Questions

146. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of complaints received by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman relating to residential mortgages held by non-bank loan owners or serviced by credit servicing firms, in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of those returned or not accepted on procedural grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

147. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures currently being considered to reduce the cost of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for consumers; whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential environmental benefits of increased HVO usage as a substitute for conventional diesel; and if he will consider introducing taxation, excise or other support measures to reduce the pr…

148. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the action he is taking in relation to the proposal from an organisation (details supplied) introduce a permanent 8% Section 481 regional uplift for productions filming outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area. [70637/26]

149. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the criteria applied by the Protected Disclosures Commissioner in determining that an “other suitable person” has the competence to provide feedback and follow-up for the purposes of section 10C of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended; and whether such competence is considered in resp…

150. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies where information available to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner raises a potential issue concerning the suitability, independence or impartiality of a proposed “other suitable person”; and whether consideration of such matters and the reasons for selecting that r…

151. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies to the maintenance of records recording the conclusion of procedures concerning protected disclosures; the date and basis upon which the relevant procedures were concluded and notification of the reporting person; and whether such records should be capable of establish…

152. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procedures that apply where a protected disclosure contains several distinct alleged relevant wrongdoings which potentially fall within the functions or competence of different prescribed persons or other suitable persons; and whether individual matters contained in such a report may be tra…

153. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies to an “other suitable person” in carrying out an initial assessment pursuant to section 10E of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended; whether such an assessment should be recorded contemporaneously in writing; and whether the record should identify the informa…

154. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the evidence or records that should be established by a recipient before determining, for the purposes of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, that the relevant procedures concerning an earlier report have been concluded. [69787/26]

155. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation where a report containing multiple alleged relevant wrongdoings is being considered for closure on the basis that it concerns matters previously reported, if the recipient is expected to conduct and retain an issue-by-issue or allegation-by-allegation comparison between the earlier and subseque…

156. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance or criteria that apply when determining, for the purposes of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, whether a subsequent report contains meaningful new information compared with a previous report; and whether such a determination is required to be documented. [69784/26]

157. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procedures that apply where the Protected Disclosures Commissioner does not accept the opinion of an “other suitable person” that a matter does not fall within that person's remit; the procedures thereafter that apply to the report; and the safeguards that apply to ensure appropriate and in…

158. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of times since the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 that an “other suitable person” identified by the Protected Disclosures Commissioner has notified the Commissioner that the matter concerned does not fall within their remit; …

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of female apprentices, by trade currently employed by the OPW, in tabular form. [69858/26]

160. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a progress report on the condition of Donegal Courthouse; if work is to commence on the structure bringing it up to the standard in order that the court sittings may return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69983/26]

161. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of remuneration and expenses paid to each individual member of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce since their appointment, showing the amount paid to each member separately and distinguishing between fees, travel expenses and other expenses. [69949/26]

162. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the process and criteria used for the selection and appointment of each member of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, including whether the positions were advertised or otherwise subject to an open selection process; the body or person responsible for selecting each member; and the b…

163. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the governance framework under which the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce operates, including whether the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to the taskforce and whether a register of members’ interests and potential conflicts of interest is maintained. [69947/…

164. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the investment or policy support planned for Irish and European cloud, cybersecurity, open-source and digital public infrastructure providers, to ensure Ireland is not only a consumer of digital infrastructure but also contributes to European capability. [70044/26]

165. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which the Government is classifying sensitive workloads and datasets that may require EU-based hosting, customer-controlled encryption, private cloud, on-premise capability or enhanced exit provisions. [70041/26]

166. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if future ICT procurement frameworks will include explicit evaluation criteria covering European providers, open-source solutions, interoperability, vendor lock-in and cloud sovereignty where appropriate. [70040/26]

167. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department plans to publish a national sovereign cloud strategy for the public sector and critical national infrastructure; and the way in which it will address strategic dependence on non-EU cloud providers. [70038/26]

168. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to list the cultural institutions, if any, including museums, galleries, libraries, archives, theatres, concert halls, bands, ensembles, and performing companies, operated or hosted by his Department and public bodies or semi-State companies under his Department's remit, identifying the St…

169. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the principal barriers identified by Government Departments and agencies to the implementation of digital transformation projects and artificial intelligence initiatives. [70152/26]

170. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he is aware of leaking and water ingress at a location (details supplied); and the plans the OPW have to address this. [70526/26]