Parliamentary questions

Airport Development Projects

Mick Wallace

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a comprehensive impact assessment has been carried out in respect of the effect that the proposed runway at Dublin Airport will have on 2020 emissions reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21987/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for details of the permit granted by his Department for the landing of the Omni Air aircraft at Shannon Airport on 26 June 2016; the assurances he sought that the troops in question were not involved in any military exercises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21986/16]

Military Aircraft

Mick Wallace

59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in relation to permits granted by his Department for the landing and overflying of civil aircraft under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, it is necessary for the applicant countries in question to state the final destination of the aircraft concerned, and if the stated destination has any impact on the granting or refusal of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21984/16]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Mick Wallace

65. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the climate change adaptation plan for transport will be published, given that his Department's Statement of Strategy 2015-2017 stated it would be published in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21985/16]

Aviation Industry

Mick Wallace

89. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has any concerns regarding his Department's role in the granting of munitions permits under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, for civil aircraft landing at Shannon Airport and for civil aircraft overflying Irish airspace, particularly in view of the findings of the Chilcot report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21983/16]

Traveller Community

Mick Wallace

134. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Government will formally recognise Traveller ethnicity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22572/16]

Human Rights Investigations

Mick Wallace

486. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has concerns regarding the recent reports by Human Rights Watch (details supplied) documenting serious human rights abuses including physical and sexual violence and extrajudicial killings as a direct result of the EU's efforts to stem migration from Libya, and, in particular, Operation Sophia. [22390/16]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

637. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the latest figures for State spending on prescriptions of specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors for persons under 18 years of age; the number of persons under 18 according to the latest data that are currently prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22359/16]

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Mick Wallace

730. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 8 June 2016, and his comments in respect of Ireland's commitment to United Nations sustainable development goal two, end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and in view of the fact that red meat is the most carbon-intensive source of protein in the world, the way the Food Wise 2025 strategy is compatible with the United Nations goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22299/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

731. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of kilograms of CO2 emissions generated in the manufacture of 1 kilogram of Irish beef protein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22300/16]

Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

811. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 5 July 2016, if his Department, in preparing for issuing the licences in the Atlantic Margin oil and gas exploration licensing round, carried out an environmental impact assessment of the potential effect that further oil and gas exploration could have on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22840/16]

Gas Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

812. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 5 July 2016, his plans as to the way the energy mix is to be organised per annum up to the year 2035; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22841/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Mick Wallace

813. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of energy his Department estimates will be generated by renewable energy by 2020 given current policy and current trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22842/16]

Energy Policy

Mick Wallace

814. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether keeping Moneypoint coal-fired power station open is compatible with meeting commitments to climate change mitigation targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22843/16]

Energy Policy

Mick Wallace

815. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to phase out coal-fired power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/16]

Inland Fisheries Stocks

Mick Wallace

27. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures taken in the last year to examine salmon and eel stock levels in rivers in County Wexford; his plans to re-open a hardship scheme for drift net licence holders on the rivers Barrow, Nore, Suir and Slaney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21503/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the fines which will be imposed on Ireland from 2020 for not meeting our agreed European Union emissions targets, the amount this will cost the taxpayer per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21504/16]

Bord na gCon

Mick Wallace

37. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the recent discussions he has had with Bord na gCon regarding the publication of the Morris report into greyhound racing; if the report has been finalised yet; if the report will be published in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21330/16]

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Mick Wallace

55. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any concerns that the strategic plans Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 could have a destabilising effect on sustainable development in global food security, as highlighted by environment watchdog An Taisce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21329/16]

Energy Efficiency

Mick Wallace

267. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 1 October 2015, the details of increases in investment by his Department in energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19729/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mick Wallace

8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his proposals to end the practice of admitting children to adult mental health units and cope in an age-appropriate way with the rise in the number of children and young persons receiving acute inpatient mental health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20611/16]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Mick Wallace

103. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to reduce waiting lists for children in need of speech and language therapy, which increased by 20% in 2015 alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20610/16]

Forestry Sector

Mick Wallace

722. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 1 October 2015, the details of increases in investment by his Department in forestry programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19729/16]

Sustainable Development Goals

Mick Wallace

723. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department plays in fulfilling Ireland's commitment to the United Nations sustainable development goal number 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21003/16]

Programme for Government

Mick Wallace

61. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 1 June 2016, if she has carried out further research to assess Ireland's level of expenditure on culture as a percentage of gross domestic product, given that she has expressed doubts regarding the figures put forward by the compendium project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19835/16]

Programme for Government

Mick Wallace

63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the campaign to have a Government Department which is dedicated solely to arts, culture and heritage, and the concerns of many persons on the perceived downgrading of this portfolio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19834/16]

Public Expenditure Policy

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with the current proposed ratio of two to one public investment to tax cuts as set out in the summer economic statement, or if he believes that spending the entire fiscal space for 2017 on public investment is a better option in the long run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19730/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 1 October 2015, the details of increases in investment by his Department in flood mitigation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19729/16]

Human Rights

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on reports that at least 60 civilians have been shot in 2016 by Turkish soldiers while attempting to flee Syria via the Turkish border; if reports of this nature will have any impact on Ireland's approach to the European Union-Turkey refugee deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19225/16]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to protect unaccompanied minors who are arriving in refugee camps on the Greek islands and throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19226/16]

Food Exports

Mick Wallace

595. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed breakdown of the economic demographics of those persons who consume Irish beef and dairy products internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19424/16]

Gas Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

620. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the decision making process with regard to issuing of licences in the Atlantic margin oil and gas exploration licensing round and whether Ireland's commitments to climate change mitigation are factored into these decision making processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19340/16]

One-Parent Family Payment

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the one-parent family payment scheme is adequate to meet the needs of recipients, particularly given recent figures from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul indicating that 59% of one-parent families experience material deprivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18685/16]

One-Parent Family Payment

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reverse the changes made in 2015 to the one-parent family payment scheme which have considerably increased the financial burden on one-parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18684/16]

Severe Weather Events Expenditure

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or Irish Water is responsible for managing storm water run-off countrywide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18305/16]

Severe Weather Events Expenditure

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated, if any, to local authorities to deal with storm water run-off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18306/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mick Wallace

7. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is taking to address the concerns of parents of children who are attending a school (details supplied) and the parents of children attending other schools in a similar position who have recently heard that their school could lose an assistant under the special needs assistant scheme for the 2016-17 school year; if the ratios as set out in the report of the special education review committee are sufficient to meet the needs of the children concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18073/16]

Legislative Reviews

Mick Wallace

38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to carry out or commission a revised plan for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Acts, particularly given that the most recent report of this type was published ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18072/16]

Afforestation Programme

Mick Wallace

479. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for any additional afforestation schemes to work alongside the afforestation scheme, the native woodland conservation scheme and the environmental enhancement of forests scheme, which would be directed specifically at tackling flooding; if he has spoken to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/16]

Forestry Management

Mick Wallace

480. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has concerns that schemes coming under the Common Agricultural Policy might incentivise recipients to remove trees from their land in order to qualify for said schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18337/16]

NAMA Operations

Mick Wallace

10. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he has concerns about the operation of the National Asset Management Agency; if he will call for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/16]

NAMA Accounts

Mick Wallace

45. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the work of NAMA to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/16]

EU Meetings

Mick Wallace

98. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the discussions he participated in as part of the recent Bilderberg meeting; for information on any agreements or decisions reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17398/16]

Ministerial Travel

Mick Wallace

99. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of his trip to the Bilderberg meetings, including details of all expenses and per diem of any accompanying staff; if this is paid by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17399/16]

Departmental Funding

Mick Wallace

258. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of the granting of seafood processing capital investment scheme funding to a company (details supplied), announced earlier this month; if this State funding will be directed to Monaghan specifically, as indicated by him in his press release; for details of where and to what specific projects or operations this funding will be directed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17351/16]

Departmental Funding

Mick Wallace

259. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of the recent allocation of seafood processing capital investment scheme funding to a company (details supplied); if the funding, which is indicated as intended for a project based in Monaghan, will be directed there; if all the necessary planning permissions have been sought and granted for the project in receipt of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17352/16]

IBRC Liquidation

Mick Wallace

142. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the legal opinion of a company (details supplied) mentioned in the KPMG progress report on the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation issued to him on 27 May 2016, which suggests that delayed recognition of losses is legal and complies with Irish company law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16996/16]

Greyhound Industry

Mick Wallace

482. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the Morris report on greyhound racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/16]

Defence Forces Expenditure

Mick Wallace

578. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of the presence of the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport, protecting civilian troop carriers and military planes of the United States of America, by month in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17202/16]

Overseas Missions

Mick Wallace

579. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he had discussions regarding discontinuing the Irish participation in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17203/16]