Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 5 Oct — Watch Them Work

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 5 Oct – 11 Oct 2020 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 60 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Sittings and Business of Dáil

2020-10-08 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 25–19

Voted for 1 Colm Burke

Did not vote 4 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Pádraig O'Sullivan · Thomas Gould

Dying with Dignity Bill 2020

2020-10-07 · 2 votes · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to make provision for assistance in achieving a dignified and peaceful end of life to qualifying persons and related matters

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 65–86

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion passed 81–71

Voted for 2 Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Disability Services

2020-10-07 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 82–67

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Pandemic Unemployment Payment

2020-10-07 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 86–62

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 5 votes · 20 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 20 total

Agriculture 6 questions
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to extending consanguinity relief from 31 December 2020 to 31 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29034/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to establishing a dedicated debt mediation service for farmers in which funds are ring-fenced and used to provide fair and reasonable access to mediation between financially struggling farmers and creditors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29035/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to introducing a voluntary individual income volatility initiative to allow farmers deposit a defined percentage of profits to a fund in a good year and withdraw funds during poor years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29036/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to extending tax relief on the leasing of farmland to include agreements between parents and children who are young trained farmers up to 30 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29038/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to establishing a targeted annual investment allowance which would focus on smart agriculture, renewable energy equipment and climate change mitigation infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29041/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to fund a carbon sequestration programme similar to the agricultural sustainability support and advice programme which would offer free advice and guidance to all farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29043/20]
Health 4 questions
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the details of each of the posts funded by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each cancer centre; the year funding began for each post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29027/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the governance the National Treatment Purchase Fund has in place to ensure regional and geographical equity of access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the National Treatment Purchase Fund funding figures for each of the cancer centres in each of the years 2010 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the variance in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29082/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the flu vaccine will be made available for students and healthcare staff at third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29387/20]
Environment 3 questions
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to an increase in the annual budget for the recently opened support scheme for renewable heat which encourages farmers to change from fossil-based fuel sources to renewable heat sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29042/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to increasing the just transition fund by 20% from €6 million to €7.2 million allowing for the use of the micro-loan scheme to incentivise investment on farm for energy generation and conversion of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29046/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to increasing the number of rural 44KW and 50KW charging points for electric vehicle users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29052/20]
Finance 2 questions
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the exemption of VAT, within the European Union VAT directive, on all farm safety equipment which will act as a vector to improve uptake of farm safety equipment by farmers and in turn may reduce the high fatality rate within the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29039/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to a review of a VAT exemption on sexed semen for all farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29040/20]
Transport 2 questions
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if provision can be made for drivers whose licences are due to expire in October 2020 in view of the delay in accessing NDLS appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29380/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter on the finalised BusConnects Dublin area bus network (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29383/20]
Social 1 question
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to provide funding in budget 2021 to the universal basic income pilot which has already been successfully trialled in Finland, Canada and Alaska; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29045/20]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to the extension of the student assistance fund to all agricultural college students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29051/20]
Housing 1 question
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions being taken to reduce sewage dumping in Dublin Bay and to improve the cleanliness of the water for swimmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29378/20]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 4 votes · 12 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 12 total

Defence 3 questions
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if consideration will be given to extending the upper age limit for sergeants to 56 years of age and senior non-commissioned officers to 60 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28697/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if consideration will be given to granting service contract extensions up to 50 years of age for privates and corporals providing they meet all fitness and medical requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the progress made regarding the establishment of a commission on the future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28529/20]
Environment 2 questions
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if a definitive timeline for the rollout of high-speed broadband in County Cork will be provided. [28516/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the options available to persons (details supplied) that are included in the national broadband plan but are currently receiving an inadequate service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28518/20]
Transport 2 questions
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when the tendering process for the Dunkettle interchange will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29338/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the construction of the Cork city north ring road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29339/20]
Housing 1 question
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the issue of councils not accepting for housing supports new applicants who are in receipt of Covid-19 payments will be examined. [28551/20]
Foreign 1 question
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland and the EU have taken to address the ongoing instability in Yemen; his plans to increase Irish Aid funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28460/20]
Social 1 question
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when persons that had pandemic unemployment payment claims that were not paid will receive their backdated arrears; if she can provide a timeline for same; if this timeline will be communicated to the public via the Department website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28517/20]
Health 1 question
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has plans to recruit a paediatric gastroenterologist in the Cork area as currently no such service is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28294/20]
Public 1 question
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the progression of the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29337/20]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 4 votes · 17 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 17 total

Health 9 questions
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in counties Cork and Kerry that have been redeployed to testing and tracing; and the locations in which staff have been redeployed from in tabular form. [28344/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment process for 60 new staff to be assigned to testing and tracing in counties Cork and Kerry; and the way in which the figure of 60 was deemed to be sufficient. [28345/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when the staff that have been redeployed to testing and tracing in Cork will be returned to their original posts. [28346/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 929 of 29 September 2020, if there is an addiction or recovery policy unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28630/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason SouthDoc in Blackpool, Cork, is closed; and if a timeline can be given for the reopening of this facility. [28739/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which businesses on the Old Mallow Road, Cork, have approached the HSE requesting additional signage for the Covid-19 testing as persons travelling for tests are entering their premises seeking directions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28992/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the essential services that are required to close under level 3 restrictions. [29055/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 930 of 29 September 2020, when additional funding to support the resumption of drug and alcohol services will be made available; the way in which services will be able to access the funding; when task forces will be made aware of the funding; the amount of funding that will be made available; and if services that have already reopened and purchased additional equipment, PPE and so on will be able to utilise the funding to reimburse their annual budgets. [29056/20]
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health his plans to add Cariban to the approved drug list under the drug payment scheme; and the medicines available under the drug payment scheme to treat hyperemesis gravidarum. [29270/20]
Housing 4 questions
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of projects under construction or planning for Cork under the Land Development Agency; and the locations of same. [28331/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financial packages that will be put in place to support Cork city and county councils to offset the financial deficits they are facing. [28332/20]
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a timeframe is in place for the completion of the retrofitting of social housing in view of the urgency of the matter. [25020/20]
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the appeals process in the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme. [28969/20]
Foreign 1 question
- 2020-10-06 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions taken to support the people of Yemen. [28336/20]
Social 1 question
- 2020-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €5 million in dormant accounts funding for persons with disabilities to support their access to employment opportunities is available to persons. [29060/20]
Defence 1 question
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to an ongoing situation in the south Cork Civil Defence unit regarding treatment of staff and complaints procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28335/20]
Education 1 question
- 2020-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the funding streams that are available to primary schools for cultural and arts initiatives for pupils such as music classes. [29272/20]