Galway West — week of Mon, 8 Feb

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 8 Feb – 14 Feb 2021 · 6 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 72 questions · 9 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil)

2021-02-09 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 3–5

Voted for 1 Catherine Connolly

Did not vote 5 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 1 vote · 34 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 34 total

Children 9 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the 550 audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7510/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 21 January 2021, if legislative changes are required for the establishment and operation of the independent monitoring mechanism tasked with carrying out inspections of direct provision centres; if so, the details of same; when the monitoring mechanism will commence its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6932/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 21 January 2021, the number of properties selected under the recent tender process referred to in the reply; the number of accommodation centres for persons in the international protection process that are now able to fully implement the national standards for accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6933/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the manner by which persons who gave testimony to the confidential committee of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes were notified that the recordings of their testimony would be destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7513/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the enquiries he has made about the possibility of the retrieval and-or recovery of audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the confidential committee of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes destroyed by the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7514/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to amend section 7 of the commission of investigation records Act 2020 to extend the term of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes in order to resolve the issues arising from the destruction of the audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the confidential committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7515/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes has been delivered to persons in cardboard boxes, unbound, loose-leaf, being almost 3,000 loose pages; the instructions given to the external company engaged to deliver the reports in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7516/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if 30 copies of the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes will be provided to this Deputy to distribute to persons personally affected by same, many of whom do not wish to provide their names and-or addresses to an external company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7517/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons to whom a draft report or relevant part of the draft report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes was sent pursuant to section 34 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7518/21]
Foreign 5 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 10 December 2020, the agreements with respect to visas that exist between the two countries; the matters covered by these agreements; the contents of the agreements; when they came into effect; the way in which the inapplicability to illegal settlements and territories occupied by Israel in 1967 is ensured in practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the end goal of the commitment in Ireland's civilian CSDP national implementation plan to develop relationship and support training provided by the European Security and Defence College and to develop a more structured relationship with the college, bearing in mind the national policy of neutrality of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7480/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Department of Defence, as per Ireland's national implementation plan for civilian CSDP, will be consulted on national or multinational structures and facilities that will help support the strengthening of civilian CSDP; if the plan to involve the Department of Defence in civilian CSDP is part of the broader EU strategy to alter the scope of civilian CSDP to include a strong military dimension; if there are risks for Irish neutrality in this approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7481/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland is engaging in supporting the civilian CSDP compact goal of fostering synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of the CSDP through a commitment to liaise with the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to explore options in this regard, as per the national implementation plan for civilian CSDP, in view of Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7482/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of deployed civilian CSDP experts who are retired members of the Defence Forces; the number who are retired members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7483/21]
Health 5 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the Minister for Finance with regard to plans to allow applications for primary medical certificates to be processed and approved by general practitioners given the ongoing backlog in applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6999/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications that have been processed, granted and refused since the scheme recommenced in January 2021; the number of applications waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if psychotherapists who meet patients face to face are considered to be front-line healthcare workers in direct patient contact roles for the purposes of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7160/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason the six annual reports from 2006 to 2011 of the two independent monitoring groups for A Vision for Change are not available on the HSE website; if these reports are currently available to the public; if they will be made available online given they are an important resource for the monitoring and implementation of mental health policy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7447/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if the minutes of meetings of the two independent monitoring groups for A Vision for Change which were held between 2006 and 2012 were published; if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7538/21]
Education 4 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if children who, as a result of the disruption to their education due to the impact of Covid-19, wish to repeat a school year will be permitted to do so; the consideration given to the matter by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6738/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of the supplementary in-person care and educational support programme announced on 1 February 2021 for children with additional educational and-or care needs; the application process for same; if her Department will pay the teachers and SNAs directly; if not, if the parent will be required to pay and be reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7426/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans for children with additional educational needs who are taught in mainstream classes to return to school in person; the reason this cohort is not included in the partial reopening on 11 February 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7429/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 136 and 290 of 20 January 2021, the analysis her Department has carried out into the efficacy of the current remote learning system for children in DEIS schools; her plans to make additional funding available to DEIS schools for the postage of learning packs to their students in view of ongoing uncertainty regarding the timeline for the reopening of schools and in view of the fact that schools will remain closed for longer than originally envisaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7602/21]
Justice 4 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice her plans to bring forward legislation with regard to sentencing in criminal cases that involve serious or intimate violence to remove the possibility for being from a decent family to be considered a mitigating circumstance in sentencing. [7265/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice her plans to bring forward legislation to remove the possibility for offenders in criminal cases involving serious or intimate violence to avoid or shorten prison sentences by paying compensation to the victim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7266/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the steps she has taken to ensure that persons arriving at Irish ports and airports and who are seeking asylum are not arrested or fined in circumstances in which they do not have a valid PCR test result; the guidance issued to border agents in this regard; the procedures in place to ensure the safety of such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7519/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice when the 2014 review of all investigations and complaints made against a person (details supplied) will be published; the dates of initiation and completion of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7592/21]
Transport 3 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 3 February 2021, if his Department was informed of the number of US military personnel on board the aircraft (details supplied); if so, the details of same; if services such as cleaning or the supply of food and refreshments were made to this aircraft while it was at Shannon Airport; if so, the persons or group that carried out the services; if they were they required to board the plane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7020/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the employment status of persons working for a company (details supplied) following the awarding of the contract for the operation of the M50 toll system by the National Roads Authority and who previously worked for another company; the redundancy arrangements in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7134/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if representations by staff of companies (details supplied) highlighting the ongoing uncertainty of the Irish aviation sector have been brought to his attention; his plans to extend urgent financial support to these airlines following the example of New Zealand, Portugal and the UK in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7280/21]
Finance 1 question
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to assist persons facing income tax demands as a result of the pandemic unemployment payment and wage subsidies; his plans to reduce or write off such tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6637/21]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a situation (details supplied) has been brought to his attention; the engagement he has had with this particular institution with a view to allowing the students to have a refund of their campus rent for the time they do not spend physically on campus due to Covid-19 restrictions; if his attention has been further drawn to similar situations in other third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7051/21]
Rural 1 question
- 2021-02-10 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ó thaobh plean gnó maidir le forbairt na cé ar Inis Oírr; an bhfuil an plean gnó críochnaithe; an bhfuil sé faofa ag a Roinn; an bhfuil cóip de ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6549/21]
Tourism 1 question
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the situation faced by coach operators (details supplied) who are concerned that the funding available through the Fáilte Ireland coach tourism business continuity scheme will not be sufficient to keep them in business until tourism restarts; if she will allocate additional funding to the scheme given that these companies are unable to apply for other pandemic financial supports; if she had discussions with the Minister for Finance with a view to developing a specific payment for coach tourism operators along the lines of the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/21]

New lobbying 1 return

The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers Employment
- Update Minister on the on-going Debenham's dispute and possible resolution to same

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 3 returns

Waterford Chamber of Commerce Public Expenditure and Reform
- Financial supports for businesses and local economies
Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Public Expenditure and Reform
- Financial supports for businesses
The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers Employment
- Update Minister on the on-going Debenham's dispute and possible resolution to same

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 7 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 7 total

Public 5 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the restrictions and appropriateness of companies with unlimited status from being awarded contracts as part of the public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7245/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the restrictions and appropriateness of companies registered in jurisdictions that are listed on the EU's blacklist from being awarded contracts as part of the public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7246/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the appropriateness of companies using anonymous trustee ownership structures from being awarded contracts as part of the public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7247/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the appropriateness of companies that use a bearer share ownership structure from being awarded contracts as part of the public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7248/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the restrictions and appropriateness of companies that use transfer price transactions from being awarded contracts as part of the public procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7249/21]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grounds on which an unlimited company can apply for an exemption from having to file financial statements with the Companies Registration Office under the Companies (Accounting) Act 2017. [7258/21]
Housing 1 question
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the requirements placed on local councils to ensure that the stone and sand and other similar materials that the council or subcontractor on council projects purchases is sourced from properly licensed quarries. [7640/21]

New lobbying 1 return

The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers Employment
- Update Minister on the on-going Debenham's dispute and possible resolution to same

Noel Grealish — Independent 0 votes · 11 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 11 total

Justice 4 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who failed to pay fines imposed by the courts since the commencement of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014; the number that had an attachment order, a recovery order or community service order made against them as a result; the number of persons imprisoned for failure to pay such fines by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7394/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the value and number of unpaid fines in each of the years 2013 to 2020; the value and number of fines imposed by the courts in each of the years; the steps being taken to recover unpaid fines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7395/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the offence categories in respect of which fines were imposed by the courts in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the offence categories in respect of which fines were imposed but were not paid in the same period by the number and value in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7396/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of bench warrants issued in 2019 and 2020; the number outstanding in this regard; the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the execution of warrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7397/21]
Transport 3 questions
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver test examiners; the number of driver tests passed and failed in 2020; the age of those least likely to hold a full driver licence in any given year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6455/21]
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason there has been no increase in CIÉ pensions since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6456/21]
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if there is a delay in the processing of driver licence renewals for both full and provisional licence holders; the average delay; the steps being taken to address a backlog, given the problems it is causing for persons waiting for their new licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7835/21]
Education 1 question
- 2021-02-10 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education when a new school building will be provided for a school (details supplied) to replace the current dilapidated facilities; the timeline for the provision of a replacement school as promised to school representatives at a meeting on 10 December 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6454/21]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of plans to assist businesses such as takeaway food services from restaurants and businesses that are already registered providers of the stay and spend scheme and their consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/21]
Environment 1 question
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a detailed map and timeline for the roll-out of the national broadband scheme will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7836/21]
Finance 1 question
- 2021-02-11 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the largely unused stay and spend scheme to include takeaway food services from restaurants and businesses that are already registered providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/21]

New lobbying 1 return

The Union of Retail ,Bar and Administrative Workers Employment
- Update Minister on the on-going Debenham's dispute and possible resolution to same

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

Waterford Chamber of Commerce Public Expenditure and Reform
- Financial supports for businesses and local economies
Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Public Expenditure and Reform
- Financial supports for businesses