Parliamentary questions

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Mick Wallace

22. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure the continued success of the Irish agri-food sector, given the planned transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41367/15]

Fisheries Protection

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns regarding the movements of the Annelies Ilena and the Margiris motor fishing vehicle, the largest and second largest fishing vessels in the world, and their location and operations in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41366/15]

Greyhound Industry

Mick Wallace

115. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a timeline for the promised legislation which will allow the Minister of the day to appoint the control committee of Bord na gCon, a measure which has been widely called for, in order to increase transparency and independence in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41976/15]

Foreign Policy

Mick Wallace

70. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he has considered reviewing our existing policies on defence, with a view to taking a more active role in the promotion of peace and the protection of our neutrality, given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and the total failure of the Western military intervention in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41185/15]

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Mick Wallace

91. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence given the attacks in Paris, France, if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding potential threats to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41186/15]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Mick Wallace

7. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the research carried out by Unite which found that in order to reach the mean of other European Union states with regard to public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product, Ireland would need to increase investment in public infrastructure by approximately €9 billion; the details of any recent discussions he has had with the Department of Finance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40614/15]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform given the well documented importance of public investment in bringing about economic growth, if he has had discussions recently with the Department of Finance concerning the fact that Irish public investment, at approximately 2% of gross domestic product, ranks 26 out of 28 European Union member states; the plans he has to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40615/15]

NAMA Loans Sale

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if it is appropriate for the National Asset Management Agency Project Arrow to be completed, while investigations into the purchase of Project Eagle are ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40307/15]

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the real estate investment trusts, and their role in the Irish property market, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40308/15]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Mick Wallace

80. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that changes in recent years to the State pension (contributory) scheme have not disproportionately penalised those with gaps in their pension contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40150/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

Mick Wallace

88. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that current rent supplement limits are realistic in order to meet the needs of recipients in today's rental market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40149/15]

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Mick Wallace

142. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has considered allowing self-employed persons access to the family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40302/15]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Mick Wallace

143. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce more supports for self-employed persons, such as access to illness benefit and unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40303/15]

Departmental Funding

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to increase financial support to Irish musicians; if she or her Department had any discussions with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to possible future initiatives to support the music industry, along the lines of the Centre National de Cinema et de L'Image Animée in France, which invests €550 million per year in the film and television industry, through funds generated by various micro taxes in the audio-visual sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39541/15]

Arts Plan

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied with the existing policies of her Department regarding supports and grants for emerging Irish artists and musicians; her views that they offer sufficient support to facilitate these persons and groups in pursuing careers in the creative industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39540/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

7. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 23 September 2015, if his Department relies solely on assurances from foreign airlines and militaries that personal weapons permitted on board civil aircraft used by foreign militaries, under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, are unloaded, and that there is no ammunition on board the aircraft; if so, if he is satisfied that such assurances are sufficient to ensure that no breach of the legislation occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39256/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 23 September 2015, if he will provide a further update on discussions he has had with the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality and Defence regarding the system of oversight governing the landing of civil aircraft used by foreign militaries at Shannon Airport ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39255/15]

Gas Exploration Licences

Mick Wallace

89. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the terms and remit of the study by the Environmental Protection Agency on the environmental impacts of unconventional gas exploration and extraction, particularly in view of issues raised by a number of environmentalist groups regarding the companies involved in the research consortium, and concerns regarding the fact that no independent external review is planned, as of yet, for the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38981/15]

Renewable Energy Generation

Mick Wallace

104. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department is planning measures to facilitate community renewable energy generation initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38980/15]

Public Transport Fares

Mick Wallace

602. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the planned fare increases for public transport services will not act as a disincentive to public transport use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39623/15]

Public Transport Fares

Mick Wallace

603. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for details of discussions he has had with the National Transport Authority regarding the fares determination reports for 2016, particularly in relation to the fare increases in a number of areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39624/15]

Housing Provision

Mick Wallace

3. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the unprecedented crisis in the Irish housing system, and the need for a significant shift in policy in order to deal with it; if he will consider establishing a new State body to deliver a social, affordable and rental house building and refurbishment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38543/15]

NAMA Operations

Mick Wallace

37. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units that have been delivered by the National Asset Management Agency to date, the number he expects the agency to deliver between now and the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37494/15]

Climate Change Policy

Mick Wallace

47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding Ireland's failure to pledge funding to the Green Climate Fund, the main multilateral funding mechanism for fostering climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37498/15]

Rent Controls

Mick Wallace

51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for details of discussions he has had regarding rent control measures, given the ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37493/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Mick Wallace

55. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units that will be delivered through the local authorities in each of the years 2015 to 2018, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37497/15]

Traveller Accommodation

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department has in place to ensure all accommodation for Travellers reaches health and safety standards; if his Department plans any further safety measures, given the recent tragic fire in Carrickmines in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37495/15]

Human Rights

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied with the efforts of his Department to date as regards deepening Ireland's business relations with Saudi Arabia; if, at any meeting with his counterparts there such as on the trade mission he participated earlier in 2015, he raised the issue of the country's well-documented human rights violations; if human rights considerations are taken into account by his Department in policy decisions regarding its dealings with Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37210/15]

Export Controls

Mick Wallace

29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied that the oversight measures of his Department for controls on the export of military and dual use items from Ireland are adequate to ensure that such items are only used in accordance with international human rights law, in particular in regions experiencing conflict; if he will provide details of any discussions he has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37209/15]

Carer's Allowance Payments

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that a person (details supplied) and several other recipients of the carer's allowance in County Wexford did not receive their weekly payment recently due to a glitch in the system; her views that it is appropriate that the choice they were given is to either wait a week for a repayment or to travel, at their own expense, to the local community welfare office, which for some is a round trip of up to 35 kilometres; if her Department plans any remedial action in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38519/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

116. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of requests that have been made to his Department by the military of the United States of America for landing permits at Shannon Airport, or overflights, under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 since March 2015; the number of such permissions that have been granted by his Department in that period; the assurance he will provide that none of these planes were en route to participate in, or contribute to, the Saudi-led and United States of America-backed bombing campaign in Yemen; the measures his Department has taken to ensure that these particular planes are unarmed, carrying no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and do not take part in any military exercises or operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37694/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

133. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will guarantee that none of the military planes of the United States of America that have passed through Shannon Airport or Irish airspace in 2015, with permissions granted by his Department under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, were on their way to contribute, through refuelling sorties, to the Saudi-Arabian led bombing campaign in Yemen; if he has been provided with any information from the authorities of the United States of America in this regard; if his Department has requested any such information from these authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37693/15]

Garda Station Closures

Mick Wallace

572. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Siochána stations that were closed in County Wexford between 1990 and 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37833/15]

Garda Station Closures

Mick Wallace

573. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-open any of the 139 Garda stations closed in 2012 and in 2013; re-open any of the three Garda stations in County Wexford that were closed during these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37834/15]

Diabetes Strategy

Mick Wallace

759. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health when the proposed new model of care for adolescents with type 1 diabetes, outlined in the strategy document of the paediatric diabetes working group, which was set up by the Health Service Executive in 2011, will be launched, given the importance of this model to the quality of life of the children involved, and the fact that the launch date has already been pushed back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37884/15]

Mental Health Services Staff

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department is taking to address the issue of staffing in mental health services, which, according to Mental Health Reform, was 22% below recommended levels in April 2015; the action he is taking to tackle mental health staffing issues in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36266/15]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans for specific measures to reduce the waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services across the country, which, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, has increased by 24% in a three to six-month period; the measures his Department is taking in this regard in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36267/15]

Child Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

16. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures that were introduced in budget 2016 to tackle some of the issues many parents face with child care, particularly in relation to the financial burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35417/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures his Department has in place to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream preschool settings; the additional supports for this that were introduced in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35418/15]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Mick Wallace

105. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the investigations into serious allegations made by two serving Garda Síochána whistleblowers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35505/15]

Garda Investigations

Mick Wallace

107. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the independent review mechanism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35255/15]

Criminal Law

Mick Wallace

113. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that her Department's plans for the criminalisation of the purchase of sex are truly in the interest of those working in the sex industry, particularly given the recently publicised stance of Amnesty International calling for the decriminalisation of prostitution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35252/15]

Inspector of Prisons Reports

Mick Wallace

117. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the investigation into the recording of telephone conversations between prisoners and their solicitors, which was initiated by a former Minister for Justice and Equality in April 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35253/15]

Garda Station Closures

Mick Wallace

118. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that have been closed in County Wexford since 2000; if her Department plans to reopen any of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35256/15]

Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest

Mick Wallace

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on how the Garda Commissioner has dealt with whistleblower allegations since she came to office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35254/15]

Primary Care Services Provision

Mick Wallace

52. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend free primary care to those who require long-term mental health treatment, and to exempt them from the prescription levy, as recommended by Mental Health Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35816/15]

Child Care Costs

Mick Wallace

228. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to introduce measures in the upcoming budget to ease the financial burden of childcare on parents, particularly in view of the recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which show that Ireland has the highest child care costs in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/15]

Military Neutrality

Mick Wallace

10. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence with regard to his Department's White Paper on Defence, his views on a change to the State's policy and definition of military neutrality, and if he will consider the use of Shannon Airport by the military of the United States of America to be a breach of that military neutrality, and of other policies under the Defence portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34522/15]

Airport Security

Mick Wallace

25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the current system for the provision of aid-to-the-civil-power duties at Shannon Airport; if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to changing the current system and command structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34521/15]

Agrifood Sector

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the announcement of Food Wise 2025, the report of the 2025 agrifood strategy committee, the steps taken to ensure the targets set for agriculture production and exports fully take into account the accelerating challenge of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34210/15]