Louth — week of Mon, 22 Mar — Watch Them Work

What your Louth TDs did this week

Mon, 22 Mar – 28 Mar 2021 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 89 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages

2021-03-25 · 3 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 52–79

Voted for 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 1 Fergus O'Dowd

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 56–78

Voted for 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 1 Fergus O'Dowd

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

The motion · motion passed 80–57

Voted for 1 Fergus O'Dowd

Voted against 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages

2021-03-25 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 55–83

Voted for 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 2 Fergus O'Dowd · Peter Fitzpatrick

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 58–83

Voted for 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 2 Fergus O'Dowd · Peter Fitzpatrick

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education

2021-03-25 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 84–56

Voted for 2 Fergus O'Dowd · Peter Fitzpatrick

Voted against 3 Ged Nash · Imelda Munster · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 3 Erin McGreehan · Joanna Byrne · Paula Butterly

Erin McGreehan — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Ged Nash — Labour Party 6 votes · 41 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 41 total

Health 11 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if CHO8 sought the assistance of the Defence Forces in supporting nursing homes in the region at any point in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13919/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE CHO8 will report on the number of freedom of information, FOI, requests in cases in which a charge of €200 or more was estimated for the provision of items before appeal in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13920/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reports on deaths and Covid-19 outbreaks HIQA requires from nursing home providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13921/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the methodology, evidence, depth and expertise required in reports on deaths and Covid-19 outbreaks HIQA requires from nursing home providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13922/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if HIQA requires only the view and opinion of the providers and not that of independent experts in the reports on Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths in facilities requested from nursing home providers; if HIQA also seeks alternative independent opinions on the causes of outbreaks and deaths in nursing homes; if not, if it solely accepts the reports of the providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on whether in-house reports on Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths created solely by the nursing home management are adequate to report on, address concerns and ensure learning about outbreaks of Covid-19 and the deaths and infection of residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if it is the policy of HIQA that no inquiry, investigation or examination is needed into any deaths in any nursing home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13925/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the CEO and chief inspector of HIQA have met with the families of any of those who died in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic; if they are willing to do so; if not, the reason this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13926/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the circumstances that are required to be met when HIQA requests weekly and regular reporting from nursing home and care facilities on the state of residents, including on issues such as weight and the prevalence of bedsores; the number of times such procedures were in place and used in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the call for independent, human rights focused inspections in nursing homes as suggested by organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13928/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if statistics on the level of community transmission continue to be published and publicly available; the latest community transmission rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14944/21]
Public 9 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Institute of Public Administration, the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Special EU Programmes Body as bodies under his aegis are operating under the Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by Public Bodies; if all such bodies have a trained access officer; if so, the year they first appointed an access officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Institute of Public Administration and the Special EU Programmes Body as bodies under his aegis have an access team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15337/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Institute of Public Administration and the Special EU Programmes Body as bodies under his aegis have an evacuation chair for mobility impaired persons in cases in which it is required at all of their premises; if so, if staff or agents at such premises have formal training with regard to the use of such a chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15338/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Institute of Public Administration and the Special EU Programmes Body as bodies under his aegis are in compliance with the Web Accessibility Directive EU 2016/2021 with regard to websites from 23 September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15339/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Institute of Public Administration and the Special EU Programmes Body as bodies under his aegis procure their legal services through the Office of Government Procurement framework; the bodies which do not procure their legal services through the framework; the last time agencies that were not part of the framework tendered for legal services; if such procurement was carried out in accordance with circular 05/13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15340/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any of the bodies under the aegis of his Department have received protected disclosures since the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; if all such disclosures were reported as per the Act in their annual reports; if there were disclosures deemed not to be protected disclosures under the Act and thus not reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15341/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the bodies under his aegis have independent health and safety advisers at present; if so, if the procurement of such was carried out in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15342/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all bodies under his aegis have implemented the public sector and human rights duty under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; if they have reported in their annual reports since enactment on their developments and achievements with regard to human rights; if they have at all times promoted equality of opportunity and treatment of staff and persons to whom it provides services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15343/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all the bodies under his aegis have set out in their strategic plans an assessment of the human rights and equality issues they view to be relevant to the functions and purpose of the body with regard to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15344/21]
Enterprise 4 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new HSA inspectors hired since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Covid-19-related compliance checks undertaken by the HSA since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; the number of inspections undertaken at sites of known outbreaks since these dates; the number of enforcement actions taken and completed since these dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14818/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Covid-19 complaints received by the HSA since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; the percentage of these complaints that have been processed; the number of inspections and enforcement orders that were taken, respectively, as a result of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he has taken to prevent employers obliging employees to attend the workplace in circumstances in which remote working is a possibility in spite of current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/21]
Finance 3 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal by a union (details supplied) on the need to establish a structured forum on banking to consider the future of the banking landscape in Ireland; if his Department will engage with the union to consider the proposals further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14538/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if a copy will be provided of the briefing notes prepared for Central Bank officials in preparation for their recent Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach session; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the meeting between the Minister of State for financial services,credit unions and insurance and the chief executive officers of the main insurance companies; if the Minister of State plans to raise the issue of motor insurance rebates in view of the Covid-19 restrictions and the resulting reduction in motor claims costs for insurance companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15701/21]
Further and Higher Education 3 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the approximately 20,000 college applicants who applied for courses in 2021 on the basis of leaving certificate results achieved in previous years and who consequently may have been disadvantaged with respect to CAO points required for entry to their given courses due to disproportionate grade inflation relative to other years; if he is making provisions for those students who may have been denied a placement under such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15186/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider reducing the number of placement hours, currently 300, in order for social care students to be registered under CORU and to be able to work in a social care setting after graduation in view of current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on correspondence received by his Department from a union (details supplied) on 16 March 2021 in respect of the proposed new apprenticeship action plan; his further views on whether the critical role played by the trade union movement in the delivery and operation of an internationally recognised best practice apprenticeship system ought to be a central feature of the revised system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/21]
Housing 2 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a copy will be provided of the matrix and scoring system used to assess applications to his Department for funding under the latest round of the urban regeneration and development fund; if a copy will be provided of the matrix for the Drogheda northern port access route application; the way it was scored and assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13911/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites in each county in which planning permission has been granted for each year since 2018, in tabular form; the number of sites assessed under the vacant site levy in each county since 2018; the number and percentage of local authorities with a live register with listed sites with assigned market valuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/21]
Education 2 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when her Department communicated to schools that leaving certificate geography students would be unable to partake in field trips as part of their geographical investigation assessment; the way in which she plans to accommodate leaving certificate geography students affected by this decision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14824/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if additional places will be provided for first year students for the 2021-2022 academic year at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15536/21]
Justice 2 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of coroners and deputy coroners, respectively, in the State; the salary paid to coroners and deputy coroners, by county, in tabular form; the way coroners are appointed in each area; the qualifications required; the way deputy coroners are appointed; the criteria for selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13929/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of coroner's inquests in 2019 and 2020 in counties Louth, Mayo and Wicklow, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13930/21]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his discussions with his European Union counterparts regarding the expected 15% reduction in fish landed in Ireland as a result of the recent Brexit deal and the inequity of Ireland having the largest proportion transferred among involved EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15267/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to renegotiate the Common Fisheries Policy to prevent direct and indirect job losses in the Irish fishing industry, to protect the sustainability of fisheries stock within Ireland’s exclusive economic zone and to prevent the displacement of Irish vessels in Irish waters by EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15268/21]
Environment 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the concrete measures he plans to take to actively oppose proposals for floating LNG terminals in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15402/21]
Transport 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his views on an anomaly (details supplied) which may prevent or inadvertently financially penalise taxi drivers seeking to avail of the recently announced electric SPSV scheme; if he plans to address this matter to facilitate more taxi drivers availing of this grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15335/21]
Defence 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties associated with Defence Forces personnel that are non-Irish passport holders, in terms of serving in some operations overseas; if his Department is engaging with the Defence Forces to develop a solution to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15235/21]

Joanna Byrne — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Paula Butterly — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Ruairí Ó Murchú — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 25 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 25 total

Health 7 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the details of engagements to date on work regarding the legislative ban on conversion therapy as committed to in the programme for Government; the timeline for commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14040/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the development of allowances to support radiography students through their placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure the retention of newly qualified junior doctors in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital with reference to interns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of adult primary care posts in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16135/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of child primary care posts in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16136/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for services within child primary care in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for services within adult primary care in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16138/21]
Transport 6 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the details of his engagement with the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure on cross-Border planning and infrastructure projects, particularly the Narrow Water bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15655/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the measures that have been taken and those being considered to tackle the driver test, theory test and lessons backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the implications following Brexit in regard to the UK land bridge and the supply chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1845/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive in furthering cross-Border infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1846/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the engagements of his Departmental officials with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on planning and road opening licences for the roll-out of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15708/21]
- 2021-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the current supports available to travel agents enabling them to reimburse consumers who do not wish to avail of refund credit notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16134/21]
Environment 5 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps his Department is taking to improve and expand the cybersecurity remit across colleges and universities following an attempted cyberattack at a university (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the context and rationale for the Office of Government Procurement provision of IT security services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14180/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a dedicated business cybersecurity hub within the National Cyber Security Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14181/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagements his Department had with An Post and a union (details supplied) regarding the offline services report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14233/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected timeframe for the announcement of actions following the examination of the feasibility of directing more State business to the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14234/21]
Housing 3 questions
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration that has been given outside of the energy efficiency programme for 2021 for the retrofitting of local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14253/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties to date per rent pressure zone in County Louth that have been identified as potentially in breach of short-term lettings regulations; the number that have been subject to inspection; and the number of short-term letting change of use planning applications received. [14227/21]
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties to date per rent pressure zone in County Louth that have been issued with warning letters in respect of a breach of the short-term letting regulations. [14228/21]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the work of Enterprise Ireland on remote working hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15836/21]
Tourism 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding or grants are available to the owners of holiday parks, sites or facilities that provide services to mobile home owners; if consideration has been given to financial assistance for the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15332/21]
Education 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education her plans to define Irish sign language as a curricular subject by her Department in order to be included within the Teaching Council’s curricular subject requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15812/21]
Rural 1 question
- 2021-03-24 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagements her Department has had with satellite companies on broadband connectivity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15835/21]