Parliamentary questions

Military Neutrality

Mick Wallace

580. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence with regard to the Government's White Paper on Defence, if he will consider a change to the State's policy and definition of military neutrality; 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. [17204/16]

Air Navigation Orders

Mick Wallace

564. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of and the countries which made requests under the Air Navigation and Transport Act (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 for permits to transport munitions through Ireland or Irish airspace in 2016 to date; the information they provided on the destination of these aeroplanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15524/16]

Air Navigation Orders

Mick Wallace

565. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of permits and the countries to which his Department granted permission to transport munitions through Ireland or Irish airspace in 2016 to date under the Air Navigation and Transport Act (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973; the information they provided on the destination of these aeroplanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/16]

Transport Policy

Mick Wallace

566. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to reduce car dependency and usage and to incentivise greener modes of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15526/16]

Motor Insurance

Mick Wallace

567. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his discussions with the Department of Finance on the recent hike in car insurance prices; the measures he is planning to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/16]

Child Poverty

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the specific measures she is planning to tackle child poverty; if she had discussions with the Minister for Social Protection as regards addressing poverty rates for children in one-parent families, 22.1% of whom, according to the 2014 European Union survey on income and living conditions, are living in consistent poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14817/16]

Ombudsman for Children Remit

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider extending the mandate of the office of the Ombudsman for Children such that it could receive complaints from children in direct provision, as was recommended by the working group on the protection process; if she had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality as regards joint measures to improve the lives of children in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14818/16]

Special Educational Needs

Mick Wallace

61. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he, in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education, will publish a plan on how the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 can be fully implemented, as promised under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15231/16]

Special Educational Needs

Mick Wallace

62. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost and details of fully implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15232/16]

Special Educational Needs

Mick Wallace

63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider an audit of the laws, judicial and administrative practices and policies, services and supports for children with special educational needs, as recommended by the Children's Rights Alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15233/16]

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Mick Wallace

58. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that his strategic plan, food wise 2025, which promises an increase in agricultural output meets international obligations on carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14499/16]

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Mick Wallace

59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his food wise 2025 strategic plan adequately addresses the issue of food insecurity; the details of any analysis his Department conducted into developing alternative sustainable sources of protein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14500/16]

National Mitigation Plan

Mick Wallace

274. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress on the national mitigation plan; the timeline for the publication and implementation of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14617/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Mick Wallace

466. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of the drug Translarna (details supplied); if it will be made available to patients through HSE funding in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14741/16]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

522. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 18 years of age who were prescribed Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate here, in each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15065/16]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

523. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health for details of the medications currently prescribed here to persons suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD; the number of persons recorded as suffering from ADHD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15066/16]

Mental Health Services Data

Mick Wallace

524. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the percentage of cases seen by the child and adolescent mental health services which relate to activity and attention disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15067/16]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

525. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age who were prescribed Ritalin here in each of the years from 2012 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15068/16]

Prescriptions Data

Mick Wallace

526. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age who were prescribed Strattera here in each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15069/16]

Medicinal Products

Mick Wallace

527. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the details of the most recent review carried out of the need for medication in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15070/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mick Wallace

551. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he carried out any financial analysis of the potential fines that could be incurred for failure to meet international obligations on emission reductions by 2020, particularly in relation to the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14611/16]

Rail Services Provision

Mick Wallace

629. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce rail fares or to incentivise the public to avail of rail transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/16]

Transport Policy

Mick Wallace

630. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to electrify public transport services; his plans to reduce the carbon intensity of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14613/16]

Transport Policy

Mick Wallace

631. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure that the transport sector achieves its 2020 emissions reductions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14614/16]

Medicinal Products Regulation

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the eight selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Fluvoxamine, Escitalopram, Venlafazine and Duloxetine, that the Health Service Executive prescribes to 249,900 persons are completely safe for human consumption; if, in prescribing them, the executive is adhering to the precautionary principle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mick Wallace

65. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to open a 24-hour acute mental health unit in County Wexford; if he is aware of issues arising, whereby currently persons must travel to Counties Waterford or Wicklow to access such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13671/16]

Arts Funding

Mick Wallace

63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will restore funding for the arts to pre-2011 levels; if she is satisfied with her Department's role in supporting the arts and in particular the allocation of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13259/16]

Cultural Policy

Mick Wallace

69. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied with the current State expenditure on culture as a percentage of gross domestic product, which according to Council of Europe data was 0.11% of GDP in 2012 as opposed to a European average of 0.6% in the same year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13258/16]

Special Educational Needs

Mick Wallace

110. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, including the date for its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13968/16]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Mick Wallace

111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will retain its current number of special needs assistants for the 2016-17 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13969/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

136. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a Boeing C-32B aircraft of the air force of the United States of America special forces, registration number 02-4452, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13966/16]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

137. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a C-21A aircraft of the air force of the United States of America, registration 84-0072, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13967/16]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Mick Wallace

45. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he will take to address pay inequality in the public service and in particular the two-tier system that has developed in which newer entrants earn considerably less than their longer-serving colleagues; the timeframe for such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12597/16]

Public Expenditure Policy

Mick Wallace

63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has raised concerns with the Department of Finance regarding the tax cuts promised over the next five years; his views on the ratio of tax cuts to public investment promised in budget 2016, particularly given that Ireland has the third lowest level of public expenditure in the Eueopean Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12598/16]

Crime Investigation

Mick Wallace

220. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to whom instances of female genital mutilation should be reported; if there is a mechanism for doing so anonymously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13393/16]

Court Orders

Mick Wallace

223. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is has been made aware of reports of intimidation by gardaí accompanied by persons in balaclavas when carrying out evictions (details supplied); the measures she is taking to prevent intimidating behaviour of this nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13478/16]

Court Orders

Mick Wallace

224. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if members of An Garda Síochána are required to present a warrant in person when carrying out evictions or if it is sufficient for the warrant to be in the courthouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13479/16]

Court Orders

Mick Wallace

225. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures and rules for gardaí carrying out evictions; if there are guidelines on how many persons are permitted to accompany the garda carrying out the eviction; if all persons accompanying the garda must be members of An Garda Síochána; if all persons carrying out evictions must be identifiable with identification cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13480/16]

Environmental Policy

Mick Wallace

384. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of emission allowances (pollution permits) which have been issued here since 2008; the percentage of those that were free of cost; the percentage of those that were auctioned; the current total value of all emission allowances (pollution permits) here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/16]

Environmental Policy

Mick Wallace

385. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the State compensates companies for direct or indirect costs of the emissions trading scheme; if so, the total value of this compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/16]

Environmental Policy

Mick Wallace

386. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the State provides Emission Allowances (Pollution Permits) free of charge, for coal-fired power stations; if so, the total value of these permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13132/16]

Female Genital Mutilation

Mick Wallace

532. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on being trade partners with countries that do little to enforce the laws against the practice of female genital mutilation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13391/16]

Female Genital Mutilation

Mick Wallace

533. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount his Department allocated to schemes that tackle female genital mutilation in Egypt, Sudan, Mali, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Guinea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13392/16]

Human Rights

Mick Wallace

534. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the removal of restrictions on press freedom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13394/16]

Arts Promotion

Mick Wallace

626. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has had any engagement with organisations such as Fighting Words which are working on developing and nurturing creative writing and literacy skills outside of the mainstream education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13635/16]

Rail Network Expansion

Mick Wallace

879. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for railway lines in County Wexford; and his proposed plans for expansion of railway services and railway lines. [13390/16]

Human Rights

Mick Wallace

12. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised, or will consider raising, at European Union or United Nations level concerns regarding Turkey's status as a safe state for the return of refugees, given recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to the contrary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11896/16]

Human Rights

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the European Union-Turkey refugee deal is not in contravention of European Union or international law, and that it upholds the human rights of the refugees concerned, given reports by a number of human rights watchdogs, such as Human Rights Watch documenting human rights abuses in the deportation process, and raising concerns regarding the safety of refugees returned to Turkey; if Ireland will accept any more refugees, other than those agreed in September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will restore the social protection payments which have been cut over the past seven years, given the impact of rising inflation during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11650/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will restore the jobseeker's allowance for persons under 26 years of age to pre-2014 levels, given calls from a number of groups such as the Free Legal Advice Centres, which has stated that this cut in particular is pushing people into homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11649/16]