338. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if he acknowledges the long standing HR difficulties reported by volunteers within Irish Coast Guard coastal units; the steps being taken to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6424/26]
337. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the way his Department plans to ensure that Irish Coast Guard volunteers who have joined a recognised trade union can avail of independent representation in HR, welfare and disciplinary processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6423/26]
336. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if officials in his Department have engaged, or plan to engage, with a union (details supplied) regarding matters raised by Irish Coast Guard members who have recently joined the union; if so, the timeline for such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6422/26]
335. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department recognises that members of the Irish Coast Guard, including volunteers in coastal units, may now join a union (details supplied) and seek representation through that union; when this was formally acknowledged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/26]
800. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of occasions on which Ireland formally raised opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement at meetings of the AGRIFISH Council since January 2025; the steps that were taken at those meetings to build or consolidate opposition among EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3785/26]
799. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if briefing notes, submissions, or speaking points were prepared for Ministers or officials in advance of meetings with EU counterparts concerning opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; the number and dates of such briefings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3782/26]
798. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether minutes, notes, or formal read-outs were prepared for each meeting at which the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement was discussed with other EU member states; and if so, whether these records will be published or otherwise made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3781/26]
797. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list all bilateral and multilateral meetings held since January 2025 with Ministers or senior officials from other EU member states at which the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement was discussed; and to provide the date, location, format, and countries represented at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3780/26]
503. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine a matter regarding school bus operators (details supplied). [3545/26]
452. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs the IDA supported in Kilkenny in 2025; how this compares to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3546/26]
220. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Government will commit to publishing a consolidated account of all Ministerial engagements, meetings, and coordinated actions undertaken with other EU member states in opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if not, the reasons for same. [3789/26]
219. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he considers the Government to have fully complied with the Programme for Government commitment to work with like-minded EU countries to oppose the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if so, to set out the evidence on which this assessment is based. [3788/26]
218. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline all engagements undertaken by him with other Heads of Government or senior EU officials in relation to opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and to provide the dates, countries involved, and nature of each engagement. [3787/26]
217. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken to support the Programme for Government commitment to work with like-minded EU countries to oppose the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; to list any meetings or correspondence with EU counterparts in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3786/26]
216. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail any joint letters, non-papers, position papers, or coordinated actions undertaken by Ireland in conjunction with other EU member states opposing the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and to specify the countries involved and dates on which such actions occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3784/26]
206. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the EU member states the Government considers to be “like-minded” in opposing the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, as referenced in the Programme for Government; and to outline the basis on which each such state is deemed aligned with Ireland’s position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3779/26]
4. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on meetings between his Department and disabled persons’ organisations regarding the proposed cost-of-disability payment; to provide a timeline for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3294/26]
446. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if the possibility of recruiting marine engineers from fishing boats or commissioning some of the larger fishing vessels for defence will be considered as an interim measure. [1259/26]
445. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the current situation with regard to delivering on the Naval Service reserve launches (details supplied); and if delivery is on schedule. [1258/26]
444. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence if Air Corps helicopters are capable of night-time operation and surveillance; and if PC12s are capable of night-time reconnaissance. [1256/26]
442. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the position of the Air Corps with regard to operational capability; if they can operate 24/7; if not, if they are operating a restricted service; and if there are sufficient air traffic controllers. [1254/26]
441. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the time at which the authorities in Dublin were informed of the presence of the presence of the unidentified vessel on 1 December 2025 [1253/26]
440. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the reason the LÉ William Butler Yeats was unable to pick up an unidentified vessel on its radar (details supplied). [1252/26]
439. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the coordinates of the LÉ William Butler Yeats which was reported to have been off the coast of Dublin Bay on 1 December 2025, when President Zelenskyy arrived in Ireland for his first official State visit to Ireland (details supplied). [1251/26]
467. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proposed start date for a new school project (details supplied) in Kinsale, County Cork. [71944/25]
491. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify if tax refunds, tax credits (including the rent tax credit), and medical-expense relief will be treated as one-off income for the purposes of Social Housing and HAP means assessments; whether Revenue classifies these refunds strictly as adjustments to tax liability rather than earnings; whether guidance will be issued to ensure local authorities apply a consistent approach so that one-off tax refunds cannot inflate income above eligibility thresholds such as the €36,500 limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69300/25]
359. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will give consideration to increasing the current quota for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permit system; in view of the fact that dairy farmers in Cork South-West have been unable to recruit staff locally despite extensive efforts over a two-year period, and that the existing quota has now been filled, leaving farms in a critical position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69299/25]
291. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to clarify whether Revenue classifies tax refunds, tax credits (including the rent tax credit), and medical-expense relief refunds strictly as adjustments to tax liability rather than earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69301/25]
260. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the way in which rural transport policy will be aligned with Ireland’s climate action targets, particularly in areas where the absence of public transport forces reliance on private cars (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69943/25]
259. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport to consider extending the ANSEO rural link pilot scheme, currently operating in Achill, to the Louisburgh–Killeen–Drummin–Roonagh Harbour hinterland, given its potential to provide a sustainable and climate-friendly transport solution for these communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69941/25]
258. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the measures that will be taken to address underserved by public transport including the provision of a Local Link service in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69939/25]
257. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the reason the National Transport Authority (NTA) has suspended part of the bus service on the Westport–Louisburgh–Killeen–Killadoon route; the reason the request from local representatives to reinstate the Killeen–Killadoon section has been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69937/25]
627. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent figures regarding the number of people on waiting lists for retinal detachment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67951/25]
626. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent figures regarding the number of people on waiting lists for dry eye disease, or ocular surface disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67950/25]
625. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent figures regarding the number of people on waiting lists for diabetic retinopathy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67949/25]
624. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent national figures regarding the number of people on waiting lists for age-related macular degeneration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67948/25]
623. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent national data regarding the number of people on waiting lists for cornea and refractive surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67947/25]
622. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the most recent national data regarding the number of people on waiting lists for glaucoma treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67946/25]
621. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will address the urgent need for improved facilities and additional dedicated space for the rheumatology outpatient department at Cork University Hospital; the plans in place to provide a designated area for multidisciplinary consultations, patient education, and administrative work to ensure patient confidentiality and efficient service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67925/25]
386. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of disablement benefit recipients who also receive constant attendance allowance (CAA); the number of disablement benefit recipients that have a level of disablement assessed at 50% or above; the reason the number of recipients of CAA appears disproportionately low compared to the total number of disablement benefit recipients; if his Department is actively reviewing the criteria or processes to ensure eligible individuals are not being excluded from receiving CAA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67921/25]