101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in view of the decisions of ICTU and SIPTU to defer entry to talks on a new social partnership agreement, the steps he has taken and the proposals he has formulated to address concerns regarding the protection of workers’ jobs, pay and conditions of employment from displacement in favour of cheap labour involving the exploitation of non-national workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31717/05]
288 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 23 fully eligible students, plus seven with siblings in receipt of tickets, nine first year students and eight others residing in Blackwater and attending schools in Wexford town, are still without school transport tickets; the reason Blackwater students continue to experience this problem while students residing in other areas equidistant from Wexford town have been accommodated; the action she will take to ensure that school transport is provided for all these students without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31196/05]
68 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures he will introduce to alleviate hardship caused to those persons who are ineligible for the new rental accommodation scheme after 18 months on rent supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30940/05]
13 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who have taken out PRSAs at the latest date for which figures are available; the overall proportion of the eligible workforce this represents; his plans to review the scheme in view of the low take-up rate to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30948/05]
122 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he will make regulations to the Official Languages Act 2003 to account for public bodies that no longer exist, or new public bodies that have been created since the original legislation was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30685/05]
104 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position on the drafting of legislation in regard to the need to regulate charities; the date when this draft legislation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30684/05]
611 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if additional funding will be provided to the Health Service Executive south eastern area, under the housing aid for the elderly scheme to deal with the lengthy waiting lists that exist in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30259/05]
378 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the recent announcement by the liquidator of Irish Fertilizer Industries that moneys realised allow payment of 39% of claims of creditors, and the fact that the State will make a considerable tax take from the sale of property by the liquidation, sufficient funds will be available to the liquidator to pay the promised level of redundancy to the former employees of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30496/05]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will reply to the European Commission regarding the concerns that the Commission has in relation to the conformity of Irish legislation with Article 19(2) of the EC Treaty and Council Directive 93/109/EC, which concern the voting rights of new Community voters, in view of the fact that the Commission has concluded that the difference between the treatment of Irish voters and Community voters under Irish legislation means that the Irish legislation could infringe on Community law; if he has satisfied himself that the information on the official Government website in relation to this matter is accurate; the steps he will take to address the Commission’s concerns on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30371/05]
111 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he has failed to respond to the European Commission’s final warning announced on 13 January 2005 regarding the failure to clean up waste at the Boyne estuary in view of the fact that a response was due within three months of the warning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30370/05]
69 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reopen the Curragh Prison, Fort Mitchel or Spike Island in view of the fact that the industrial relations dispute has ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29763/05]
30 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent report of the inspector of prisons which describes the system of slopping out in Cork Prison as unacceptable and that the prison was the most overcrowded in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29762/05]
162 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the response he has had from the private sector regarding increasing the amount of freight transported by rail; and the policy initiatives he will take as a result.
[29056/05]
387 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works has acquired a site for the new Garda divisional headquarters in Wexford town; the location of the site and the amount paid; if the views of local public representatives were taken into account in deciding on the best site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29223/05]
193 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, in regard to the commitment given in the national health strategy to provide an additional 3,000 hospital beds, the number provided to date, and the hospitals in each case; the projected number that will be provided before the end of 2005; the number of beds lost since 1997 in each such hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28795/05]
107 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to implement the recommendations of the Hanly report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28796/05]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the efforts he is making to encourage tourism in non-east coast and western parts in view of falling visitor numbers to the regions; his views on whether tourism in regional areas is in serious decline; the way in which he plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28319/05]
393 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide an itemised breakdown for costs arising from a project (details supplied); the reason there has been a delay in issuing the report; when she will issue a report for the project; the costings for the implementation of the reports proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28264/05]
177 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the changed Government broadband target from that of 500,000 broadband subscribers by the end of 2006 as stated in reply to a parliamentary question on June 16 2005 to the current target of 400,000 broadband subscribers as of 28 September 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27872/05]
104 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the European Commission’s proposal for an EC directive on manning conditions for regular passenger and ferry services operating between member states — Com(1998)251 final of 29 April 1998 and amended proposal Com(2000)437 final of 13 July 2000, and its position on Article 2.2 of the proposal.
[27861/05]
75 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will consider extending free third level fees to part-time students who have not had the opportunity to proceed to third level directly from post-primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27655/05]
89 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27661/05]
229 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the considerations which gave rise to his Department’s delay until 2003 in implementing new energy efficiency standards for housing; the basis on which developers have been permitted to build houses to the energy efficiency standards of the unrevised 1997 regulations up to the end of 2005; if the EU energy performance of buildings directive will require that all houses sold or rented must have a certificate to indicate the cost of heating a building; if so, if in delaying implementation of new energy efficiency standards for housing construction, due consideration was given by his Department to the effect of the directive on the market value of houses built to energy inefficient standards after 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27237/05]
84 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to assist humanitarian efforts in Darfur; if money pledged is being used exclusively for famine relief or for human rights assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26830/05]
47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland’s efforts to address the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the context of the review of the eight millennium development goals; the efforts he has made to develop a well resourced long-term comprehensive plan on a global scale on HIV and AIDS prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26829/05]
313 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if any institutions in respect of which no public body had a regulatory or inspection function are included in the schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; if she will amend the schedule to include a home (details supplied) in Dublin 7 where a person from County Wexford sustained serious injury as a very young child as a result of alleged neglect; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27024/05]
121 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer in terms of excise duties and VAT over and above the estimates at the budget, arising from the increase in the price of petrol and other oil products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26629/05]
97 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the procedures in place to monitor whether or not those who claim to be non-resident for tax purposes are actually resident out of the country for the required period; his plans to improve monitoring in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26630/05]
425 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the basis on which a visa has been refused in respect of a person (details supplied); if this matter has been reviewed on foot of an appeal and representations dated 15 July 2005 and 3 August 2005 to which no reply has been received; the current status of this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26284/05]
170 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will give clarification of the ownership of the Irish manufactured sugar quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26452/05]
145 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total number of applications received by 16 May 2005 deadline under the new single payment scheme; the progress made with regard to processing the applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26453/05]
Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he will take arising from the plan by Irish Ferries to seek the redundancy of 543 Irish staff with a view to replacing them by lower paid workers from abroad, especially in view of the consequences for labour relations in general and social partnership in particular; the total potential cost to the Exchequer of the proposed redundancy package; if he has sought legal advice on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the efforts he has made to encourage more women to join the military and Defence Forces; if he has reviewed the measures in place to maximise the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces; the number of women serving in the Defence Forces for the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25928/05]
966 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has fallen short of the requirements for naturalisation; if his Department received the confirmation which it sought from this person regarding reckonable residence in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24934/05]
204 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his proposals announced on 28 July 2005 for a revised mandate for Shannon Development; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns expressed by trade unions and business interests in the area regarding the implications for the area of these changes; the number of jobs expected to be lost at Shannon Development as a result of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25412/05]
685 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he intends to take to deal with the continuing serious level of job losses in the manufacturing industry; his views on the rate of job losses in the traditional manufacturing sector; the steps which are being taken to provide replacement jobs in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25670/05]
140 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed in recent months by consumers at prices and general cost of living issues as reflected by the public reaction to the “Rip Off Republic” television programmes and the opinion poll in the Irish Examiner showing that cost of living and “Rip off Ireland” was now the biggest issue of concern among those polled; his views on the validity of these concerns; the steps he intends to take to end exploitation of consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25671/05]
589 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received a letter dated 17 June 2005 from the principal of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; her views on whether the contents of the letter have the most serious implications for continuity of educational provision in the town in which the school is situated; if she will accede to the request for an urgent meeting between this school’s board of management and officials of her Department; if resources required to maintain this school in operation will be provided by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23563/05]
537 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the application by a person (details supplied) to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23949/05]
536 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in relation to a person (details supplied), his attention has been drawn to the fact that while this person’s passport has been returned, his Department is still holding other documentation despite requests for their return; if these documents will be returned to the person without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23948/05]
472 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn, despite her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 379 of 19 April 2005, to the fact that plans to move the beef carcase classification unit to Portlaoise are apparently being pursued within her Department; if she will clarify the position regarding decentralisation in regard to this specific unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23730/05]
40 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to address inadequate pension provision here; his views on whether the issue is now developing into a major crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23021/05]
28 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has produced an estimate for the cost of the full implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003; if not, the reason no estimate has been forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22580/05]
18 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide an update on the progress made to date in implementing the package of measures he announced earlier in 2005 to provide immediate support for volunteering, including measures directed at promoting volunteering in second and third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22595/05]
791 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation in relation to international discussions on the protection of whales; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22038/05]
667 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received an application from the County Wicklow VEC for approval of a proposal to establish a second level all-Irish school in Arklow; if so, the status of this application, with particular reference to the objective of bringing the school on stream in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22020/05]
439 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if social welfare legislation which limits entitlement to certain payments to persons who are deemed to be habitually resident in the State precludes payment of the supplementary welfare allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22014/05]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, her attention has been drawn to the fact that whereas its special language class previously had the regular services of an occupational therapist and a psychologist, these services ceased with effect from Easter 2005 and that high-tech, expensive therapeutic listening equipment installed in the school cannot be used for want of appropriate qualified personnel; if she will take steps to restore the full range of supports for this special language class and to facilitate the full use of available special equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22021/05]
137 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he intends to take in relation to littering in urban areas following the classification of almost half the towns in the Irish business against litter survey as either having a serious litter problem or as being a litter black spot; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22204/05]