Parliamentary questions

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

74. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 14 May 2024, to list previous occasions where the State has recognised a new state in circumstances where the recognised governing body of that state does not have de facto governing authority over its entire territory. [23792/24]

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

87. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to list all previous instances where the State has recognised a new state in circumstances where that state had not first been recognised by, and admitted to membership of, the United Nations. [23791/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

108. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timetable for publication and consideration of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes; if primary or secondary legislation is planned; and if it is intended to hold public pre-legislative scrutiny with respect to the draft legislation. [23788/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

109. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Ireland intends to notify the European Commission of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes in accordance with the TRIS Directive; and what form of draft legislation will be notified to the Commission. [23789/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

110. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to draft legislation to ban disposable vapes, noting the substantial, cumulative cost impact on industry as a result of the proposed new ban. [23790/24]

Local Elections

John Paul Phelan

284. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for his decision to increase the spending limits for local election candidates; the information he considered before making this decision; the extent of any consultations or research he conducted before reaching his decision; and the total number of candidates who spent in excess of €12,000 at the 2019 local elections. [23793/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

336. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the details of the number of fines issued by the courts for offences relating to the sale of illicit tobacco and tobacco smuggling in 2022 and 2023 that have been paid; and the number that remain unpaid. [23787/24]

Gambling Sector

John Paul Phelan

214. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to increase the legal age for gambling to 21 years in line with proposals to increase the legal age for smoking. [22198/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

256. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the detailed results of the public consultation on Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products, which his Department conducted from 25 November 2023 to 5 December 2024, will be published in full before proposals for new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking are brought to the Government. [22192/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

257. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if a detailed regulatory impact assessment will be prepared and published at the same time as the general scheme of proposed new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking. [22193/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

258. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with retailers on the workability of raising the legal age for smoking, particularly given that differing age limits could apply to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products; and if this matter will be assessed thoroughly in the regulatory impact assessment on the legislation proposing a change in the age for smoking. [22194/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

259. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the current legislative provision for test-purchasing of tobacco by persons under the current age limit would be extended to allow 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to be used for test-purchasing if the legal age for smoking is raised to 21. [22195/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the civil liberty and equality implications of his proposal to remove the right to smoke, which currently extends to all adults from over 190,000 Irish adults on the basis of age. [22196/24]

Healthcare Policy

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the plans he has to address alcohol consumption by children, noting that the Irish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study 2022 found 31% of children have consumed alcohol, compared with 9% of children who have smoked cigarettes. [22197/24]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

265. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason a service (details supplied) that was suspended during the Covid lockdown has not recommenced; if there is a timeline for reopening the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22239/24]

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

88. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his recent discussions with the prime minister of Spain, to outline the territorial borders of any Palestinian state which the Government would be willing to recognise, and who the Government would recognise as the legitimate government and diplomatic representatives of any such state. [21297/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

111. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 30 April 2024, to list all Acts sponsored by his Department, or Statutory Instruments signed by Ministers at his Department, from 20 February 2020 to date, and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/24]

Schools Building Projects

John Paul Phelan

330. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education to outline the current status, reason for delay and the projected timeline for the construction of a school extension at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21675/24]

Departmental Data

John Paul Phelan

436. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of proceedings lodged at the High Court in 2023 and to date in 2024; the estimated total number of these which relate to immigration matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21295/24]

Third Level Education

John Paul Phelan

668. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the practice in some third level institutions whereby students are automatically signed up as members of the students' union upon enrolment at the institution; his views on whether this arrangement is in accordance with the freedom of association guaranteed in the Constitution; whether current legislation provides adequate protections for students in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21298/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

136. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19174/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

152. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19166/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

166. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19164/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

182. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19161/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

210. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19176/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

239. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance to list all Acts and statutory instruments sponsored by his Department that became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19165/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

256. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19171/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

273. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19163/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

318. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19162/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

380. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19175/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

408. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19169/24]

EU Directives

John Paul Phelan

457. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19173/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

516. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19170/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

546. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list all Acts and statutory instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19159/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

580. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19160/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

701. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19168/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

762. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19167/24]

Departmental Data

John Paul Phelan

796. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19172/24]

Customs and Excise

John Paul Phelan

37. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the points-of-entry, that is, ports and airports, at which mobile x-ray scanners and sniffer dogs were deployed to over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/24]

Schools Building Projects

John Paul Phelan

272. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the timeframe for the granting of approval for a school (details supplied) to proceed to the tender acceptance stage for an extension project approved by her Department; to outline her Department’s predicted timeframe for completion of the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17401/24]

Foreign Policy

John Paul Phelan

133. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reasons the Government is willing to recognise the independence of Palestine but not the independence of Taiwan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17199/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

153. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of X-ray scanners used to detect illicit trade and smuggling at ports and airports; the number of dates on which they were deployed and used at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the number of X-ray scanners in use at ports and airports. [17172/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

154. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of sniffers dogs being used to detect illicit trade and smuggling at ports and airports; the number of dates on which they were deployed and used at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the number of sniffers dogs in use at ports and airports. [17173/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

155. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff and other resources being deployed and used at ports and airports to detect non-compliance by individuals with duty-free travel allowances; the number of inspections carried out at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the resources in use at ports and airports for this purpose. [17174/24]

Control of Firearms

John Paul Phelan

252. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the reason the Firearms Consultative Panel, which had been established by her predecessor in 2015, has been discontinued; and if she will re-establish the panel to provide a much-needed, inclusive forum for consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. [17171/24]

Referendum Campaigns

John Paul Phelan

32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government still intends to hold a referendum for Ireland to join the Unified Patent Court on 7 June 2024; whether an alternative date is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

171. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address delays by ESB Networks in providing grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to deploy the use of battery technology to support the installation of EV charging infrastructure along the comprehensive road network in response to delays in grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to unblock potential barriers and streamline the process for the private sector companies to access grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/24]

Transport Policy

John Paul Phelan

315. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will simplify the VAT code on car sharing, noting the current dual-rate system is unnecessarily complex and discourages car rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15320/24]