Parliamentary questions

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Pearse Doherty

12. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dhéanfaid sé ráiteas maidir le hionadaíocht ó na Gaeltachtaí beaga ar Bhord an Údaráis ós rud é nach mbeidh ionadaíocht lánaimseartha ag Gaeltacht na Mí ar an bhord, agus go bhfuil ionadaithe ón dá Ghaeltacht bheaga eile ainmnithe aige ar an bhord. [13095/13]

Action Plan for Jobs

Pearse Doherty

51. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of where the 26,000 employed in aviation according to the jobs action plan work that is airport workers, manufacturing, leasing and so on. [13164/13]

Ministerial Meetings

Pearse Doherty

52. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of times he or his representatives have met with representatives of the aviation industry or aviation leasing industry since March 2011. [13165/13]

Temple Bar Cultural Trust

Pearse Doherty

133. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will lay before Dáil Éireann the latest report and accounts of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, formerly Temple Bar Properties Limited. [13413/13]

Temple Bar Cultural Trust

Pearse Doherty

134. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set out in tabular form the list of properties controlled by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, formerly Temple Bar Properties Limited; and if he will designate each property that is currently rented or vacant. [13414/13]

Tourism Industry Issues

Pearse Doherty

128. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach further to the statements by the Irish Hotels Federation criticising both the detail of statistics collected by the Central Statistics Office in respect of tourist behaviour, and the tardiness of the production of visitor statistics with 2011 just now being published, if there are plans to improve the timeliness and detail of these statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12637/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

168. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total value of unsecured creditors at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation when it was placed in special liquidation on 6 February 2013. [12622/13]

Deposit Guarantee Scheme

Pearse Doherty

169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 26 February 2013, which showed that deposits in Irish banks, based on which these banks hand over 0.2% at the end of each year to be held by the Central Bank of Ireland in its deposit guarantee scheme, had declined from €217 billion at the end of 2011 to €190 billion at the end of 2012, if this is correct; and the apparent discrepancy between this decline and statements from his Department which suggest a stabilization and modest growth in deposits. [12623/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Pearse Doherty

170. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the policy of Allied Irish Banks in which he is the shareholder of 99.8% of the shares in writing down debt owed on commercial loans and if ordinary shareholders in companies where debt write-offs will be agreed by AIB, will be 100% wiped out before any debt write-off is agreed by AIB. [12624/13]

Eligible Liabilities Guarantee

Pearse Doherty

171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown by covered institution of the €1,235,980,000 in 2011 and €1,024,786,000 in 2012 of eligible liabilities guarantee fees received by the State; and if he will provide a projection of the fees payable in 2013 by covered institution and the projected fees in budget 2013. [12625/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

172. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 on 27 February 2013, if he will confirm if it is KPMG corporate finance that will provide the independent valuation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loanbook. [12626/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No.63 of 27 February 2013, if he will provide an assessment of KPMG’s capabilities in disposing of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book. [12627/13]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

174. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the involvement of KPMG in the sale of mortgage loan books at Permanent TSB and to provide an assessment of that company’s performance in selling PTSB’s loan books. [12628/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

175. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an assessment of the disposal price of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book if sold as one job lot and if broken down into subportfolios or individual mortgage sales. [12629/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

176. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of individual mortgage accounts that comprise the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book. [12630/13]

IBRC Staff

Pearse Doherty

177. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an overview of what is involved in the valuation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book; and if he will confirm the time required for the completion of an independent valuation. [12631/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Pearse Doherty

178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if an auction model has been considered for the sale of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage loan book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12632/13]

State Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the publication of results for 2012 by Bank of Ireland, in which he owns 15% of the ordinary shares, if he will provide his reaction to the performance of the bank in 2012. [13076/13]

State Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

192. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the latest valuation of the State’s interest in Bank of Ireland, particularly the value of its ordinary and preference shares. [13077/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

193. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the eventual publication on or after 4 March 2013, of the directions given by him to the National Asset Management Agency in respect of the liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, if he will now publish the documents referred to in the directions, namely the facility agreement, deeds, transfers and schedules. [13078/13]

NAMA Debtors

Pearse Doherty

194. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the safeguards the National Asset Management Agency has in place to ensure that its debtors provide accurate accounting for their businesses and that benefits are not inappropriately withdrawn from debtor businesses by their proprietors. [13079/13]

NAMA Staff Numbers

Pearse Doherty

195. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the safeguards the National Asset Management Agency has in place to ensure its employees, particularly its asset managers do not become compromised, for example, through over familiarity, in the course of their management of specific debtors. [13080/13]

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Pearse Doherty

407. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has carried out an impact assessment on the potential effect on the numbers in mortgage distress if water charges are introduced. [10567/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Pearse Doherty

409. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a proposed sewage scheme (details supplied) in County Donegal. [12801/13]

Property Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 26 February 2013, if he will provide an estimate of the total number of commercial leases here and the total number that will be captured on the new commercial leases database; and if he will outline the principal reasons for omissions of extant leases from the commercial leases database. [12635/13]

Garda Investigations

Pearse Doherty

470. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the publication of what is claimed to be a transcript of a conversation (details supplied), if a complaint has been made to An Garda Síochána and-or if An Garda Síochána is investigating the matter to establish if an offence may have been committed under tribunals of inquiry Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12636/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

545. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he will confirm that his Department responded to an approach two years ago which raised concerns about Irish horses and the food chain; and if the approach was responded to by his Department with a statement that the mess will clean itself. [13081/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

546. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he can confirm that he was requested to provide a comment to the programme makers but responded that he was too busy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

547. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he will confirm that information was provided to his Department two years ago which raised concerns about Irish horses and the food chain; and, if so, the way in which his Department responded to those concerns. [13083/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

548. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he proposes to investigate the claims made in the programme regarding passports for low weight and less valuable horses to the meat trade being switched for higher weight and more valuable horses to the meat trade. [13084/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

549. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he will confirm the number of horses slaughtered in the State in 2012; and if he will quantify the way the slaughtered animals were subsequently processed. [13085/13]

Beef Industry Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

550. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the broadcast of a BBC "Spotlight" programme on 5 March 2013 on the horsemeat scandal, if he will confirm that he is satisfied with the operation (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if any of the concerns raised in the programme will be investigated by his Department. [13086/13]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

570. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to a report in a Sunday newspaper which suggested that generic drugs and medicines here cost as much as 24 times more than the same medicines in Britain, the research undertaken by his Department or by the Competition Authority in this area; and the steps he will take to ensure that drugs and medicines are sold at reasonable prices here. [12634/13]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

612. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to a report in a Sunday newspaper which suggested that generic drugs and medicines here cost as much as 24 times more than the same medicines in Britain, the research he had undertaken in this area and the steps he will take to ensure that drugs and medicines are acquired at reasonable prices here. [12633/13]

Roads Maintenance

Pearse Doherty

679. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the situation in the town of Glenties, County Donegal, where in September 2010 during the annual fair, a member of An Garda Síochána diverted a lorry loaded with stone along a county road by-pass of the town which resulted in the collapse of the Mulantiboyle bridge, with this being the only route to by-pass the town, his views on whether at present the town is in a very vulnerable position with regard to any accidents or emergencies which may occur in the town as there is currently no route to divert traffic; if he will agree to prioritise funding in 2014 to ensure that this bridge is reinstated as a matter of safety and security for the town on Glenties. [12802/13]

Road Improvement Schemes

Pearse Doherty

680. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding allocated to the main street of Ardara Town, County Donegal, was not spent in this area; if he will agree to prioritise this town which is on the N56, national secondary route, to ensure that the obvious safety measures in the town can be resolved and ensure that this heritage town which attracts a large number of tourists each year can continue to progress on the already extremely progressive works being undertaken by the local community.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12803/13]

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Pearse Doherty

34. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of extra hours that will have to be worked by primary teachers and by primary school principals under the terms of Croke Park two. [11756/13]

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Pearse Doherty

44. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that teachers who for the past number of years have been making superannuation payments from their supervision and substitution allowance will not receive any pension benefit from such payments unless they retire within the next three years; and the way it is proposed that this element be dealt with. [11757/13]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting insulin pump therapy in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin; the number of nurses on leave from this Department and if this is impacting on the delivery of this very important therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12058/13]

Garda Deployment

Pearse Doherty

7. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel whose specific role is the detection of crime, on a district basis for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [11571/13]

Garda Deployment

Pearse Doherty

12. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of dedicated drug units operational in An Garda Síochána on a division by division basis for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [11572/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Pearse Doherty

88. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the time taken to process appeals upheld by Student Universal Support Ireland; his views on whether this time is efficient in view of the length of time students are already waiting for their grants to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11810/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Pearse Doherty

89. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process involved in finalising an appeal upheld by Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will provide detail on the timeframes involved for each process. [11811/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Pearse Doherty

90. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in reassessing an appeal which was upheld on 5 February 2013 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason Student Universal Support Ireland are advising that appeals upheld by them are generally taking two weeks to process when clearly this is not so; the reason SUSI have advised the applicant that this process may take another four weeks before their grant is processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11822/13]

National Internship Scheme Placements

Pearse Doherty

88. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of JobBridge interns in each Department and subsidiary bodies. [11370/13]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Pearse Doherty

101. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the way she can put a cap on illness benefit of 12 months in cases when there is ongoing treatment such as chemotherapy involved. [11380/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

144. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the distress to mortgage holders at Irish Nationwide/Irish Bank Resolution Corporation whose mortgage was not processed as usual as a result of the liquidation of IBRC; if he will guarantee that these mortgage holders will not suffer financially, including through credit reputation, because of the delays; and the steps he will take to ensure that they can return to a monthly budgeting with confidence. [11074/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the tender document issued by the special liquidator of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for the provision of independent valuation services to value loans for sale. [11340/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the valuation process to be undertaken in respect of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation's legacy loan book that will be offered for sale; if he will provide the par value and post provision book value of the IBRC loan book at 6 February 2013; and if he will provide an estimate of the time needed to value the IBRC loan book. [11341/13]

IBRC Loans

Pearse Doherty

160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that Irish Bank Resolution Corporation is this week, week ending 27 February 2013, writing to borrowers regarding the disposal of their loans, the process to be adopted by the special liquidator KPMG to ensure that any sale is transparent, that potential buyers have access to adequate information and sufficient time to arrange financing and that the interests of the taxpayer will in general be protected and the sale price maximised. [11344/13]