Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Ukraine War

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice what options are available to a woman allowed into Ireland under the EU Ukraine Directive to have their mother and brother (who are from Gaza but are now in Cairo in an MSF facility) join them in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15772/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if, following the recent film industry stakeholder forum, he is planning any future changes to section 481 the film tax credit to ensure greater security of employment and incomes for workers in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/24]

Foreign Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of reports of election-rigging in last February’s election in Pakistan; if he has taken the matter up with the government of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14051/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will investigate the practice of members of the Defence Forces being denied their presentation on the basis that they have made protected disclosures about issues in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if it is the case that members of the Defence Forces cannot take cases to the WRC for the issue of being penalised for having made a protected disclosure about issues in the Defences Forces; if so, the reason this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide all available information on the recipients of the wheelchair-accessible grant for taxis; for a breakdown of these recipients, by category (individually owned or rental taxis); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of safety concerns of taxi drivers at night; for an update on his latest engagements with taxi driver groups on this topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

212. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of reports that the cost of renting vehicles from taxi rental companies may be contributing to the national taxi shortage; if he is aware of reports that the ban on individual sale of taxi plates may be contributing to the issue; if he is aware of reports that rental companies are charging high fees to rent out plates in contravention of NTA rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the latest updates on addressing taxi shortages at peak times; if this includes extending the operating hours of public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/24]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport how many incidents and complaints have been logged in the past 24 months with regard to public and staff safety on the Sligo to Dublin train service, particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; if any security or staffing measures will be implemented to provide safe transport for customers and staff on this train particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15393/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

813. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year outturn on illness benefit in 2022. [15348/24]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Boyd Barrett

921. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the number of reports of breaches of protection, safety and barring orders (including interim barring orders) that were made to An Garda Síochána in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the number of subsequent arrests that are made following such reports; the number of convictions in court on foot of these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15038/24]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

929. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of the lease agreements that Coillte has entered by category (e.g. agricultural); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13570/24]

Primary Care Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1313. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if the HSE Dublin south primary care teams provide occupational therapy report services for housing assessment needs; the avenues for a local authority tenant to access HSE primary care teams OT services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14042/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

1358. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there are consistent scheduling issues at St. Vincent's Hospital where patient appointments are being delayed for significant lengths of time due to a lack of interdepartmental co-ordination leading to scheduling overlaps and delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14291/24]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve the reliability of Dublin Bus services in general and routes operated by a company (details supplied) in particular; the extent to which he believes the reliability issues are connected to the difficulties in recruiting drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13254/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is appropriate that the new taxi regulator recently appointed has come directly from employment in a senior position with a taxi app company that has a commercial interest in the taxi industry; his further views on whether this represents a potential conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13253/24]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [10619/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [10615/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

62. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 29 February 2024, the steps a person (details supplied) can take to ensure they receive their renewed passport in their new name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12446/24]

Arts Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

548. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the conditions imposed on arts companies that received funding grants from the Arts Council in relation to adherence to employment law; if sanctions are imposed on such companies if they are found to be in breach of employment law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11614/24]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

558. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's working definition of public service broadcasting; if the term should be taken to imply all activity by State-owned broadcasters, or only activity taken by such broadcasters in service of a defined public service mission; if there is a definition; whether there are plans to ring-fence funding for particular activity that meets this definition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12335/24]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

559. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views of the self-description by a company (details supplied) that it is a commercial public service broadcaster; whether her Department will take any action to publicly to clarify whether the term public service broadcasting is applicable to commercial providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12336/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

615. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenant’s top-up led them to accumulating arrears would he consider HAP rates for this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

684. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason part V council tenancies are excluded from the tenant purchase scheme when other tenants of council owned houses are included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12873/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date of the DNA working group established to consider the potential role of DNA in the context of the provision of the statutory tracing service under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11869/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on how to approach birth information and tracing policy where a birth parent or other individual with access to relevant information is withholding information or otherwise failing to cooperate with an individual who is seeking out their birth information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department has taken to inform adoptees and mother and baby home survivors of any potential role for DNA technologies in tracing birth information, given the diverse levels of technological literacy across society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/24]

Home Care Packages

Richard Boyd Barrett

1269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the procedure for a new company providing home support to be placed on the approved providers list in CHO6; if the tendering process only occurs once per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11805/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

1300. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of reports that Covid testing laboratory staff employed by private providers were excluded from the Covid-19 recognition payment, although they carried out Covid testing on behalf of the HSE; if it was the deliberate policy of his Department or the HSE to exclude such workers; if so, to supply any details about how this policy was arrived at; his views on whether it is appropriate that workers in a persistently Covid-exposed environment and carrying out vital public health work during the height of the Covid-19 crisis would be excluded from a payment; if this was not HSE or his Department's policy, the steps those employed in Covid-testing laboratories in the relevant period can take to access the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11959/24]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1376. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the scopolinem patch; if there are plans to make it available for medical card users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/24]

Departmental Policies

Richard Boyd Barrett

1570. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has reviewed Water Safety Ireland's recommendations and compared them to those prevailing in Northern Ireland; if she plans to harmonise the lifeguarding season and equipment provisions between Ireland and Northern Ireland; her views on whether Northern Ireland's stringent lifeguarding recommendations play a role in Northern Ireland's impressive low drowning rate figures; if she has engaged with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland; if she has engaged with all-Ireland bodies with a remit for lifeguarding, such as an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12257/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if it is the policy of Dublin Bus, the National Transport Authority, NTA, or any Transport for Ireland, TFI, bus operators to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information; given the lack of bathroom facilities at some bus termini and the length of some bus routes, if he thinks such a policy is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11244/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

189. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport given the duty of care that bus operators have towards their employees, if he or the bus operators have considered the potential impact of any policy to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information on the mental health of bus drivers on account of compromised privacy; if he or the bus operators have considered the potential impact on the physical health of bus drivers who may be putting off taking necessary bathroom breaks as a result of any policy to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11245/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport which persons would have access to any identifiable records of bathroom breaks taken by bus drivers; what measures are in place to ensure that this access policy is adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11246/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to make bathroom facilities available for drivers at all bus termini; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11247/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services will meet next. [9317/24]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [9318/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [9319/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her agenda for improving Ireland’s drowning rate, with regard to her responsibility for Water Safety Ireland; to provide details of any engagement with lifeguards and lifeguarding groups to this end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10353/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her recent engagements with the board of Water Safety Ireland regarding recommended equipment guidelines for lifeguarding that it issues to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10352/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 27 February 2024, how Irish medical volunteers can offer their services specifically to communities of individuals displaced from Gaza to third countries, for example, Egypt; the steps his Department will take to assist individuals or groups who contact them expressing an intention to do so; what contact points in the Department are suitable for such individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

101. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 27 February 2024, if he is aware of an offer by a group which has a team of over 20 highly qualified specialist doctors, licensed and experienced in various medical fields in Dublin, ready to volunteer their services to communities displaced from Gaza into third countries, for example, Egypt (details supplied); if he has considered this offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10590/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 27 February 2024, if his Department has considered the direct deployment of Irish medical personnel in the region, including supporting or facilitating volunteer aid from Irish individuals; what in-kind and personnel contributions Ireland has made for same to European bodies for the purposes of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, in tabular form; whether the Department will consider unilateral deployment of in-kind aid in the absence of an adequate response from the above European bodies, given discordant views on the conflict between member-states (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10591/24]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

187. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when the Woodbrook rail station will be opened and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10477/24]

State Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

270. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that a State funded event (details supplied) is issuing consent forms to parents of children participants and attendees which states that the consent form is for filming and photography with wide usage allowed for third parties of which include commercial and non-commercial partners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10027/24]

Visa Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

471. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice which visas are most suitable for Palestinians in Gaza to apply for in order to be permitted to enter Ireland; which visas are most suitable specifically for those with no family here, but who have previously resided in Ireland and for family members of such individuals; her Department's current policy on approving visa applications for Palestinians from Gaza; to provide a breakdown of available visas for Palestinians and guidance on which are most suitable for different categories of applicant, including guidance on making a successful application; if her Department will publish guidance in Arabic to potential applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9990/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

564. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form of redress that is available to former residents of an orphanage (details supplied) given reports of abuse and its exclusion from the mother and baby homes redress scheme (details supplied); whether the confessional character of the orphanage has played a role in the State's attitude towards liability to victims there, as it was a Protestant institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10250/24]

After-School Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

569. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter in relation to an after school service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what avenues are open to a person (details supplied) who has to apply for a passport if the copies of their birth certificate, name change and gender recognition certificate are notarised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9767/24]