Peter Burke, TD

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken to reduce the waiting time for social welfare appeals and details of the success to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD has today published the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013. The Bill represents a major reform of the fine payment and recovery system in Ireland and provides for the payment of fines by installment and attachment of earnings.

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he might respond to representations from the Irish Post Masters Union seeking an increase in the threshold where anti money laundering identification is needed in order to facilitate the sale of low value prize bonds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new trams that will be purchased to serve on the LUAS cross city service and their expected date of delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The companies were introduced to Ireland through ConnectIreland, the company responsible for delivering the Government’s Succeed in Ireland initiative, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs.

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway has today (Tuesday) welcomed the announcement new statistics from the European Commission which show a 10% increase in Irish students participating in Erasmus programmes over the last academic year.