251. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way Ireland compares to other EU counties in terms of the level of employment protection given to pregnant women in advance of taking maternity leave; her views on whether the existing protections are sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/26]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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351 questions match, newest first.
252. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the UK law, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023, that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […
253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the French law, under the French Labour Code (Article L1225-4) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether that comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4745/26]
254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the German law, under the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4746/26]
255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the Dutch law, the Dutch Civil Code (Article 7:670(2) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4747/26]
256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of existing laws and regulations related to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace and maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/26]
257. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of new family resource centres delivered in 2025. [4775/26]
258. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if new providers entered core funding in 2025; and details of same. [4776/26]
259. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any providers returned to core funding, having previously left, in 2025; and the details of same. [4777/26]
260. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how she ensures that all websites operated by her Department are accessible to the visually impaired. [4810/26]
261. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any website or other platform operated by her Department uses an AI-enabled chatbot; if there are plans to use chatbots; in what circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4828/26]
262. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total sums spent for each year from 2016 to 2025, inclusive of advertising, by her Department on social media or online platforms, including identifying separately payments to influencers on such platforms; and to set out the annual totals for that period to each specific platform, including but not limited to major platforms (deta…
263. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4709/26]
264. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4710/26]
265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of any recommendations related to protecting children online as part of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4711/26]
266. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health when a person will be given a date for a marriage of convenience interview (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5087/26]
267. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2608 of 29 July 2025, if a county-by-county, or CHO area breakdown can be provided on these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4513/26]
268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to increase the provision of places in dental schools in view of the shortage of dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4516/26]
269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to ensure the availability of more places for Irish students in dental schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4517/26]
270. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will include enhanced flu vaccines for older people in the procurement process for the next flu season, as recommended by the NIAC; and if she will clarify whether both types of enhanced flu vaccine routinely available in other European countries, including adjuvated and high dose vaccines, will be considered for inclusion in this tender. [4519/26]
271. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will request that the NIAC update its recommendation on enhanced influenza vaccination for older persons, given the large number of hospitalisations for flu this season, and the fact the existing recommendation has not been updated since 2021. [4520/26]
272. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior to full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patients in Ireland are not…
273. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will review the criteria for medical card eligibility to allow for an audiology-only medical card, or similar entitlement, for individuals with congenital deafness who face unavoidable and lifelong costs for essential hearing aids; if she will consider removing or modifying means-testing in cases where the medical need is permanent and non-discretionary; a…
274. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to reduce the current reliance on locum consultants, given that 16.5% of consultant posts are filled on a locum basis; the reason for delays in advertising and filling permanent posts, including where advance notice of retirements is available; her assessment of the impact of high locum use on continuity of care, service development and sm…
275. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve supports for people with food allergies in public settings; the plans to develop a national allergy strategy; and the actions being considered to enhance emergency preparedness, staff training and access to treatments such as anaphylaxis kits and oral immunotherapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4525/26]