332. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if persons applying for passports from autumn 2017 will need to have public services cards; the reason for this change; if he has considered the negative consequences it will have for persons living in Northern Ireland; and his views on whether it impinges and places unnecessary burdens on the right of Irish citizens resident there to apply for Irish passports. [25675/17]
88. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that according to an organisation (details supplied) 51 social leaders, activists and human rights defenders have been assassinated to date in 2017 in Colombia and this list has been verified against statistics from a human rights think tank (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a union (details supplied) has denounced threats made to a person (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that after the killing of two members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, and six of their relatives in April 2017 threats and assassinations against FARC are not ceasing; and his views on the safety of human rights defenders and the peace process in Colombia. [25635/17]
86. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the escalating campaign of reprisals against human rights defenders and their families in Bahrain; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that civil and political society leaders have been subject to a pattern of intimidation, including the vandalising and destruction of their property with apparent impunity; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the families of exiled human rights defenders have been recently summoned to appear at police stations at which they were instructed to call their family member and ask for them to give up their activism abroad or their families would all be arrested; and his views on whether the latest acts of reprisal against activists inside and outside Bahrain and the continued use of both judicial and extrajudicial means to crack down on any and all dissent in the country are completely inexcusable. [25634/17]
79. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the state of democracy and human rights in Turkey and the state of emergency that allows President Erdoğan to rule by decree, which is to be continued indefinitely; his further views on the fact that these powers have to date allowed the Turkish Government to jail more than 40,000 persons, fire or suspend more than 140,000 persons, shut down circa 1,500 civil groups, arrest at least 120 journalists and more than 150 news media outlets; and his further views on the health and well-being of the Peoples' Democratic Party Members of Parliament that remain in jail in Turkey. [25636/17]
70. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 1,500 Palestinians are on hunger strike in Israeli jails; his views on whether Israel’s mass detention of Palestinians and its treatment of Palestinian prisoners and their families is inhumane and vindictive and that Israel should abide by international and human rights law; and his further views on whether the Israeli authorities should agree to the reasonable and humane reforms that the hunger strikers are demanding. [25632/17]
54. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the European Commission's efforts to renegotiate a new protocol with Morocco; and the safeguards that the Government will require from the European Commission to ensure the negotiations are in full conformity with the European Court of Justice ruling of 21 December 2016 in Polisario v. Council, notably in terms of consent in order to avoid a costly and lengthy legal proceedings that the Polisario Front would undoubtedly relaunch. [25633/17]
47. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to comments made by various members of the British House of Commons regarding ongoing legal cases involving the prosecution of British soldiers over alleged criminal actions in Northern Ireland; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Speaker has agreed that MPs should not make reference in debates to cases which are active in the British courts; and his views on British MPs abusing parliamentary privilege in comments regarding active cases in the British courts involving the deaths of Irish citizens without commenting on the details of these cases due to ongoing legal proceedings. [25702/17]
372. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons resident in the North of Ireland who currently hold Irish passports. [24714/17]
370. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 16 May 2017, if he will direct the ambassador to Brazil to visit Guarani Kaiowá communities in Mato Grosso do Sul and provide him with a report of the challenges they face; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Aty Guasu Great Council of the Guarani Kaiowá will be held from 26 August to 31 August 2017 in Takura, Mato Grosso do Sul; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that international observers are travelling to hear the concerns of the Aty Guasu; and if he will direct the ambassador to Brazil to visit this important gathering. [24409/17]
364. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the European Commission's efforts to renegotiate a protocol with Morocco; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Western Sahara is closed to independent international observers and to journalists; if he has inquired into the way in which the Commission will monitor the implementation of a revised agreement; if the European Commission is planning on relying on information provided by the Moroccan Government; and his views on whether such information provided by the Moroccan government in this case can be trusted. [24117/17]
363. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the European Commission's efforts to renegotiate a protocol with Morocco; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the EU Morocco Association agreement states that the certificates required to establish the place of origin shall be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting country; if he has enquired into which customs authority will be responsible for products coming from Western Sahara; and if he has enquired into the way in which Morocco acting in its sovereign capacity can deliver certificates of origin in relation to products originating in a territory located outside its international borders. [24116/17]
362. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has opposed the European Commission's efforts to renegotiate a protocol with Morocco which includes Western Sahara, a territory that is outside its internationally recognised borders, in view of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling of 21 December 2016 in a case (details supplied); and if Ireland inquired into the way in which the European Commission plans to get this consent of the persons of Western Sahara living in the liberated zone and in the refugee camps in order to create a new protocol, in view of the fact that the ECJ ruling requires the consent of the persons from Western Sahara for economic activities related to this territory. [24115/17]
361. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of trade with Western Sahara per annum in each of the years 2010 to 2016; if all products coming from Western Sahara since the European Court of Justice ruling of 21 December 2016 have entered Ireland under the International Organization for Standardisation code for Western Sahara and not the Moroccan code; and if these products have not benefitted from the EU Morocco preferential tariff when applicable. [24114/17]
44. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a group (details supplied) has tried to secure funding for a small number of victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings that were referred by a general practitioner for a small number of counselling sessions; and the reason the Victims of Crime Office has refused this request to date in 2017. [24019/17]
302. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) was recently here; and if he will contact his Brazilian counterpart to indicate his concern at the violent attacks on the Guarani-Kaiowá and his disappointment at the failure of the Brazilian Government to demarcate the Guarani-Kaiowá's ancestral territory. [22929/17]
491. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is on a waiting list for surgery; the reason for the delay; the average waiting time for this procedure; and the person's approximate waiting time for surgery. [22034/17]
315. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the concerning developments in the urgent case of a person (details supplied); and if he will protest the person's arbitrary, punitive and unlawful detention with the Bahraini authorities. [21974/17]
310. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount Ireland has donated to the UN's International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in Syria; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a significant shortfall of $4.6 million in order to cover its budget for 2017, its first year in operation; and if his Department is working with others to ensure this shortfall is met. [21615/17]
143. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the interdepartmental committee on the Irish abroad met as planned on 30 March 2017; if the barriers and disproportionate burdens facing persons wishing to return home was discussed; and the solutions the committee come up with to resolve these issues. [21302/17]
173. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe to end the pay inequality that teachers endure in view of the fact that there has now been six years of discrimination. [21061/17]
628. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in May 2017 the human rights situation in Morocco will be examined in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review; if Ireland will take part in the session; and if Ireland will raise Morocco’s continued violation of human rights in Western Sahara and its refusal to hold a referendum on independence in the country. [19535/17]
623. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports of large-scale attacks on and illegal detention of LGBT citizens in Chechnya; if his Department is investigating the reports; and if he will raise the issue with his Russian counterpart. [19270/17]
226. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department cancelled the USA birthright programme; the amount the programme was expected to cost annually; the number of persons that were expected to be part of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18624/17]
65. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there has been little progress in the current negotiations in Belfast due to the fact the British Government and the Democratic Unionist Party have not focused on the key issues, which were at the heart of the recent election, and outstanding issues from previous agreements that have not been implemented; his views on whether the political institutions will only work if they are based on delivering equality, integrity and respect for all; and the steps he is taking to ensure the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements are implemented in full. [18297/17]
60. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deaths of at least 52 adults and 20 children due to sarin and chlorine gas exposure in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria (details supplied); and if his Department will play a role in an investigation of this incident. [18298/17]
55. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish ambassador to Egypt attended the latest mass trial in Cairo involving a person (details supplied); if he has considered the calls on his Department to begin an international legal challenge against Egypt on the grounds of human rights violations against the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18294/17]
49. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if during his discussions with his European counterparts he has requested that Ireland receive a veto on the EU-Britain deal on Brexit similar to that received by Spain; if so, and if he did not receive support, the basis on which Ireland is being treated differently to Spain; and if he has not requested such a veto, the reason therefor. [18295/17]
42. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the Israeli Government’s decision to build a new illegal colonial settlement in the occupied West Bank (details supplied); if he will raise his objections to this new illegal colonial settlement and the other 143 with his Israeli counterpart; and his views on whether sanctions should be placed on Israel for its continued and blatant violations of international and human rights law. [18296/17]
26. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ETA has announced that, on 8 April 2017, it will decommission its weapons; his views on whether the Spanish Government should seize this historic moment and enter into a formal peace process to deal with other outstanding issues, especially concerning prisoners; and if he will offer his Department's support to any initiative to establish a formal peace process. [18577/17]
416. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Crowe den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála an n-aontaíonn sé go gcaithfidh stadás oifigiúil don Ghaeilge a bheith mar chuid d’aon Acht Gaeilge ó thuaidh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [18026/17]
40. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of newly built social housing units that have been constructed in Dublin 16 and 24 in the past 12 months in tabular form. [16993/17]
251. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied), the leader of the non-violent Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, was arrested by the Israeli authorities only days before travelling to the USA to receive the Gandhi Peace Award; that his arrest includes a travel ban (details supplied); and if he will raise this case with the Israeli authorities. [16971/17]
250. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in the West Bank city of Hebron, who has been engaged in non-violent activities against the Israeli occupation for over a decade; and if he will raise the case with his Israeli counterpart. [16970/17]
28. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Ireland will be exempted from having to increase its spending on weapons and military capabilities from 0.6% to 2% of GDP (details supplied). [15269/17]
11. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if operational Army units are operating with up to 50% of the officer numbers required; the percentage of officers assigned to operational Army units, in tabular form; and the minimum number of officers that should be attached to these units. [15270/17]
604. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Tusla staff who have been removed from employment following reviews of children and youth services or assessment of practices since 2010. [14852/17]
268. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to new legislation that allows the Israeli Government to ban persons who advocate for boycotts of Israel or Israeli settlements from entering the country, which stops them transiting to Palestine (details supplied); his views on the fact that Irish citizens will be banned and deported. [15019/17]
267. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that refugees who escape North Korea by crossing the border to China are regularly returned by China to North Korea; his views on whether this violates international law; and if he will raise the issue with his Chinese counterpart. [15018/17]
1206. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are train stations in south Kildare that are being considered to become unmanned stations. [13368/17]
845. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff that have been removed from employment following reviews of services or assessment of practices since 2010. [13370/17]
844. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the standing orders of the regional health forums across the State; the frequency of their meetings; and if he will prioritise a national meeting of regional health forums. [13369/17]
607. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration will be given to banning goods produced in Israeli settlements in Palestine, in view of the fact these settlements are illegal under international law and the continued human rights violations that these illegal settlements create. [14115/17]
606. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount he expects Ireland to spend on overseas development assistance in 2018; and the percentage of gross national product he expects this spend to be. [14114/17]
605. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount he expects Ireland to spend on overseas development assistance in 2017; and the percentage of gross national product he expects this spend to be. [14113/17]
604. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount Ireland spent on overseas development assistance in each of the years 2007 to 2016; and the percentage of gross national product the spend represents in each year. [14112/17]
597. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Bahraini Government revoked the nationality of a person (details supplied) on 20 June 2016; and if he will raise the case with his Bahraini counterpart. [13516/17]
439. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities publish the details of the companies that win their tenders, while others do not because they state it is commercially sensitive; and if he will instruct all local authorities to publish the details of the companies that win their tenders. [13375/17]
438. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will make all leases of buildings taken out by councils and Departments transparent and post them online. [13374/17]
437. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department regularly inspects homes rented under the housing assistance payment scheme to check if they are fit for purpose and up to standard. [13373/17]