Questions

197. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to visit Lithuania during quarter three of 2025. [25353/25]

198. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the budget allocated to the Irish Embassies based in Ankara, Pretoria, Wellington and Kuala Lumpur, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [25354/25]

199. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application for a child (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25377/25]

200. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, in light of widespread concerns among Irish beef farmers about the detrimental impact of increased South American beef imports on the domestic market; and to detail what steps are being taken to protect the viability of Ireland's beef sector under this deal; and if he will ma…

201. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify the Government's current position on the proposed Mercosur deal; whether he is maintaining the position, as per the commitments given prior to the general election, to oppose the deal that's on the table; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25505/25]

202. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will instruct the Passport Service to issue clear guidelines to staff on application requirements where a child's passport application is submitted, where parents on birth certificate are not involved, and a guardian is in their place, to make clear what documentation/court ordered documentation is required to make it clear…

203. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to advise what response he is receiving from engagement on the case of a person (details supplied); the additional actions that will be taken; if anything on a cross-party basis will be helpful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25619/25]

204. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what is required by the Passport Office in the case of a child renewal application where a person, other than their parents, has court ordered custody; if this is sufficient to receive a passport renewal, and accepted by the Passport Office. [25628/25]

205. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the June 2024 assessment of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (details supplied) that famine has existed in Gaza since that time. [25668/25]

206. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he recognises that Israeli officials, over the course of the conflict and blockade, have made repeated public statements indicating an intention to use starvation as a method of warfare against the civilian population of Gaza. [25669/25]

207. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza over the past 70 days constitutes the use of starvation as a weapon of war and a violation of international humanitarian law. [25671/25]

208. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he supports the establishment of a United Nations-mandated force to ensure the safe delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza. [25672/25]

209. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Government will consider bringing forward, or supporting, a motion at the United Nations General Assembly, on foot of the Uniting for Peace mechanism, to authorise the deployment of a UN humanitarian protection force to Gaza, given the Security Council's ongoing failure to act. [25673/25]

210. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, given Ireland's historical experience of famine as a tool of genocide and its weaponisation against a civilian population, and the enduring intergenerational impacts of that trauma, the Government will propose the codification of famine as a distinct crime under international law and seek to advance that objective within…

211. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position on Rockall and surrounding waters; his approach to Britain's claim of sovereignty and to 22km territorial waters off the islet; and the steps he is taking to assert Irish interests in this part of the North Atlantic. [25675/25]

212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26016/25]

213. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has engaged with approved housing bodies (AHBs) and local authorities regarding initiatives to support solar panel installation on AHB and local authority housing. [25300/25]

214. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when An Post pension recipients will receive the 1.4% increase that was promised to take effect from the 1 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25084/25]

215. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will enquire as to whether the ESB will provide support to the 3% of customers whose connectivity is too poor to avail of half-hourly data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25164/25]

216. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Uisce Éireann collects data on the amount of water currently being used by data centres on monthly basis; if his Department is currently developing policy regarding water usage by large energy users such as data centres during times of low supplies such as water conservation orders; and if he will make a statement on t…

217. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of information provided by ESB Networks (details supplied) stating that, in the absence of an adequate policy response, the potential level of data centre demand could significantly impact its ability to accommodate demand connections required to support Government policy targets; and if he will make a stat…

218. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied with the sampling, testing and oversight of the quality of diesel available in Ireland; if a totally independent agency is needed similar to other EU member States to monitor on a real-time basis the quality and consistency of all tanker loads and batches of diesel available in the State; if he is aware t…

219. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports available for retrofitting of micro approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25291/25]

220. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied). [25292/25]

221. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has engaged with approved housing bodies (AHBs) and local authorities regarding initiatives to support solar panel installation on AHB and local authority housing. [25299/25]