108. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason for the lengthy delays in processing join family spouse visas for holders of a critical skills employment permit, given the policy states that "permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification"; the steps he is taking to expedite the process and confirm entry dates, particularly for those who have received an off…
205. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he recognizes the State’s clear obligations to prioritize rapid and effective emissions reductions now in order to support and protect children’s rights; the plans to implement the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 26 through law and policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56627/25]
211. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the Taoiseach’s comments on 9 October 2025 in which he suggested that climate initiatives will not be fulfilled due to a risk of causing polarisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56628/25]
225. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he will take to ensure that the EU’s ‘simplification’ process as it applies to the ETS2 directive and social climate fund is conducted transparently and that the SCF will target vulnerable households explicitly, and not weaken the ETS2 directive obligations on member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57…
603. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons a citizenship application was refused for a person (details supplied) despite the applicant providing evidence that she was resident in Ireland for five of the previous seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57015/25]
855. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if there are systems in place to alert staff working in HSE facilities when a patient has been convicted of violent or sexual crimes; if they are currently serving a sentence and therefore accompanied by prison officers or have been released from prison, similar to the system in place in the UK’s NHS; if not, if she would consider introducing such a system; and i…
151. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which emergency market adjustment charges, which were introduced by energy companies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56144/25]
279. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if funding allocated to his Department in Budget 2026 has been ringfenced for the second phase of the Stardust redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56079/25]
158. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed introduction of additional time during State examinations for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55801/25]
438. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide from returns made to the FSSU the total amount paid to Uisce Éireann by primary and post-primary schools in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54829/25]
439. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the concerns expressed by schools which are financially challenged in relation to the receipt of substantial water charge bills from Uisce Éireann despite not being funded to meet such bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54831/25]
115. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that international English language students over the age of 25 are being told that they no longer qualify for a student LEAP card; if he is aware that the denial of access to a student LEAP Card has meant that the cost for monthly public transport use has doubled for those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54349/25]
133. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that students at the King’s Inn have been excluded from the student Leap card scheme despite having been eligible in previous years and despite students in similar institutions such as the Law Society being eligible; the reasons for their exclusion; if he will ensure that students at the King’s Inn are included in the scheme; and if he will make…
236. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the use of online bidding platforms and countdown clocks in house sales; his views on whether they are a positive innovation in the housing market; if he will seek to ban or regulate their use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54528/25]
102. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail plans to have a new 10 a.m. Monday to Saturday Dublin Heuston to Westport train service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53604/25]
103. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the number of each category of tickets that Irish Rail sold for Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53605/25]
104. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of the new wheelchair accessible DART carriages that will be in service with effect from early 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53606/25]
105. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail plans to have undercover ticket inspectors onboard intercity rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53607/25]
211. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of approvals for and drawdowns of the home energy upgrade scheme loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51725/25]
218. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the Government’s National Heat Policy Statement; when he expects that it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51734/25]
219. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the expansion of the definition of ‘vulnerable customers’ to include financially vulnerable customers as committed to in the previous Energy Poverty Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51735/25]
535. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the transposition of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51100/25]
569. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 18 September 2025, to provide a timeframe for the completion of the prior risk assessment of cherry laurel and if it is expected to be added to the list of species of national concern; whether environmental NGOs and community woodland groups will be formally consulted in developing and i…
570. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Housing for All commitment to introduce a minimum BER for private rental accommodation; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51726/25]
912. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health for an update on the 37 healthcare assistants and 18 staff nurse vacancies in older care services in CHO7 which are currently subject to approval; the expected timeframe for approval of the positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51932/25]