Ken O'Flynn

261. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the policy objectives underpinning the portrayal of Saint Brigid in the Department’s Saint Brigid’s Day 2026 advertising and digital media campaign; the guidance or criteria applied when determining how religious or cultural figures are represented in State-funded campaigns; and if she will provide the documentation or policy framework governing such decisions. [9997/26]

262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the oversight mechanisms, safeguards, or review processes that are in place within her Department to ensure that religious figures associated with Irish heritage are not used in a manner that could reasonably be regarded as ideologically partisan or disrespectful to their historical and religious context in State-funded promotional material. [9998/26]

263. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her Department has received complaints or representations from members of the public regarding the Saint Brigid’s Day 2026 advertising or digital media campaign; the number and general nature of such complaints to date; and the steps, if any, are being taken to review, amend, or withdraw material that has caused offence. [9999/26]

264. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether she considers it appropriate for the Department to use religious figures in State-funded campaigns without explicit reference to their religious identity; and whether she intends to review departmental practice in this area in light of public concern. [10000/26]

316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware that members of the Defence Forces with over 21 years’ service are currently being discharged; if she is aware of any directives from her Department to discharge up to 1,000 personnel from the Defence Forces; and if any member of the Defence Forces who wishes to remain in service will be afforded the option to do so, particularly given the ongoing retention challenges within the Defence Forces. [9781/26]

323. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport when the regulations he has indicated will implement a total ban on the use of scrambler bikes and other off-road vehicles in public places will be made and commenced; whether the draft text of those regulations has been finalised; and if he will provide the anticipated commencement date and scope of the proposed prohibition. [11393/26]

335. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the governance controls in place to monitor and regulate the use of VIP or platinum packages by DAA board members, whether these are classified as benefit-in-kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9288/26]

336. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm whether any audits or internal investigations have been carried out into the personal use of VIP services by DAA board members, and if so, to publish the findings. [9289/26]

337. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any instances where VIP packages at DAA have resulted in personal expenditure by board members exceeding €30,000 annually, and if he will make a statement on the accountability measures. [9290/26]

338. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department has been made aware whether through complaints, reports, or other communications of any potential misuse of VIP services by DAA board members; and if so, what action was taken. [9291/26]

339. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if his Department provides any specific guidance or policy on the acceptable use of DAA facilities or VIP packages by board members; and if he will make a statement on the policy framework. [9292/26]

366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to set out, in respect of the Blarney, Glanmire and Ballyvolane growth corridors in Cork City and County, which public transport and sustainable transport projects have received Ministerial approval to proceed to planning, design, or delivery; which of those projects have capital funding allocated under the current National Development Plan or Capital Plan to 2030; and the project stage each approved scheme is currently at. [10010/26]

367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the formal delivery milestones, timelines, or reporting requirements his Department has set for the National Transport Authority in respect of transport infrastructure and service delivery for the Blarney, Glanmire and Ballyvolane growth corridors to 2030; and the way his Department monitors compliance with those expectations. [10011/26]

368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in respect of the Blarney growth corridor, to detail the Ministerial decisions taken to date regarding the proposed Blarney or Stoneview rail station and associated public transport infrastructure; whether funding has been approved in principle or allocated for planning or delivery; and the indicative sequencing for progression within the lifetime of the current Capital Plan. [10012/26]

369. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in respect of the Glanmire growth corridor, to outline the public transport and bus priority measures approved by his Department for progression under BusConnects Cork or related programmes; whether these measures have secured Ministerial funding approval; and the timeframe within which his Department expects those schemes to advance through planning and delivery stages. [10013/26]

370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to clarify whether the Ballyvolane growth corridor is included or excluded from planned public transport or sustainable transport investment programmes to 2030; the policy or planning basis for that position; and whether any proposals relating to Ballyvolane have received Ministerial consideration or approval for funding, planning, or assessment. [10014/26]

410. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of applications received and approved under (a) Transfer of Business relief and (b) Returned Goods Relief in respect of construction tools brought into the State by returning Irish citizens in each of the past five years; the number refused in each case; and the principal grounds for refusal. [10001/26]

411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will outline the position in respect of Irish citizens returning to live and work in the State as employees in the construction sector who bring personally owned tools with them from non-EU countries; and if he accepts that such individuals are excluded from Transfer of Business relief under current rules. [10002/26]

412. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the impact of Customs Duty and VAT charges on construction tools on the return of skilled Irish tradespeople from outside the EU, in light of acknowledged labour shortages in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10003/26]

413. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average processing time for applications under Transfer of Business relief involving tools of the trade; the documentation most commonly outstanding or queried by Revenue; and whether any guidance has been issued to streamline applications for returning Irish citizens. [10004/26]

414. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to extending relief from Customs Duty and VAT on tools of the trade to returning Irish citizens employed in the construction sector who do not meet the sole-trader criteria for Transfer of Business relief; and if not, the reason for this position. [10005/26]

441. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the oversight mechanisms in place within his Department to ensure that public procurement processes are protected from bid-rigging and cartel behaviour; whether any red-flag or data-screening systems are used across State procurement frameworks; and if he will provide details of same. [9323/26]

442. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Office of Government Procurement has issued guidance, training, or mandatory protocols to contracting authorities on identifying and responding to suspected cartel or collusive bidding behaviour; the date of the most recent guidance issued; and the level of compliance across Departments and State bodies. [9324/26]

443. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department maintains or has access to centralised data on bidding patterns for large State contracts across sectors; whether such data is analysed for indicators of anti-competitive behaviour; and if he will outline any plans to strengthen data-driven oversight in this area. [9325/26]

444. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has considered the fiscal risk posed to the Exchequer by cartel activity and bid-rigging in public procurement; whether this risk is reflected in any expenditure control, value-for-money, or public spending review processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9326/26]