66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of immigrants who have been recruited into the Defence Forces in each of the past ten years; the measures he has taken to facilitate the recruitment of immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38191/06]
150 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline his position regarding whether he will continue restrictions to citizens of Bulgaria and Romania in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the accession in view of the Government’s recent announcement regarding the access of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens to the Irish labour market following their accession to the European Union in January 2007, and with regard to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 11 October 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37746/06]
138 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he will take to examine or deal with the possibility that significant numbers of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, who will be allowed to freely travel to Ireland from January onwards, may obtain employment in the black economy and therefore be subject to abuses by exploitative employers but will be unable or unwilling to report these abuses because of their legal situation; the additional actions he will take to ensure that the small number of employers who might exploit these people do not do so, and to catch those who do; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37747/06]
467 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed in special schools in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[37385/06]
159 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he plans to publish the promised new two year social inclusion action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37598/06]
107 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has received the pre-Budget submission from the national one parent family organisation, One Family; his response to the ten steps to equality for all families set out in the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37597/06]
42 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the meeting of the recent Indigenous, Minority and Lesser Used Languages British-Irish Council ministerial meeting in Galway; the issues that were discussed; the future work programme for the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37003/06]
132 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 18 October 2006, if it is the case that a criminal inquiry in addition to a disciplinary inquiry is under way in relation to the circumstances of the Garda handling of the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36830/06]
50 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of all wastes, construction and demolition waste and municipal or household waste going to landfill for each year since 1998 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36490/06]
21 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the members of the market development group which was established to identify market opportunities for recycled products; the number of meetings of the group which have been held; when it is intended to publish the group’s market development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36491/06]
112 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made with regard to the establishment of the Garda Ombudsman Commission; the number of staff recruited to date; when he expects that the commission will begin dealing with complaints from the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36238/06]
110 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to his speech in Limerick on 20 October 2006, his proposals for a review of the criminal justice system; the particular areas that will be examined in the review; the persons by whom the reviews will be undertaken; when it is expected to be completed; if he plans to involve the Law Reform Commission in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36237/06]
85 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the contacts or discussions he has had with the banks or financial institutions to deal with situations whereby staff members or their families are taken hostage in order to facilitate robberies; if there are agreed procedures between the banks and the gardaí about the way such situations are dealt with; if his attention has been drawn to at least one case where a particular branch has ceased carrying out cash transactions due to a series of such raids; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36430/06]
82 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the increase in the number of drug offences recorded in the Central Statistics Office figures for the third quarter of 2006; the amount and value of heroin and cocaine seized since the beginning of 2006; the way this compares to the same period in 2005; if the gardaí have an estimate of the overall proportion of such drugs coming into the country these seizures represent; the steps he intends to take to deal with the ongoing problem of the drugs trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36429/06]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on figures from the Public Health Alliance that the death rates for all cancers among the lowest occupational class is over twice as high for the highest class, it is nearly three times higher for strokes, four times higher for lung cancer, and six times higher for accidents; the way she intends to combat such inequalities in health outcomes here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35451/06]
89 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent OECD Report which found that child care costs here are among the highest in Europe and are rising far faster than inflation; the steps she will take to ensure affordable child care for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30636/06]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects to launch the results of Tourism Ireland’s review of the North American market; the estimate as to the economic value of visitors from North America to Ireland; his views on whether the national tourist industry is in a position to exploit the benefits of increased numbers of North American visitors during the period of the Ryder Cup; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34810/06]
116 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to the St. Andrews negotiations, he expects Sinn Féin to fully endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland and take their seats on the policing board in the near future; if the two Governments have insisted that both these steps are required for political progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34503/06]
144 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the outcome of the St. Andrews negotiations on political progress in Northern Ireland; if he is confident that the Assembly and Executive can be re-established in the immediate future; if the two Governments have a Plan B in the event of failure of the St. Andrews initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34502/06]
677 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if sanction to tender has been given for Coolgreany sewerage scheme, County Wexford; when it is expected that work will commence on this scheme; the period of construction and the expected cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33962/06]
152 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost of providing laboratory assistants for science subjects in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34111/06]
101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will assist to pay increases in gas and electricity costs which is causing hardship to schools in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34110/06]
336 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has issued a directive requiring that joint ownership of vehicles be replaced by single name ownership only; the way he proposes to vindicate the ownership rights of two or more parties where a vehicle has been jointly financed; the basis for this directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33603/06]
95 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on bringing forward specific legislation for the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television; the reason digital television is not dealt with in a more comprehensive manner in the new Broadcasting Bill; the timeframe for a national rollout of DTT; the way he intends to manage spectrum space as the digitisation process advances; if he will confirm that 2012 is the date for analogue switch-off; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33414/06]
25 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the number of departmental staff who have decentralised to date; the number of staff who have refused to decentralise; the career implications for these staff; the sections of his Department that have been decentralised and their locations; the amount he estimates the decentralisation process for his Department has cost in general; the way in which decentralisation will affect strategic decision-making of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33415/06]
197 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the review promised in Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 21 June 2006 has been completed; if it has been considered by senior Garda management; if action on foot of this review is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33378/06]
116 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his views on the implications for the economy here of the recent quarter point increase in interest rates announced by the European Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33084/06]
153 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she reached a conclusion in her consideration of the observations received in conjunction with the recommendations made in the inter-Departmental or inter-agency working group report on genetically modified organisms coexistence arrangements; if so, the conclusions she has reached; if not, when she will reach such a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32874/06]
142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress made on halting the inappropriate importation of parrots and canaries into the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32870/06]
69 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a request from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for the establishment of a tribunal of public inquiry into the death of their son; if he will give consideration to this request in view of the many disquieting aspects of this tragedy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32452/06]
68 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has considered the submission of a forum (details supplied) in Dublin 22 in relation to Garda presence; his views on the case made for additional gardaí for south west Clondalkin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32451/06]
32 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the financial assistance he will give to the United Nations Veterans’ Association in their efforts to have the old schoolhouse which is part of Arbour House refurbished; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32172/06]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops who are engaged in UN missions abroad; the number of troops on each mission; when each mission started and when it is due to end; the number of Irish troops who are engaged in non-UN work abroad; their locations; the nature of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32173/06]
90 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the World Bank currently rates Ireland below 50th in the world for hiring and firing staff and for registering property and below 20th in the world for both ease of paying taxes and enforcing contracts; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the only criterion under World Bank ease of doing business statistics in which Ireland rates in the top ten is that for closing a business; his plans to improve these ratings; his views on whether there are significant procedural and bureaucratic impediments for foreign investors trying to do business here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32039/06]
78 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of ministerial prosecutions which have been taken by him on behalf of the labour inspectorate for the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006 under the various pieces of employment protection legislation; the number of convictions which have been obtained; if he will collate the cases taken and convictions won under each statutory heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32060/06]
539 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed in schools in County Wexford; the breakdown of the numbers of SNAs employed in each County Wexford school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32075/06]
197 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when it is intended to place the Money Advice and Budgeting Service on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31732/06]
196 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will provide details of the wide package of reforms of State aid for lone parents that he is currently considering; when he expects to have this package complete; if he expects it to be in place before the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31731/06]
144 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his views on amending existing legislation in order to remove the anomaly whereby the award of posthumous medals of honour has been refused in relation to two persons (details supplied); his further views on whether it is equitable that the registration of the vessel should be the deciding factor in view of the context in which these persons lost their lives.
[31363/06]
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if 24 hour Garda cover is to be provided at Ardee Garda Station, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31359/06]
43 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the efforts being made to liaise with local communities regarding the benefits to the entire community of rehabilitation services for drug users; his views on whether an information campaign on this important issue should be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31275/06]
39 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is satisfied regarding the implementation to date of the Official Languages Act 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31289/06]
212 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he will take to ensure that local authorities prioritise the provision of affordable and social housing over the taking of financial compensation from developers; if he will give more stringent directions to local authorities to ensure that this happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30898/06]
461 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will accept the recommendation of the Transport Liaison Officer for County Wexford and County Wexford Members on a cross-party basis to appoint a senior inspector to review and certify the catchment boundary areas in County Wexford which are acknowledged to be inadequate and in need of clarification; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30469/06]
418 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide funding for the dredging of Rosslare Harbour Europort; if an application for funding for this work has been received in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30470/06]
275 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a site for the new Garda divisional headquarters at Wexford has been acquired; the location of the site; if ownership has been transferred to the Office of Public Works; the amount paid for the site; if all services are available on the site; when construction will begin on this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30472/06]
244 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has applied for permission to reside here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30862/06]
243 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for permission to live and work here, by virtue of marriage to an Irish citizen and parentage of an Irish born child, of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30861/06]