Doyle, Andrew

Undocumented Irish in the USA

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue regarding the immigration reform legislation which is before Congress in the United States. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, ...

The specific point I wish to raise with regard to the legislation is how J1 visa holders such as Irish students will be affected. In its early stages the legislation contained proposals which wo...

The Minister of State is aware the J1 visa has been hugely popular among students. It allows them an opportunity to live and work in the United States for up to four months over the summer holid...

I ask that the $100 charge be reconsidered and I ask the Minister of State to clarify whether work must be guaranteed before a student is able to travel. If this is the case it will have serious...

Undocumented Irish in the USA (Continued)

I compliment the Tánaiste and embassy staff on the work they have done to secure a reduction in the fee. It is regrettable that there is a fee at all but $100 is much more affordable than $500. O...

Is it the case that if J1 participants are not classified as foreign labourers they will not need to secure employment before departing to the United States? If that is possible then the Bill as...

Money Laundering

Asked the Minister for Finance: the current anti-money laundering requirements for Prize Bonds; his views on whether the current level is sufficient; if he has considered raising or lowering this threshold; if his attention has b...

Foreign Conflicts

Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 11 June 2013, his views on the further level of civil and political unrest in Turkey; if any Irish citizens have been caught up in the demonstrations ta...

Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: his views on the current civil and political unrest in Brazil; if any Irish citizens have been caught up in the current demonstrations taking place; the plan Ireland has in place for assisting Iris...

Emigrant Support Services

Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 30 May 2013, if he has received the full report that the consul general in Boston requested from the executive director of the Irish International Immigr...

EU Directives

Asked the Minister for Finance: if he will outline measures taken at the June ECOFIN meeting to secure protections against excessive financial speculation in the food and other commodity derivative markets through the review of t...

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Asked the Minister for Finance: the current list of public relations or related consultancy contracts and agreements that the Central Bank of Ireland is currently in or has procured in the last five years, including in recent wee...

School Accommodation

Asked the Minister for Education and Skills: if he will outline all approvals for additional accommodation and emergency works in an area (details supplied) in 2013 to date by his Department's school building unit; if he will include the scho...

Departmental Expenditure

Asked the Minister for Education and Skills: further to Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 12 March 2013, in view of the fact that the State over the past four years has spent nearly €5 million on payslips and postage to school employees and p...

Proposed Legislation

Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: the current status of forthcoming whistleblower legislation; when he expects any such Bill will come before Dáil Éireann; the provisions contained within the Bill and the measures contained within ...

Asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: if he will outline the key measures contained within the Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Company Registration

Asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: the number of new companies, of various types, that have been registered with the Companies Registration Office in tabular form on a yearly basis between 2008-2012, and to date in 2013; and if he w...

Carer's Allowance Applications

Asked the Minister for Social Protection: further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 18 June 2013, if a decision on an appeal in respect of a carer's allowance will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Energy Conservation

Asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: if he will detail the recent announcement he has made regarding exemplar energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

European Parliament Elections

Asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 12 June 2012, if in view of a decision taken at European level to reduce Ireland’s number of MEPs from 12 to 11 at the next European Parliament elections...

Local Government Reform Expenditure

Asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: the amount that has been set aside by local authorities from 2007 to date in 2013 in order to cover the lump sums payable to members of local authorities who retire or fail to retain their seats at...

Water Meters Installation

Asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: if water calibration and verification of water meters will be part of the installation of water meters by Irish Water and the three companies who will be awarded contracts next month for the instal...

Electoral Reform

Asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government: further to Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 15 May 2013 and No. 465 of 28 May 2013, the flexibility and restrictions that will be included for postal voters; if the measures will be contained in t...

Visa Applications

Asked the Minister for Justice and Equality: if he will outline the current pilot visa scheme that was awarded to Marketing English in Ireland; if he will detail the circumstances and decisions regarding the awarding of the pilot visa scheme ...

Magdalen Laundries Issues

Asked the Minister for Justice and Equality: the redress scheme in place for the survivors of the Magdalen laundries, following on from the Dr. Martin McAleese report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Student Visas Applications

Asked the Minister for Justice and Equality: the current waiting time for the processing of student visa applications for the purposes of studying here; his views on whether this waiting time is comparable and competitive with other nations c...

Asked the Minister for Justice and Equality: the waiting period for the processing of student visa applications for the purposes of studying here in each month for the years 2009 to 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on...

Official Engagements

Asked the Minister for Defence: if he will outline the details of his address to the 30th International Workshop on Global Security in Paris, France on 24 June 2013; if he will detail the bilateral meetings and other engagements ...

Defence Forces Personnel

Asked the Minister for Defence: the different ranks of all members in the Irish Defence Forces including the Permanent Defence Force, the Reserve Defence Force, the Irish Naval Service, the Naval Service Reserve, the Irish Air Co...

Overseas Missions

Asked the Minister for Defence: if the Irish Defence Forces will be deployed to Mali from 1 July as per the United Nations Security Council resolution of 25 June 2013 regarding a UN peacekeeping force made up of 12,600 troops; an...

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Asked the Minister for Health: if a scheme or mechanism is in place by either his Department or the Health Service Executive so that used foldable walkers, walking sticks and crutches from previous patients are made available fo...

Rail Network

Asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport: if he will outline the details regarding the slippage of land near a rail line (details supplied) in County Wicklow; to outline when the events occurred and the measures Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail ...

Roads Maintenance

Asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport: if the National Roads Authority has received a submission from a local authority regarding the provision of funding to amend a stretch of road (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if funding will ...