Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces Personnel

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

1. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have succeeded in recruiting the required number of doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1391/15]

Overseas Missions

Seán Crowe

2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm plans to send Irish Defence Forces personnel to the Indian Ocean to tackle piracy; the number of personnel who will be involved; and the possible timeframe for deployment. [1394/15]

Overseas Missions

Clare Daly

3. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence whether he will acknowledge the serious mistake and breach of our neutrality by successive Governments in sending Irish troops to Afghanistan, making us complicit in war crimes and torture; the reason that mistake is now being compounded by the continued presence of Irish troops since the ending of the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1318/15]

Defence Forces Personnel

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

4. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on any discussions or plans to revise the 21-year rule with regard to service in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1392/15]

Defence Forces Reserve

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

5. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the development of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1216/15]

Defence Forces Properties

Clare Daly

6. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if a stock-take of unused Defence Forces property has been conducted; the amount of property that has been disposed of by transfer to other State bodies or by way of private sale; the plans that exist for the remainder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1205/15]

Defence Forces

Clare Daly

7. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence in view of the fact that only two officers were ever retired under section 47(2) of the Defence Act 1954, as prescribed by Regulation A15 paragraph 18(1)(f) in the interests of the service, the only clause denying a court martial or right to make a defence, which was removed in 1985, if he will initiate a full independent inquiry into those cases, in the interests of natural justice. [1204/15]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the decision to approve the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the resolute support mission in Afghanistan in view of it clearly not being a peacekeeping or humanitarian mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1219/15]

Defence Forces Records

Denis Naughten

9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence when he will commence recruitment into the Army bomb disposal units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1203/15]

Defence Forces Equipment

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the measures that are in place to ensure that the technologies developed following co-operation between the Defence Forces and companies and research institutions involved with the research and development of military capabilities are not used in the violation of human rights. [1222/15]

Defence Forces Reserve

Timmy Dooley

11. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Defence if he has considered legislative employment protections of members of the Reserve Defence Force, in order to allows a clear framework through which a reservist could be protected from employment termination due to the demands of carrying out their national duties; his views on the nature of poor retention rates of reservists compared to other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1209/15]

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

12. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence regarding the deployment by the Defence Forces of one doctor and three medical NCOs to Sierra Leone if Lariam is being prescribed as an anti-malarial drug for these personnel; the other nations that are sending personnel on this mission; the anti-malaria medication that is being prescribed for personnel from other nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1218/15]

Defence Forces Operations

Clare Daly

13. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions and cost of Defence Forces personnel being involved in aid to the civil power, ATCP, duties at Shannon airport in 2014; his plans to change same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1207/15]

Overseas Missions

Clare Daly

14. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence in view of the human suffering and human rights abuses taking place in Darfur and in Congo DRC, if this is an area where Irish troops could make a real difference in terms of peace-keeping missions. [1206/15]

Defence Forces Strength

Bernard Durkan

15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent the strength of the Defence Forces at all levels remains sufficient to meet any and or all requirements of a security nature now and in the future; if provision continues to be made for emergency situations which might arise in the event of a natural disaster or a threat of terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1201/15]

White Paper on Defence

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

16. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence when the White Paper on Defence will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1214/15]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Clare Daly

17. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the promised review of pay and remuneration for the Defence Forces; and if improvements are likely in the near future. [1208/15]

Air Corps Operations

Denis Naughten

18. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence his plans to expand the operational roles of the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1202/15]

Defence Forces Personnel

Bernard Durkan

19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which discussions are ongoing or agreement reached in respect of members of the Defence Forces due to retire on completion of a specific number of years service; if he is satisfied that all options in this regard have been fully examined and satisfactorily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1200/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the effectiveness of his Department's interaction with the Departments of Justice and Equality and Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the oversight of foreign military aircraft on Irish territory in relation to our neutrality; if recent interdepartmental discussions have taken place on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1220/15]

Military Neutrality

Paul Murphy

21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence his views on a change to the State's policy on military neutrality in the White Paper on Defence; his further views that the United States use of Shannon Airport, the commitment to increase military capacity under the Lisbon treaty and support for French intervention in its former colonies indicate a move away from the policy on military neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1221/15]

Overseas Missions

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

22. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on the Defence Forces’ participation in the UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1215/15]

Action Plan for Jobs

Finian McGrath

23. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the Action Plan for Jobs is being cut each year and highly skilled workers are not being followed up on having completed various State-funded courses, and recruiters for public sector jobs are not targeting those who are on the live register as the information is readily available for the Government on their skills and training experiences; the reason recruitment agencies (details supplied) are being used when there are many on the live register who are well qualified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49466/14]

European Court of Human Rights Rulings

Michael McGrath

24. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the decision of the European Court of Justice in April 2013 has a wider implication beyond the case of the former Waterford Crystal workers; if the application of the finding relates to other pension schemes here; if he will provide a list of such schemes; the period over which such schemes may be affected by the ruling; if he will provide details of the State's response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49563/14]

Property Tax Administration

Clare Daly

25. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that weekly local property tax reductions from payments are synchronised with those payments to avoid extra weeks deductions being made at the year's end. [1041/15]

Citizen Information Services

Jerry Buttimer

26. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce the community visitors programme in 2015, in partnership with Inclusion Ireland and other stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1517/15]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Jack Wall

27. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49438/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Tom Fleming

28. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49441/14]

Education and Training Provision

John McGuinness

29. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the courses available through her Department or agencies in County Kilkenny to assist those wishing to upskill or return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49453/14]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme

Finian McGrath

30. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding mortgage interest supplement in respect of persons who are long term unemployed (details supplied); the way she plans on assisting 11,200 persons who are currently on mortgage interest supplement to obtain permanent employment; if she will provide the job creation and mortgage support schemes that the Government proposed to introduce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49465/14]

Departmental Offices

Clare Daly

31. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will have an Intreo office fully operational in Swords, County Dublin. [49471/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals

Sandra McLellan

32. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will approve and expedite an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49515/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

John McGuinness

34. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [49523/14]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

35. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal claim for benefit will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite the matter. [49528/14]

Momentum Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the difficulties persons may have being forced onto MOMENTUM courses while not being able to afford the cost of getting to class for the placement; if she will indicate the use of these courses in the Dún Laoghaire area, the practice of the Department of Social Protection Intreo centres and local employment services having to meet targets and quotas to fill these places; and the number of persons in the Dún Laoghaire constituency currently in placements in MOMENTUM courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49532/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Tom Fleming

37. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a refusal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that additional information has been forwarded to the appeals section; if she will expedite the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49537/14]

Community Services Programme

Michael McCarthy

38. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding Pobal funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49540/14]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Colm Keaveney

39. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the failure of the wholesale and retail markets in home heating oil to pass on the significant decreases in crude oil prices to consumers, and the continuing hardship that many households experience in affording to heat their homes, her views on restoring the fuel allowance back to the previous payment period of 32 weeks from the current level of 26 weeks; her further views on the restoration of other cuts to fuel and energy supports in respect of elderly persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49561/14]

Departmental Funding

Finian McGrath

40. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49565/14]

Departmental Investigations

Peadar Tóibín

41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the date by which the scope section of her Department plan to complete its investigation into allegations regarding the Kishoge site in Lucan, County Dublin. [49619/14]

Citizen Information Services

Fergus O'Dowd

43. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will commence section 5 of the Citizens Information Act 2007, which establishes the personal advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49655/14]

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Denis Naughten

44. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for exceptional needs payments excluding ENP5 applications by county for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the number of those applications that were refused by county in each of the aforementioned years; the number of those refusals that were successful both on review and on appeal by county in those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49660/14]

Social Welfare Code

Ruth Coppinger

45. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 9 December 2014 her views on a change to the current legislation and rules in relation to income earned on a once off basis as a polling clerk being deducted in a means test for a couple in receipt of carer's allowance and jobseeker's allowance. [49661/14]

Back to Work Allowance

Michael Creed

46. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 16 December if she will clarify the final paragraph of her reply wherein she makes reference to the second year of a business plan; if there is an entitlement to a jobseeker's payment in the first year of the back to work enterprise allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49673/14]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Peadar Tóibín

47. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a profitable company (details supplied) in County Meath has not provided for its employees’ pension scheme; and if she will amend legislation to place an obligation on profitable employers to fulfil pension-related commitments to their employees. [49722/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Tom Fleming

48. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the current rent supplement limits and revise same, with a view to flexibility on the limits for tenants who are at risk of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49723/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

49. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that persons who have earned through their contributions an entitlement to a widow's-widower's contributory pension should not be denied the benefit of their entitlements because they are working on a community employment scheme on which they continue making contributions; in the interests of justice and fairness her plans to remove the widow's-widower's contributory pension from section 39(1) of the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49724/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Terence Flanagan

50. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49746/14]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Bernard Durkan

51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted all recent documentation requested, including bank statements; if a decision will be made in the near future with particular reference to the ongoing poor health of the caree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49747/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Peadar Tóibín

52. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average period of time that persons in County Meath currently spend in receipt of rent allowance and the percentage of these persons who are on the housing list for more than three years. [49748/14]