Fergus O'Dowd, TD

authorities in Iran are moving towards a more democratic process facilitating a recognition of international standards in respect of human rights

progress continues towards EU enlargement with particular reference to the countries currently in the process and proposed

efforts continue to be made to encourage Iran to embrace democratic structures incorporating full recognition of human rights standards

various Irish embassies or consulates throughout the EU and worldwide continue to be used as a means of promoting this country

cooperate in their efforts to prevent the public executions of innocent civilians by hooded and masked executioners whose disguise prevents any subsequent retribution for war crimes

EU and UN are united in support of a peace process in the Middle East

steps taken or proposed by the international community to contain the spread of Ebola

top ten locations worldwide wherein serious human rights abuses continue

European Union continues to monitor the situation in the Ukraine with particular reference to the need to ensure the protection of democracy

To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the €2 billion collected for the State from private pension savings of a relatively small number of persons, if he will reverse the decision to extend the levy into 2015 in view of the huge impact it is having on the retirement income of older contributors; and if he will make a statement on the matter?