437. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an assessment was carried out by his Department of the impact on small and micro enterprises of the increase in the national minimum wage to €14.94 per hour from 1 January 2027, with particular reference to labour intensive sectors such as food production, hospitality and retail; if a regulatory impact assessment was prepared; if it …
438. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department or the low pay commission has estimated the knock on effect of the increase in the national minimum wage to €14.94 per hour from 1 January 2027 on pay rates above the minimum wage, where employers must maintain pay differentials, and on consumer prices and inflation; if so, the findings; and if he will make a statement…
439. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if targeted supports for small employers, such as adjustments to employer PRSI or other measures, were considered alongside the decision to increase the national minimum wage to €14.94 per hour from 1 January 2027; the measures considered and the reasons any were not proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73633/…
445. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of employment permits issued to the HSE as employer in respect of medical practitioners in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, by permit type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74357/26]
456. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has issued guidance to school management authorities on their obligations under the Equal Status Acts in respect of students with dyslexia who are required to study a modern foreign language; whether a school's subject selection policy can be applied without consideration of a student's individual disability-related needs; and t…
457. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedures available to parents who believe that a post-primary school has refused to consider reasonable accommodation for a student with dyslexia in relation to the study of a modern foreign language; whether her Department can review or investigate the application of school policies in such circumstances; and whether she will issue national gui…
548. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the statutory powers of TV licence inspectors under the Broadcasting Act 2009; the circumstances in which they may enter residential premises; the requirements regarding identification and production of appointment certificates; whether householders may refuse entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74196/26]
594. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the establishment of a regulator for owners' management companies following the transfer of responsibility for the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 to the Department; the planned scope of the review of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74334/26]
676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of thefts of companion animals, including cats and dogs, recorded by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, by Garda division, with particular reference to the Cork city Garda division; whether such thefts are separately identifiable on PULSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […
691. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department has a written procedure for assessing material furnished by members of the public to him which may give rise to a relevant cause of concern within the meaning of section 205 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024; the timeframe within which such material is assessed; whether the person who furnis…
692. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of requests made by him to the Police Ombudsman under section 205(2); and the number of referrals made under section 205(3), of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 since the commencement of the Act on 2 April 2025, by year; the number of occasions on which the Police Ombudsman notified him under section 205(…
694. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost to the Exchequer of the office of the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism since its establishment on 1 July 2024, broken down by year and by remuneration or fees, expenses, secretariat and administrative support, and any other costs; the budget allocated for 2026 and 2027; and if he will make a statement on …
698. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the process by which the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism was appointed in July 2024; whether the post was publicly advertised; the selection criteria applied; the number of applicants; who made the final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73849/26]
699. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the terms of reference and terms of appointment of the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism; whether the office holder is subject to a code of conduct or standards regarding public commentary; the mechanism for reviewing or ending the appointment before its scheduled end in mid 2028; and if he will make a statement on the m…
708. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of reports received by him and the Minister of State at his Department under section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number transmitted to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner within the ten day period required by section 8(3)(a) of the Act; the number tran…
710. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average time taken by An Garda Síochána to close a protected disclosure in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of protected disclosures closed in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74345/26]
713. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the date on which responsibility for the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 will be transferred to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps that remain outstanding before the transfer of functions order can be made; the reason for the delay to date; and if he wil…
714. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of protected disclosures made to An Garda Síochána that, as of 1 October 2026, have remained open for more than one year, more than two years and more than three years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74344/26]
751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, where a person convicted of a sexual offence is an asylum seeker, if the confidentiality provisions of international protection legislation prevent that person being named in reports, even in cases where the victim has requested that they be named; and the legal basis for the position. [74050/26]
783. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions taken under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 since its commencement in March 2014 by year, in tabular form; the number of those prosecutions that proceeded summarily in the District Court and the number that proceeded on indictment; the number in each category that resulted in a conviction; and if the Mini…
784. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will review the maximum penalties provided for in section 52 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which have not been increased since the Act commenced; if consideration will be given to creating a specific aggravated offence of cruelty causing the death of or serious injury to a companion animal, carrying a higher…
786. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of convictions for animal cruelty under section 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 since 2014, the number of custodial sentences, suspended sentences, fines and orders disqualifying a person from keeping animals that have been imposed by year, in tabular form; the longest custodial sentence imposed to date; and if he …
857. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders currently registered with Tusla in Cork city and Cork county, respectively; the number of childminders who have registered under the new regulatory framework; the measures being taken to encourage more childminders to register and provide additional childcare capacity; and if she will make a statement on the ma…
858. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently waiting for a place in a crèche or early learning and childcare service in Cork City and Cork County, respectively; the steps being taken to address the shortage of childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74502/26]
859. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of funding ring-fenced in the current budget to provide additional early learning and childcare places in Cork city and Cork county; the number of additional places this funding is expected to deliver; the timeline for making these places available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74504/26]