112 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of fatal and serious accidents in the workplace which have been recorded since the enactment of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; if he is satisfied that existing and planned resources will be sufficient to facilitate close monitoring and full implementation of all provisions of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37901/05]
147 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the stance adopted by Irish Ferries in relation to its workforce, he supports a change in labour law to afford greater protection to seafarers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37900/05]
67 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate of his Department to ensure payment of the national minimum wage in 2004 and to date in 2005; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by labour inspectors that they do not have adequate resources to police the national minimum wage; if his attention has further been drawn to calls by trade unions for additional resources to enable the labour inspectorate to deal with exploitation of non-national workers, particularly in the construction industry; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37973/05]
16 Mr. Howlin asked the Taoiseach his assessment of the implications for talks on a new social partnership agreement of recent developments in the Irish Ferries dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37877/05]
100 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position with regard to his discussions with the European Commission regarding the Government’s implementation of the two year habitual residence requirement in regard to qualification for social welfare benefits; if he intends to introduce changes to the requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37208/05]
86 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons from EU countries that joined the community in 2004 who have applied for and received unemployment benefit or assistance since May 2004; his views on whether these figures show the fears of welfare tourism that were expressed at the time were unfounded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37209/05]
246 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been informed, in relation to her application for naturalisation on the basis of marriage to an Irish citizen, that her declaration and the affidavit of her spouse are required to be signed on the same date and that her naturalisation application is not acceptable due to the fact that her declaration was signed on 13 November 2005 whereas her spouse’s affidavit was sworn on 14 November 2005; the precise basis on which synchronisation of declarations is demanded by his Department in regard to such applications for naturalisation.
[37092/05]
90 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest information his Department has on the extent of the cocaine crisis nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36929/05]
55 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he expects the Charities Bill to be published by spring 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36928/05]
362 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for naturalisation for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; the average time taken for processing such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36532/05]
348 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a recent spate of robberies in Bunclody, County Wexford; if he is satisfied that there is adequate Garda manpower to deal with same; if the Garda complement for Bunclody can be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36384/05]
344 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for permission to remain in the State for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
[36330/05]
301 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if consideration will be given to altering the funding arrangements for the provision by voluntary community groups of socially monitored alarms and other security devices for pensioners (details supplied); his views on accepting the recommendation of a Garda or health professional as an alternative to the required vetting of applicants by the voluntary community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36341/05]
143 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason only 10% of pain relief procedures requiring inpatient care are performed locally for patients in the south east although additional capacity can be made available on a private basis in Waterford Regional Hospital; her views on whether transporting patients to Derry for such treatments under the National Treatment Purchase Fund represents the most cost effective and best option for patients, in view of the normal requirement for aftercare following such procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36346/05]
90 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status, in terms of transposition, of Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles and of Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise.
[36655/05]
64 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the use of energy efficient measures in local authority housing, such as using only double-glazed windows, as part of Ireland’s efforts to meet commitments under Kyoto and in view of the fact that such improvements have been specified in the national climate change strategy and in further view of the fact that the strategy sees the local authorities as key to achieving the target reductions.
[36654/05]
103 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the basis on which the State is appealing an award of legal costs, which have already been adjudicated by the Taxing Master, in the compensation tribunal case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36236/05]
88 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of his Department’s Vote for 2006 devoted to roads projects and the percentage devoted to public transport projects; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35907/05]
71 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his proposals for a road safety authority; its remit, functions, powers, number of board members, staff numbers and budget; and when same will be formally established.
[35976/05]
256 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence if financial recognition of service, whether by way of pension or ex gratia payment, is made by his Department to long-serving members of the FCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35870/05]
244 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the annual outlay on rental of prefabricated school buildings in County Wexford; if this is considered to be a cost-effective method of providing school accommodation by comparison with permanent school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35873/05]
234 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science further to her announcement in July 2005 of the development of a new post-primary school for Gorey, County Wexford, the actions taken to date in 2005 to advance this proposal; the relevant local interests that have been contacted by her Department since July 2005; if discussions have taken place between her Department and a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; the timescale expected for the construction of the new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35819/05]
128 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to cancer patients, her attention has been drawn to the fact that the survival rate at the five year mark is halved where there is a delay of eight weeks or more from prescription to provision of radiotherapy and chemotherapy; if her attention has further been drawn to fact that without dedicated transport facilities, it is not feasible for some patients to access critical cancer treatments entailing multiple, and sometimes daily, journeys to far distant treatment centres; the specific measures which have been put in place since the publication of the Hollywood report in 2003 to improve transport facilities for patients who must travel far distances to access critical cancer treatment; the status of the innovative transport initiative promised on publication of the Hollywood report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35869/05]
70 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cocaine, heroin and cannabis seizures by the Garda Síochána in each county for each year since 2000; the value of the seizure in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35716/05]
55 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the proposed development of the new prison at Thornton Hall has passed the preliminary PPP appraisal stage; if it has been approved by the NDFA as suitable for public private procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35717/05]
518 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the first, second and third multi-class group of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford consists of 38 pupils while the other two multi-class groups each have 20 pupils; if this arrangement complies with the Department’s guidelines on class size; the steps she will take to ensure that no multi-class group in this school will be greater than 20 pupils in the current and future academic years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35133/05]
187 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take in view of the revelation that Kerry General Hospital, ranked one of the lowest of the hospitals in the national hygiene audit, spent more than €2 million on cleaning in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35468/05]
122 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to combat obesity in view of growing concerns of obesity in children; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that one in five children here aged between five and 12 is obese or overweight; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35467/05]
21 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether alcohol sponsorship has a place in sport; his further views on whether legislation needs to be introduced to remove any option open to sporting organisations regarding alcohol sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34881/05]
389 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if the arrangements put in place in 2005 to allow out-of-catchment or disputed catchment pupils from certain schools in north Wexford to be enrolled in a school (details supplied) in County Wexford, will continue in place in 2006 and until additional secondary school accommodation is provided for north Wexford in Kilmuckridge and Gorey; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34758/05]
225 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the reason share fishermen and crewmen of fishing vessels are deemed by the Revenue Commissioners to be self employed for tax purposes, while under section 2(3)( c ) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 are deemed to be employees of owners or skippers; his views on whether this difference in status requires amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34768/05]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there are issues surrounding the security of supply in the upcoming winter months in view of the serious power cuts experienced recently at Wexford General Hospital and concerns in Britain regarding the wholesale gas market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34358/05]
133 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on recent criticisms by IBEC of the Government dividend that is taken annually from the ESB; the impact of the dividend on electricity prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34342/05]
560 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when a special needs assistant will be provided for a person (details supplied) at a school in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34119/05]
506 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for leave to remain here for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford (details supplied); if a determination will be made in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34122/05]
317 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost to date, including all fees and capital works, of the development of the metropolitan area networks throughout the country; the number of lines that are connected to the networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34315/05]
268 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the provision of the Garda divisional headquarters for Wexford-Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34466/05]
171 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the EU directives for which her Department has responsibility that are yet to be implemented, and the target date for implementation in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34173/05]
167 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps being taken to address the serious problems of death and injuries through farm accidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34174/05]
56 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s assistance to humanitarian projects in Afghanistan; the number of allocations to projects that have been made; the NGOs in receipt of same; the sums that have been allocated; the monitoring mechanisms in place; and when such reports that have been presented to his Department will be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas in full or summary form.
[33495/05]
37 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland, having voted for the optional protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture at the UNGA, has not gone on to sign the protocol, or to proceed with its ratification.
[33496/05]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that future contracts in respect of Government projects stipulate that contractors must honour established conditions of employment in respect of all employees with financial penalties for non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31622/05]
402 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of efforts by the workforce of a company in liquidation (details supplied) in County Cork to secure a fair redundancy package from this company; his efforts regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32381/05]
139 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the health and safety concerns expressed by the one-teacher support group; if she will address their concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32764/05]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on introducing driver education into the post-primary curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32763/05]
54 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to criticisms voiced at the PDFORRA annual conference that the training and planning for Irish troops embarking on overseas deployment is poor; if his attention has further been drawn to the very real problems this can cause; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31996/05]
357 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the recent huge profits revealed for the insurance sector, he has satisfied himself that the industry is passing on the benefits of reduced claims to consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25440/05]
158 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is his intention to introduce legislation to provide for the creation of a new offence of corporate manslaughter as suggested by the Law Reform Commission in October 2003 and recommended by the commission in its recent report to which a draft Bill is appended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31582/05]
107 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to the public consultation process on the groceries order; when he expects to make a decision on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31581/05]
104 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason applications for the position of chief science adviser were not invited and the position was not advertised; the number of such positions filled by his Department in this way without advertisement or competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31718/05]