21 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the conclusions reached in the meeting that took place between the Minister of State for Children and members of the hierarchy in respect of the Health Service Executive audit and the church dioceses with regard to child abuse; if future meetings are planned; if it has been agreed that fully comprehensive replies will be furnished to the questions raised in part five of the questionnaire furnished by the HSE in respect of each dioceses; and when it is anticipated the audit will be fully completed.
[6574/09]
5 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that bereaved pensioners over 70 years who automatically qualified for the medical card prior to the enactment of the Health Act 2008 and whose spouses died prior to 1 January 2009 will not benefit from the exemption which allows a medical card to be retained for a three-year period following the death of a spouse where their income exceeds €700 per week and is below €1,400 per week and that the three-year concession only applies to those bereaved as and from 1 January 2009 which adversely affects those bereaved in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; if she will take action to amend this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6473/09]
166 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action taken by her and by the Minister of State for children since the publication on 31 July 2008 of the national review of compliance with Children First, national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children to ensure the guidelines are fully implemented and uniformly applied throughout the State; and if she is satisfied that upon a report being made to the Health Service Executive of a child at risk, there will, in all cases, be a prompt and comprehensive assessment into the circumstances of the child and all necessary intervention required in accordance with the guidelines and the provisions contained in the Child Care Act of 1991 as amended.
[6672/09]
165 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland’s bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam expires on 1 May 2009; and if discussions have taken place with the relevant Vietnamese authorities to facilitate a new agreement being put in place and applicable as and from 1 May 2009 to facilitate the adoption of Vietnamese children by Irish couples.
[6474/09]
73 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to extend the cut in the levels of professional fees to other areas of public procurement.
[6286/09]
70 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if he has received the report of the group on remuneration in covered financial institutions; and if he envisages obstacles to imposing rates of pay comparable to those proposed in the USA.
[6285/09]
70 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the funding provided to An Taisce in respect of the green schools travel module for each year since inception; the amount requested for each such year; his views on the future of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6007/09]
641 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the increasing pupil numbers, he will grant the necessary permission to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16, to progress its school building project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4852/09]
92 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to encourage an increase in the number of electric cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4632/09]
1641 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election, and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2780/09]
1367 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2775/09]
1156 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2777/09]
1123 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2782/09]
1029 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Defence the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2779/09]
1008 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by her Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if she will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2786/09]
917 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2778/09]
865 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2776/09]
778 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2783/09]
731 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2785/09]
581 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2788/09]
538 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by her Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if she will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2784/09]
307 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election; if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate; the special tax credits and allowances applicable to Ministers and Ministers of State exclusively available to Ministers and Ministers of State; and the estimated financial cost of same annually to the Exchequer.
[2184/09]
227 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by her Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if she will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2781/09]
177 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Taoiseach the expenses and allowances paid to each Minister and to each Minister of State by his Department since the formation of the Government following the May 2007 general election and if he will categorise the expenses and allowances to which they relate.
[2787/09]
188 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the number of fathers of children born to unmarried parents who claimed the single parent tax credit in each of the tax years ending 31 December 2005, 2006 and 2007.
[46326/08]
187 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the number of divorced and separated parents who claimed single parent tax credit in each of the years ending 31 December 2005, 2006 and 2007.
[46325/08]
118 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if a report was received by her in July 2008 regarding the child protection policies practised in the Cloyne Diocese; if the report contains criticism of the way the Diocese of Cloyne dealt with allegations of child abuse; if she will detail those criticisms; the action taken by her to date on foot of the report; and if the report will be published.
[45397/08]
195 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that the Health Service Executive, all maternity hospitals and hospitals with maternity units in the State co-operate with parents who request the collection of cord blood upon the birth of a child for the purpose of storage; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the American Medical Association has ruled that cord blood banking should be discussed with all prospective parents; the reason the HSE and hospital managements are refusing to co-operate with a company (details supplied), the only company licensed by the Irish Medicines Board to carry out the procurement of cord blood here; if her attention has further been drawn to the potential of stem cell treatment derived from cord blood in the health service here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45729/08]
97 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that the Health Service Executive and all maternity hospitals in the State co-operate with parents who request the collection of cord blood upon the birth of a child for the purpose of storage; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an association (details supplied) has ruled that cord blood banking should be discussed with all prospective parents; the reason the HSE and hospital management are refusing to co-operate with a company to carry out the procurement of cord blood here; if her attention has further been drawn to the potential of stem cell treatment derived from cord blood in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45670/08]
71 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place in her Department to monitor, on an ongoing basis, the number of children who are the subject of reports to the Health Service Executive of either abuse or neglect and to monitor the timeframe involved in the commencement of an investigation and assessment of such reports; the progress reported to her in the implementation of the HSE National Service Plan 2008 which commits the HSE to collate reports on child care services in each administrative area; the number of notifications of child abuse or neglect to the HSE in respect of which there are children on waiting lists for full assessments; the average time spent on a waiting list for assessment following such notification; and the action she proposes to take to address the difficulties in this area and to ensure children are properly protected.
[45581/08]
278 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in the preparation of a new sex offender management policy; and if he will publish the details of the policy.
[44867/08]
277 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in the review being undertaken of the existing arrangements for the management of sex offenders by a group involving his Department, the Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the probation service; if the review has concluded, if he will publish details of the review and the recommendations contained in it; if the review has not concluded, when he expects it will do so; and if he will publish the details of the review and the recommendations made.
[44866/08]
226 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, Dublin has decided to close Iona unit which is specially designed and run for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and those suffering from dementia and is a fully secure unit facility, specifically providing for the care of eight patients, that such a closure is due to lack of resources to properly maintain the unit and that as a consequence patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia who require a secure unit will be moved to an open ward which is inappropriate to their condition; and if she will take the necessary action to ensure the resources are provided to the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook for the continued use of the Iona Unit for such patients who require secure care.
[44865/08]
112 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on whether it would be appropriate action to request consideration of Article 18 of Directive 2000/13EC in which national provisions can be justified on grounds of unfair competition in view of the fact that six out of ten poultry producing companies here have closed due to the contributory factor of unlabelled imports and consequently unfair competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44028/08]
213 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if the audit announced in October 2005 into child protection measures applicable in every Catholic diocese in the country has been completed; if the report has been received by her Department; the extent to which each diocese has been found to be in compliance with the Ferns standard; when the report will be published; and the action that is proposed by her and the Health Service Executive.
[43596/08]
211 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the function of the child protection notification system established by the Health Service Executive; the difficulties experienced with the system; the length of time it has been in operation; the cost to date in both establishing the system and in its usage; and the progress made in establishing a fully integrated national communication system as recommended in the national review of compliance with the Children First guidelines published in July 2008.
[43593/08]
47 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will sanction the provision of essential funding to South Dublin County Council for the proposed extension to and upgrading of Ballyroan library, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, to meet the needs of the local community; the reason the project is being delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42926/08]
161 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made by the high level group formed after publication of the review inquiry on any matter pertaining to child protection issues touching on or concerning Doctor A in identifying the necessary steps to create full awareness and implementation of child protection policies, guidelines and procedures; the recommendations made by the group; the extent, to which they have been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[42996/08]
85 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Defence when he will move the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces to alternative accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42777/08]
248 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people permanently resident here who originate from countries that practice female genital mutilation take their children to their home countries to undergo the procedure and then return here; and her views on whether it is necessary to address loopholes in the provisions of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 which leave children unprotected from the practice of female genital mutilation while abroad.
[40064/08]
247 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to publish the Hynes report of the review of the circumstances surrounding the elapse of time in bringing to completion the Western Health Board inquiry into allegations of abuse in the Brothers of Charity Services, Galway which was received by her Department on 30 October 2008.
[42408/08]
118 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a survey commissioned by a support group (details supplied) ascertained that parents of children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder wait an average of four years before securing a diagnosis for their child and that as a consequence there is a substantial delay in providing appropriate services for such children; and the steps she will take to ensure that such assessments and diagnoses are more speedily undertaken and essential services provided.
[42173/08]
75 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if 68 patients contracted C. difficile in Beaumont Hospital in the period 1 July 2008 to 31 October 2008; the number of persons who died solely as a consequence of contracting C. difficile; the number of persons who died as a consequence of their condition being complicated by C. difficile; the reason no public warning was issued to prospective patients regarding the extent of the outbreak; the action taken by the hospital to address this problem; if the hospital poses a risk to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[42176/08]
71 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has finalised its inquiry into the circumstances relating to the death of a person, whose details are supplied; if she has received a report in respect of the said inquiry; if not when she expects the report to be completed; if the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[42174/08]
587 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the benefits which accrued from benchmarking with regard to the services provided to the general public by his Department.
[40869/08]
586 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 will lose for the educational year 2009/2010 as a consequence of his announced increase in class sizes; the enquiries he has made regarding the capacity of the school to meet the needs of its pupils as a consequence of his action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40834/08]
585 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 will lose for the educational year 2009/2010 as a consequence of his announced increase in class sizes; the enquiries he has made regarding the capacity of the school to meet the needs of its pupils as a consequence of his action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40833/08]
584 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will lose for the educational year 2009/2010 as a consequence of his announced increase in class sizes; the enquiries he has made regarding the capacity of the school to meet the needs of its pupils as a consequence of his action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40832/08]
583 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 will lose for the educational year 2009/2010 as a consequence of his announced increase in class sizes; the enquiries he has made regarding the capacity of the school to meet the needs of its pupils as a consequence of his action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40831/08]
582 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 will lose for the educational year 2009/2010 as a consequence of his announced increase in class sizes; the enquiries he has made regarding the capacity of the school to meet the needs of its pupils as a consequence of his action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40830/08]