36 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he proposes to take to give effect to the conclusions of the Fourth Pan-European Ministerial Conference, An Environment for Europe, held in Aarhus, Denmark in June 1998; if his attention has been drawn to the conclusions adopted by 84 parliamentarians from 36 European countries and Japan at that time; if so, his views on those conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17690/98]
104 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a difference of opinion between his Department and the Association of Electrical Contractors (Ireland) in relation to proposed terms for fixed price tendering; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these differences could seriously delay work on many important infrastructural projects funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19149/98]
38 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has to ensure that road accidents do not remain the biggest killer in the 15 to 24 age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19302/98]
36 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he proposes to take to give effect to the conclusions of the Fourth Pan-European Ministerial Conference, An Environment for Europe, held in Aarhus, Denmark in June 1998; if his attention has been drawn to the conclusions adopted by 84 parliamentarians from 36 European countries and Japan at that time; if so, his views on those conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17690/98]
6 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to facilitate persons of 65 years and over obtaining health insurance from the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or BUPA; and the consideration, if any, given by him to proposing amendments to the relevant provisions contained in the Health Insurance Act, 1994.
[18868/98]
13 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel enlisted into the FCA since 1 January 1998; and the number that has failed the entry medical examination on hearing grounds.
[12975/98]
19 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence the outcome of the investigations into the recent accident during military training (details supplied); the implications, if any, for safety; and the changes, if any, necessary to ensure high safety standards.
[12976/98]
14 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his immediate and long-term policies for dealing with the high levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and lead in Dublin and Cork, as a consequence of increased traffic levels; the response the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, gave at the EU Council meeting in Brussels on 23 March 1998; when this matter was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10460/98]
96 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence the reason the Air Corps is not in a position to supply all of the pilots required for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources Sikorski helicopter which will be based at Dublin airport; the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the shortage of pilots in the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9056/98]
96 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence the reason the Air Corps is not in a position to supply all of the pilots required for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources Sikorski helicopter which will be based at Dublin airport; the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the shortage of pilots in the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9056/98]
2 Mr. Dukes asked the Taoiseach the population figures for each county, county borough, borough and urban district of Bray, Dundalk and Tralee electoral areas for each of the years 1986, 1991 and 1997.
[5965/98]
1 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the proposals he announced on 12 January 1998 for significant reductions in tax on vehicles used for public transport will come into effect at the same time as the obligatory increases of 3 per cent in motor taxation which he has imposed on local authorities in 1998 and on 1 January 1999; the amount of the reductions; the effect, if any, they will have on general motor tax revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2468/98]
50 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has for the distribution of the proposed local government fund to local councils in a manner which equalises differences in the spending needs and revenue capacity of the different councils, in view of his announcement in Athlone on 12 January 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter
[2469/98]
50 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has for the distribution of the proposed local government fund to local councils in a manner which equalises differences in the spending needs and revenue capacity of the different councils, in view of his announcement in Athlone on 12 January 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter
[2469/98]
30 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he has carried out a review of the operation of the electoral system; if so, the defects, if any, he has identified in this regard; if so, his views on the remedies, if any, which should be proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20339/97]
28 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1997 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20338/97]
30 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he has carried out a review of the operation of the electoral system; if so, the defects, if any, he has identified in this regard; if so, his views on the remedies, if any, which should be proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20339/97]
28 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1997 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20338/97]
6 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Environment and Local Government the number of prosecutions which have been initiated under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997; the outcome of each such prosecution; the relevant local authorities which have initiated prosecutions; and if he has satisfied himself that local authorities are adequately fulfilling their obligations under the Act.
[16097/97]
37 Mr. Dukes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment the nature of the reorganisation of the policies of development agencies which she envisages in order to ensure that rural areas get a fairer share of industrial development.
[13726/97]
37 Mr. Dukes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment the nature of the reorganisation of the policies of development agencies which she envisages in order to ensure that rural areas get a fairer share of industrial development.
[13726/97]
105 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether he has requested the European Commission to remove the concept of eligible land for grain production; whether both grain producers and landowners will have access to IBAs; and the criteria upon which quota will be available from a national reserve.
[2863/94]
105 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether he has requested the European Commission to remove the concept of eligible land for grain production; whether both grain producers and landowners will have access to IBAs; and the criteria upon which quota will be available from a national reserve.
[2863/94]
57 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to introduce a house improvement grant scheme for the refurbishing of old houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2370/94]
57 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to introduce a house improvement grant scheme for the refurbishing of old houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2370/94]
35 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the total number of cases of suspected incest which are currently known to health boards throughout the country; the number of such cases in respect of which action has been taken, action is pending or where action is deemed unnecessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
102 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself that adequate precautions are in place to avoid possible contamination from blood product supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
102 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself that adequate precautions are in place to avoid possible contamination from blood product supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
41 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fact that letters are currently being issued by his Department to hundreds of farmers throughout the country who are applicants for the February 1993 special beef premium, informing them that they are disqualified from this scheme in view of inconsistencies in the declared age of some of the animals on their applications by reference to the December 1992 beef premium scheme; his views on whether it is fair to apply the regulations in this way; his views on whether the inference in these letters that the farmers involved made a deliberately false declaration is acceptable; and if he will have this inference withdrawn and apologies issued to those against whom it was made.
41 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fact that letters are currently being issued by his Department to hundreds of farmers throughout the country who are applicants for the February 1993 special beef premium, informing them that they are disqualified from this scheme in view of inconsistencies in the declared age of some of the animals on their applications by reference to the December 1992 beef premium scheme; his views on whether it is fair to apply the regulations in this way; his views on whether the inference in these letters that the farmers involved made a deliberately false declaration is acceptable; and if he will have this inference withdrawn and apologies issued to those against whom it was made.
40 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether the EU questioning of the emphasis on human resources in the National Development Plan 1994-1999 is a useful input to the debate on the use of Structural Funds.
71 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether the EU questioning of the emphasis on human resources in the National Development Plan 1994-1999 is a useful input to the debate on the use of Structural Funds.
16 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has for the continuation of the bovine TB eradication programme in the absence of EU funding for the programme submitted to the Commission by the Government two years ago; if he will undertake not to increase disease levies for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of animals in respect of which applications for the 22 month special beef premium were made in 1993; and the number of such animals for which payment has issued to date.
7 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the measures, if any, he proposes to take in order to prevent the importation into Ireland of stallions which test positive for equine viral arteritis, EVA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
85 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment if, following his request to County Managers to draw up proposals for the alteration of boundaries of up to 62 towns, he will give the steps, if any, he will take to ensure his commitment that the capacity of County Councils as the primary units of local government will not be adversely affected by the revised town boundaries.
85 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment if, following his request to County Managers to draw up proposals for the alteration of boundaries of up to 62 towns, he will give the steps, if any, he will take to ensure his commitment that the capacity of County Councils as the primary units of local government will not be adversely affected by the revised town boundaries.
11 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment the role of the statutory Reorganisation Commission he is setting up to consider the functions and role of urban authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
25 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications whether he has made further contact with the British authorities in view of the proposed change in German energy law which will allow, for the first time, the storage of spent nuclear fuel without reprocessing and in view of the letter from two former United States CIA chiefs to the British Prime Minister, Mr. John Major, warning that THORP could encourage the spread of nuclear weapons.
72 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure the continuation of funding for the Leader companies in the period from June 1994, when final allocations under the Leader 1 Programme have to be completed, and January 1995, when it is expected that funds from the Leader 2 Programme will come on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
72 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure the continuation of funding for the Leader companies in the period from June 1994, when final allocations under the Leader 1 Programme have to be completed, and January 1995, when it is expected that funds from the Leader 2 Programme will come on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fear in many parts of the country on the part of rural dwellers that their lands and premises could be surrounded by forestry development; the proposals, if any, he has to meet those fears; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the further discussions and negotiations he intends to hold or to participate in with the EU Commission and Council of Ministers in the context of the preparation of the EU's final position on the agricultural aspects of the GATT world trade proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.