1201 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the disclosure by religious orders and congregations of their assets and financial resources; the further position regarding the making of further contributions by them to both the redress board compensation fund and for the provision of additional assistance to the victims of abuse in residential institutions; the progress which has been made in the talks involving the orders and congregations; and the new arrangements he expects to be made on the completion of these talks.
[30752/09]
905 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she acknowledges the essential assistance provided to parents of all children and in particular of twins and other multiple births by child benefit; her views on the recommendations relating to child benefit made in the McCarthy report and in the report of the Commission on Taxation; and the steps she proposes to take in the context of the proposals made.
[31014/09]
443 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements made to ensure that children whose urgent spinal surgery has been delayed at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, undergo essential spinal surgery without unnecessary delay; the number of children whose surgery will take place before the 31 December 2009; the number awaiting such surgery; and the position regarding the 25 bed ward and theatre in Crumlin closed as a consequence of a funding shortfall.
[31011/09]
442 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the proposal of the Health Service Executive to centralise the processing of all applications for medical cards; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a concern that such centralisation depersonalises the process and removes flexibility and safeguards and the benefit from local knowledge and assistance provided by health staff and others; her further views on whether such centralisation will unnecessarily prolong determination of applications for medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31004/09]
413 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the decisions made by her regarding the recommendation contained in special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes concerning the Office of the Ombudsman for Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30754/09]
333 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding she proposes to make available to 30 child care services for capital funding from the national child care investment programme; the funding available for such purposes from the NCIP; the origin of the funding, in the context of the county and city child care committees being informed that no further capital allocations would be made under the NCIP; the applications which will be progressed; the basis upon which such funding was decided; and the purpose for which it is to be utilised.
[30282/09]
412 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the arrangement of a new bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam; the further steps being taken to progress matters.
[30751/09]
189 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the outcome of the visit of her Minister of State for Children to Vietnam to put in place a new agreement with regard to inter-country adoption; the arrangements agreed; when the licence of an agency (details supplied) will be renewed by the Vietnamese authorities; when new arrangements will come into operation; if she will clarify any remaining issues that require to be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28590/09]
145 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the non-availability of a general practitioner service for medical holders in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; if she will address the deficit of medical services in this area to patients by facilitating the doctor in situ with their application to be approved on the general medical card scheme list; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26650/09]
44 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive sought sanction from her to establish an on-line service to provide certificates of births, deaths and marriages; the position with regard to the HSE providing such service; the amount of expenditure incurred to date by it with regard to the provision of such service; the breakdown of such expenditure; the projected final cost to the HSE of the provision of such service; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such a service exists and has been in operation since in or about 2004 and operates from a dedicated and professional customer service centre based in Dunboyne, County Meath and was established by a private entrepreneur (details supplied) with financial aid through the Meath Enterprise Board; if she will justify the expenditure by the HSE on the provision of a service already provided through private enterprise; and the reason the HSE has not entered into some form of public private partnership with the existing service.
[26199/09]
27 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is satisfactory that a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis, in need of medical care due to their condition, was admitted to St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, on 23 June 2009 and placed in a small room with five other patients all suffering chronic illness; if her attention has been drawn to the inadequate conditions around the bed of the patient; her further views on whether it is appropriate that a cystic fibrosis patient be so treated and placed at a risk of infection; the action she will take to ensure that appropriate facilities are available to all cystic fibrosis patients who require inpatient treatment; the progress made to date with regard to the long promised new hospital wing; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26656/09]
32 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in regard to his recent announcement of funding from the dormant accounts fund to support homelessness and substance misuse; the level of funding allocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23888/09]
653 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on extending the period for the making of late applications for compensation to the redress board by survivors of abuse in residential institutions (details supplied); and if he will introduce legislation to amend the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 and provide for an extended period for the making of such applications other than leaving them to the discretion of the board to be considered only where there are exceptional circumstances.
[22389/09]
405 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of convicted sex offenders released from prison in the past ten years; the number of such offenders subject to supervision; and the nature of such supervision.
[22935/09]
404 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of convicted sex offenders in prison; the prisons in which they are held; the number convicted of sex offences against children and against adults; and the number of such offenders due for release or expected to be released within 12 months.
[22934/09]
403 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the programmes in place in prisons to provide treatment for convicted sex offenders; the details of the programmes and the prisons in which they are available; and the number of sex offenders engaged in such programmes.
[22933/09]
425 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the continuing delay in permitting a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 to apply for planning permission and for his continuing failure to sanction the construction of the new school; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that substantial moneys have been spent on the design of the new school; and if he has abandoned the commitment given to the Knocklyon community prior to the 2007 general election that the construction of the school would be sanctioned without delay.
[21052/09]
73 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the number of projects detailed in Transport 21 which have yet to commence; the number which will not meet the deadline for the Transport 21 investment programme; the projects which have gone over budget; the amount in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21231/09]
74 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the number of outstanding accusations of anti-competitive practices by State funded transport operators he is currently investigating; when he expects a determination for each complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21230/09]
104 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children when she proposes to have in place a national neonatal screening service for cystic fibrosis; her proposals to roll out such a service; and when it can be expected the screening programme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20738/09]
5 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the seven recommendations made in the report published on 12 May 2009 on the Monageer inquiry which are blacked out in the report; and the reason submissions to the committee of inquiry by persons in respect of whom adverse findings were on page 10 of the report to be published with the report in redacted form and appended to the report have not been so published.
[20740/09]
430 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in his sanctioning the construction of a permanent school to replace the prefabricated buildings out of which a school (details supplied) in Dublin 18 operates; if he will confirm that his Department received in January 2009 all required enrolment and local demographic data as requested by him; the reason no response has been received by the school to queries regarding the construction project; and if he will sanction the construction of the permanent school buildings.
[19755/09]
205 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the life long monthly payments received by the 32 acknowledged thalidomide survivors will continue to be paid in full and that it will not be affected by the withdrawal of the Christmas bonus which has always formed part of the annual sum of compensation received; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19851/09]
80 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that an area code fixed line number must be provided alongside an 1890 or 1850 telephone number when such numbers are provided for members of the public to contact any organisation or business to enable such calls to be included in a bundle of inclusive minutes as currently offered by various telecom providers; his views on whether the practice of State bodies and businesses to exclusively use 1890 or 1850 numbers is contrary to the public interest and results in consumers incurring unnecessary expense; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18648/09]
9 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way he is addressing the housing needs of the disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18259/09]
665 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will permit a school (details supplied) in County Dublin to proceed to architectural planning for the proposed refurbishment of the school building and the construction of a new gymnasium; the reason for the delay in granting such approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15296/09]
500 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funds provided by this State for the workings of the UN Human Rights Council; the resolutions adopted by this council since it was created in March 2006; the voting record of this State in respect of all such resolutions; and his views on whether this council is taking appropriate action on a global basis to protect human rights.
[15299/09]
499 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the investigations into human rights abuses initiated by the United Nations Human Rights Council since its formation in March 2006; the number of such investigations completed to date; the number of such investigations terminated without the publication of a detailed report on the results of the investigations; the nature of this State’s involvement in these matters; and if he has reservations regarding the capacity of the UN Human Rights Council to arrange for the investigation of alleged breaches of human rights in member states of the United Nations.
[15298/09]
498 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the membership of the UN Human Rights Council; if the State is proposing reform of the workings of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15297/09]
301 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if a delegation of officials from her Department will travel to Vietnam before the expiration on 1 May 2009 of the bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam to discuss the putting in place of a new bilateral agreement; when such a delegation will travel to Vietnam; if such a delegation will be accompanied by representatives from the Irish Adoption Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15511/09]
285 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in effecting a new bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15300/09]
102 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the matter of pre-nuptial agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14413/09]
Bill entitled an Act to provide for a decrease in the number of Ministers of State from 20 to 12 who may be appointed by the Government under section 1(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977
444 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will implement the determination of the Labour Court in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason for the delay in implementing the determination made; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the court determined that the person suffered inconvenience and expense in pursuing the complaint of discrimination made by them which was upheld by both a rights commissioner and the Labour Court and that the court as a consequence made an award of monetary compensation to mark the fact that the severance gratuity to which they were entitled had been eroded by the passage of time; his views on whether the benefit of the award made to the person by the Labour Court almost four months ago has been further eroded; if it is intended to pay additional compensation to them as a consequence; if the failure of the State to comply with this award is acceptable conduct on the part of the State or a Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13196/09]
76 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has sanctioned the Health Service Executive advising HSE and medical nursing personnel that legally consent is only needed from one parent with parental responsibility for a medical examination or treatment to be provided to a child; her views on whether there is a difficulty in this area in the context of parents being joint guardians of their children; and if it is intended to enact more specific and detailed legislation to remove all ambiguity and difficulties that can arise.
[13010/09]
53 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has asked the Health Service Executive for the number of over 70s medical cards either returned to the HSE or cancelled by the HSE as a consequence of the Health Act 2008; the number of such cards returned or cancelled to date; and the cost incurred in the communication of the new eligibility criteria by post to all relevant medical card holders.
[13097/09]
38 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has been furnished with the Health Service Executive review of adequacy of child and family services for the year ending 31 December 2007; when she expects to receive the Health Service Executive review of adequacy of child and family services for the year ending 31 December 2008; her views on the failure of the HSE to publish such reports promptly following the conclusion of each year; her views on whether the HSE is in breach of its statutory obligations with regard to its delay in publishing the review of adequacy of child and family services 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13184/09]
151 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action taken to date by him at European level and in the United Nations with regard to the expulsion by Sudan of humanitarian non-governmental organisations; his views on whether what already is a humanitarian emergency is rapidly becoming a humanitarian disaster in which millions of lives are at stake; the position with regard to the people of Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12444/09]
1030 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the position of the Protestant voluntary secondary schools within the free education system; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by a group (details supplied) in their letter of 2 March 2009 regarding the situation facing Protestant secondary schools here; his views on same; and if he will take immediate action to address those concerns.
[11036/09]
601 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that sectarian and racist chanting by Glasgow Rangers supporters again occurred during the course of the soccer match between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic on 15 February 2009; the reason no meaningful action has been taken to date by the Scottish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12230/09]
257 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Hynes review of the circumstances surrounding the elapse of time in bringing to completion the Western Health Board inquiry into allegations of abuse (details supplied), which was received by her Department on 30 October 2008 has not been published; if she will publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11059/09]
177 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 4000 jobs have been lost in the motor industry in the course of the past 12 months; his views on whether a failure to take emergency measures could result not only in further job losses but in the closure of a substantial number of car dealerships and further job losses during 2009; the consideration given by him to date to the introduction of a VAT margin scheme as proposed by a group (details supplied) to replace the current VAT special scheme in order that car dealers are not required to pay VAT on cars sold by them based on a value in excess of the sale price of a car and the introduction of appropriate transitional arrangements in the interest of maintaining the viability of the industry and preserving jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11025/09]
176 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the consideration given by him to date on introducing a new scrappage scheme to stimulate business in the motor industry; his view on the proposal of a group (details supplied) that such a scheme be based on a 50% refund of the VRT on the sale of a new car subject to a minimum of €1000 and the imposition of an appropriate maximum when a vehicle of ten years or older is scrapped; the action proposed by him to introduce such a scheme; his views on whether such a scheme would generate increased tax revenues and help to preserve jobs in the motor trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11024/09]
61 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on reports that retailers are continuing to demand that suppliers pay them for lost profit arising from the pork dioxin recall; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11971/09]
235 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation of people over 70 years, granted a medical card prior to 1 January 2009, who made a declaration of income to the Health Service Executive on the basis of their income in 2008 being over the threshold specified in the Health Act 2008 and whose projected income in 2009 will be much reduced and will fall below the specified threshold as a result of collapsed share dividends; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10109/09]
234 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to the putting in place of a new bilateral adoption agreement with Russia; the progress made to date; the steps being taken by the Government; and when it is anticipated such new agreement will be signed.
[10108/09]
279 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his approach to the forthcoming UN Sponsored World Conference against Racism; known as Durban 2; his concerns, with regard to the agenda being set at the preparatory meetings for the conference; his view of Canada withdrawing from the conference for the specific reasons given by Canada for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9010/09]
192 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if State funding has been provided to an organisation (details supplied) for their symposium to be held on 2 April 2009; and if so, the details of such funding.
[8700/09]
191 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the State financial assistance provided to an organisation (details supplied) to facilitate them meeting their expenditure; and the funding allocated in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
[8699/09]
183 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that members of the Baha’i community in Iran, in a co-ordinating group known as the Friends of Iran, have been detained in prison for more that eight months and that the conditions under which they are being maintained constitute cruel and inhumane treatment; the action being taken by Ireland in its bilateral relationship with Iran and as a member of the European Union to address this issue and the recent report of the persons concerned being falsely charged with espionage for Israel and insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7816/09]