Meath East — week of Mon, 13 Sept

What your Meath East TDs did this week

Mon, 13 Sept – 19 Sept 2021 · 4 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 44 questions · 18 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence

2021-09-15 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 92–59

Voted for 1 Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Did not vote 2 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee

Darren O'Rourke — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 44 questions · 6 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 44 total

Transport 12 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that taxi drivers are encountering problems getting plain glass into new EV cars (details supplied) which means they cannot licence the vehicle as the standard tint is not acceptable for a taxi suitability test; if there are plans to introduce a temporary measure or waiver to off-set this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43283/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the frequency with which Irish Rail staff are trained to deal with major accidents onboard a train or within a station building. [43885/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to increase the frequency of Bus Éireann route 245x from four to six services in each direction on the Cork to Dublin route. [43886/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be provided for the refurbishment of the Irish Coast Guard building in Howth, County Dublin; and if so, when this work will commence. [43887/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the aviation task force report and the aviation restart plan; his plans to sustain the aviation sector and aviation jobs over the upcoming winter period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44104/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of BusConnects in Dublin; if he has engaged with Dublin Bus management and unions to try to resolve the current dispute over pay and working conditions at the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44105/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce the number of private cars used on journeys to and from centres of primary, secondary and third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44106/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on his efforts to clear the driving test backlog including the plan to hire additional driving testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44094/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport when the ongoing review of the Navan rail line will be completed; if he has received a cost estimation of reopening the rail line; the steps that will be taken in the next 24 months on this proposed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44093/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the challenges in the bus and haulage sectors in terms of rising costs and difficulty to recruit staff; the measures he plans to take to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44095/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the taxi industry in the time ahead in view of the fact that work volumes remain significantly reduced related to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44096/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has received representations from air traffic controllers requesting his immediate intervention and investigation into the activities and conduct of members of the executive team of the Irish Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44097/21]
Environment 9 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of staff working in the National Cyber Security Centre in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [43883/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide assurances that the State will not face blackouts in winter 2021 as a result of the demands on the electricity generation and transmission network, including from data centres; the steps he is taking to address the increasing number of amber alerts and supply and demand challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44107/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the process and timeline for the introduction and implementation of carbon budgets in view of the recent IPCC report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44108/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the introduction of the microgeneration scheme; when it will be in operation; the way it will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44109/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on claims made in advertisements relating to carbon offsetting and neutrality by companies that provide little detail on such claims; if he will strengthen legislation in this area to prevent misleading advertisements or greenwashing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44101/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Government review on the north-south interconnector; the number of times the review group has met; when its report will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44098/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes and businesses connected to high-speed broadband in 2021 under the National Broadband Plan; the number of homes and businesses passed under the scheme; the reasons for delays to date; his plans to ramp up the scheme in the time ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44100/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of scam and nuisance phone calls and texts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44102/21]
- 2021-09-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to meet retrofitting targets; if he will set out year-on-year targets by retrofitting programme; if he has examined other funding mechanisms for retrofitting houses given the number of homes that need to be retrofitted and the high up-front cost to households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44099/21]
Health 7 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the need for additional specialist rehabilitation units and psychiatric intensive care units. [43898/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if funding will be approved for the recruitment of an additional full-time consultant paediatric endocrinologist for CHI Temple Street. [43899/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting 20 additional full-time Parkinson's disease nurse specialist posts in 2022. [43900/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time transplant and pulmonary hypertension pharmacists at the Mater Hospital in each of the years of 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [43901/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of additional full-time speech and language therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists recruited for early intervention and school age assessments teams in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [43902/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the recruitment process used to advertise for nurses and other medical staff in community hospitals. [43903/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the number of cranial facial specialists for paediatrics here; and his plans to recruit additional specialists. [43904/21]
Justice 6 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full year cost of recruiting three additional full-time occupational psychologists and six additional psychologists for the Irish Prison Service in tabular form. [43890/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of successful prosecutions obtained under section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 for the years of 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43891/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if a recent contract for the provision of new Garda roads policing unit vans was put out to tender and if so, when the new vans will come into the fleet. [43892/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans in 2022 to replace any of the helicopters or aircraft in the Garda air support unit. [43893/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if she has spoken to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to date in 2021. [43894/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed penalty notices that gardaí issued for parking on double yellow lines in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [43896/21]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had any involvement in the ongoing industrial dispute at Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43844/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had any involvement in the ongoing industrial dispute at the Dublin Airport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43843/21]
Defence 2 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence the renewal and replacement programme that is in place by his Department and the military authorities for weaponry and other military equipment in the years 2022 and 2023; and when tenders for same will be issued. [43881/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence if a contract to replace the LÉ Eithne will be put out to tender before the end of 2021. [43882/21]
Education 2 questions
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of educational welfare officer positions nationwide that need to be filled. [43888/21]
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of applications from primary and post primary schools in County Meath that her Department received for works to be carried out under the 2021 summer works scheme. [43889/21]
Public 1 question
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided for works (details supplied) in County Meath. [43879/21]
Tourism 1 question
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated expenditure on high performance sports in 2020 and 2021; and the expected expenditure for 2022. [43897/21]
Social 1 question
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional revenue that would be generated if the higher rate of the employer social insurance contributions rose by 2%, from 11.05% to 13.05%, on earnings in excess of €140,000 per year. [43880/21]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2021-09-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has spoken formally with the United States Secretary of Agriculture to date in 2021. [43884/21]

New lobbying 6 returns

Pinergy Energy and Natural Resources
- Pricing of Electricity and Security of Supply
Unite the Union, Ireland Region Transport
- Need for Road Safety Authority to engage with Approved Driving Instructors; need for ADIs to have access to hygiene facilities in RSA tests centres
National Union of Journalists Communications
- Iconic Media need to recognise the union amongst their members
Family Carers Ireland Budgetary matters
- Budget 2022
Alupro Ireland Environment
- Design of Ireland's Deposit Return System (DRS)
Technological Universities Association Education and Training
- Submission on Budget 2022

Gillian Toole — Independent 0 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Epilepsy Ireland Health
- Following contact from a constituent, Cllr. French contacted EI to ask how she could support EI's advocacy objectives. Sought that she submit a motion to her council in support of EI's submission to Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters regarding access to Free Travel for people with epilepsy and improved reasonable accommodations for students with epilepsy during state exams. When the motion was introduced, EI contacted all Cllrs seeking support.

Helen McEntee — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 5 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 5 returns

National Union of Journalists Communications
- Iconic Media need to recognise the union amongst their members
Vintners' Federation of Ireland Taxation
- Minimum Unit Pricing
Family Carers Ireland Budgetary matters
- Budget 2022
Alliance for Insurance Reform Banking and Financial Institutions
- Seeking policy decisions that will reduce the cost of insurance for our members and Irish society as a whole to affordable levels and keep it that way.
Technological Universities Association Education and Training
- Submission on Budget 2022

Thomas Byrne — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 0 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 3 returns

National Union of Journalists Communications
- Iconic Media need to recognise the union amongst their members
Family Carers Ireland Budgetary matters
- Budget 2022
Technological Universities Association Education and Training
- Submission on Budget 2022