1317. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will introduce a national policy to ensure that all hospitals, both those directly managed by the Health Service Executive and those receiving public funding, provide free parking to holders of a disabled person’s parking permit (blue badge); the current arrangements across the hospital network regarding parking charges for such permit holders; the estimat…
1318. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she has considered measures to compensate hospitals for any revenue loss arising from the introduction of free parking for holders of a disabled person’s parking permit (blue badge); if her Department has conducted an assessment of the fiscal impact of such a measure across the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48844/25]
1319. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of Food Safety Authority of Ireland audits or inspections in recent years concerning Halal certification, including how many were conducted, their findings on traceability and labelling and any actions taken by the authority to bolster transparency in meat labelling. [48855/25]
1320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there are specific legal provisions governing the importation, certification or labelling of Halal meat products; which regulatory authorities oversee enforcement; and whether further legal clarity or updates are being considered to align consumer expectations with regulatory standards. [48857/25]
1373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the number of cases which occurred in which a baby was born alive following a termination of pregnancy by gestational age, cause of termination, place of termination, and outcome, in each of the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49168/25]
1374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the medical and legal definition of born alive as applied in termination of pregnancy cases; to confirm the point at which a baby is regarded as a living human being entitled to care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49169/25]
1375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reporting obligations on medical practitioners when a baby is born alive after a termination of pregnancy; if these cases are reported to the coroner, An Garda Síochána, or Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49170/25]
1376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if each of the 12 cases reported in 2022 in which a baby was born alive after a termination of pregnancy complied fully with the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and with Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49171/25]
1377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the legal rights and protections afforded under Irish law to a child who survives a termination of pregnancy; if there is a statutory obligation to provide full life-sustaining treatment in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49172/25]
1378. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the medical protocols in place for the care of a baby born alive after a termination of pregnancy; if neonatal resuscitation and intensive care are mandatory in such cases where there is a prospect of survival; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49173/25]
1379. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if hospital ethics committees are required to review and oversee all cases in which a baby is born alive after a termination of pregnancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49174/25]
1380. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the role of parents in decision-making when a baby is born alive following a termination of pregnancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49175/25]
1381. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if medical practitioners who provide termination services are required to undertake training in neonatal care and resuscitation to ensure the preservation of life in the event of a live birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49176/25]
1382. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will publish an anonymised report on cases of babies born alive after terminations of pregnancy, including lessons learned to ensure that every child born alive is afforded full protection and care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49177/25]
Ken O'Flynn
Written
17 Sep 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
1425. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the abolition of third-level fees and apprentice contributions as a means to reduce financial pressures on students, in view of recent research showing that 81% of young people are fearful for their future in Ireland. [48783/25]
12. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government’s position on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement in light of its potential impact on Irish beef exports valued at €2.8 billion annually; and if Ireland will formally oppose the agreement at Council level. [46945/25]
13. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has assessed the risk that the concession of 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry imports under the Mercosur agreement will depress farmgate prices for Irish producers; and to publish that assessment. [46946/25]
14. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland intends to use its voice at EU Council to oppose the EU-Mercosur agreement on grounds of its negative impact on Irish agriculture; and if he has raised this objection formally with the European Commission. [46948/25]
15. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consultation that has taken place with Irish farm organisations regarding the Mercosur deal; and if their concerns have been incorporated into Ireland’s negotiating position. [46949/25]
28. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, given increasing public concern and anecdotal reports, he is aware of instances of individuals who have claimed asylum in the Republic of Ireland who are also travelling to and from the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, after having made similar claims in that jurisdiction; if there is any evidence that such individuals…
32. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the average turnaround times for passport applications submitted in Cork city and county since 1 May 2025; and whether he has considered expanding regional passport processing capacity. [44825/25]
36. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the potential impact of Northern Ireland’s invocation of the ‘Stormont Brake’ on cross-border trade and regulatory alignment; and if he will provide details of any contingency plans to safeguard the economic and logistical integrity of trade flows between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the Windso…
40. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Government plans to publish the updated version of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill; whether any diplomatic representations have been received from the United States Congress in relation to the measure; and if he will clarify Ireland’s position should the country be designated by U.S. author…
45. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times reports, statements or other documents authored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have contained the term “sexual and reproductive health and rights” (SRHR) from the period 2016 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45708/25]
71. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to safeguard Common Travel Area provisions and Northern Ireland peace-process commitments given recent UK policy shifts including refugee application suspension and ECHR departure advocacy. [46825/25]