of wind and sea turbines, are in abundance in view of Ireland's geographic location. [32059/16]
13. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress to date of the national broadband plan, with specific reference to the offshore island communities; and his views on the continued difficulties these communities face regarding education, employment and viability without high-speed Internet access. [32338/16]
531. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Turf Club incurred legal costs that were paid for by his Department; the amount of these legal costs; when covering these legal costs ceased; and the reasons for ceasing. [32107/16]
60. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way he has made his concerns known to the Russian and Iranian ambassadors here in view of the escalation in the conflict in Syria, particularly the escalation in bombings of civilians, aid convoys, water and electricity supplies; if he has called them to a meeting on these matters; and, if not, when he will do so. [30279/16]
59. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on media reports that Ireland has an agreement with its UK counterparts to allow RAF jets access Irish airspace for defence and counter-terrorism purposes in the scenario of airspace intrusion; and his further views on the fact that having a possible defence arrangement with a NATO member is eroding Ireland's status of neutrality. [26946/16]
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland can take in engaging with the US to cease its blockade of Cuba, which is having an extremely serious impact on the people of Cuba with the possibility of a humanitarian crisis emerging in the near future, particularly in view of the UN resolution on the necessity of ending the blockade. [30283/16]
28. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any engagements with his Turkish counterpart or the Turkish ambassador regarding the repression of teachers and third level educators following the attempted coup in July 2016; and his views on whether the current administration is potentially in breach of human rights standards. [30280/16]
26. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his engagement with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain on the outstanding issues faced by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, especially in view of the lack of progress on the agreements reached between the prisoners and the authorities. [30282/16]
157. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific criteria such as relevant academic qualifications, election-related professional experience which his Department uses in the selection of current members of the roster of international election observers; the way this roster compares with international best practice of standard-setting bodies for example UN, EU, OSCE, IFES; if he will describe the scoring system used to select an observer for a specific mission; and if he will confirm that those selected have had the most relevant academic qualifications or professional experience to observe that particular international election. [31336/16]
287. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) regarding their passport and rights abroad as an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29388/16]
78. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance given that under Statutory Instrument No. 271 of 2016 roll-your-own tobacco must come in minimum 30g sized packs, previously 12.5g or 25g, if the Revenue Commissioners have the necessary measures to deal with the likely increase of illicit pouches on the market due to 22% of 25g consumers and 29% of 12.5g consumers stating that they would seek an alternative source of supply for their product. [29397/16]
13. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when commitments will be honoured to increase Ireland's intake of refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria as part of a wider European response; and her views regarding the refugee crisis. [29387/16]
28. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the 52-week basis of family income supplement allocation as it does not take into account changes in a person's working circumstances within the 52 weeks. [28736/16]
26. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reverse the decision to means-test the back to education allowance which came into effect in April 2016; if his attention has been drawn to issues facing persons seeking the grant such as persons working one hour per day over three consecutive days who are considered to be full-time workers; and if there is an education officer to deal with questions employed by his Department for the duration of the year. [28735/16]
62. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether the threshold of €15,000 earnings without welfare allowances is prohibitive for many trying to purchase council homes from the local authority; his further views on whether changes to the threshold could contribute in a small way to alleviating the housing crisis; and if the situation will be reviewed in the coming year. [28428/16]
54. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will encourage local authorities to allocate funds to home improvement loans for local authority tenants with particular reference to the example of home extensions being able to contribute to reducing the housing waiting lists and combat overcrowding in some instances. [28429/16]
597. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the areas of public procurement which have been explicitly excluded from the application of CETA for Canada and for the EU (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28133/16]