88 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by his Department and the Revenue Commissioners in their consideration of the recommendations of the Revenue Powers Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29850/04]
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by the Revenue Commissioners into allegations that tax improprieties may surround trust operations in a bank (details supplied) in Jersey; if the Revenue has reached a determination regarding whether these trusts facilitated tax evasion as distinct from tax avoidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29849/04]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of trained auxiliary staff that are in place throughout the country with regard to trained auxiliary staff at poultry meat plants; the number of shifts these staff have carried out in each plant since they were trained in on-line inspection; the type of staff that are doing the inspection work at present; the employment status of the trained auxiliary staff compared with the staff carrying out the work at present; the overall cost on a monthly basis for the staff carrying out this work at present; the way in which this would compare with the cost of employing trained auxiliary staff; if she has satisfied herself that the current method of inspection at poultry meat plants is the most cost effective and efficient manner by which this work can be carried out; if she has plans to review the system for engaging on-line inspection staff for poultry meat plants; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29356/04]
385 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the non-national spouse of an Irish citizen, whose passport includes a stamp vouching their entitlement to reside here, is required to obtain a new visa on returning here after each visit to their home country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28682/04]
324 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if it is envisaged that the status of registered driving instructors included in the driving instructor register of Ireland, which has been in operation since 1996, will continue to be recognised by the driver testing and standards authority as it was previously by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; the position regarding persons of RDI status within the proposed Driver Testing and Standards Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28691/04]
299 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a decision in relation to an OIB disablement claim, conveyed by letter dated 20 October 2003 by the appeals office to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not been implemented; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the accident giving rise to this claim occurred in 1995; when this matter will be finalised; when the claimant will receive the entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28686/04]
83 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence if he has plans to relax the rule whereby soldiers failing to win promotion above the rank of private after service of 12 years are let go by the Army; if his attention has been drawn to calls from PDFORRA for this rule to be relaxed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28826/04]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a report produced for his Department found that State bodies charged with protecting employment rights were so ineffectual that the entire system is entirely dysfunctional; the steps he intends to take to address the serious shortcoming identified in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28325/04]
71 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he intends to take to introduce measures to provide legal protection for whistleblowers who wish to expose illegalities or wrongdoing on the part of their employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28324/04]
279 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the recent flooding and the likelihood of an area of the country being vulnerable to repeated flooding, there are grants available to local authorities to provide for flow bar protection systems for domestic dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28288/04]
330 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the analysis being taken in her Department in relation to the future needs of primary education in New Ross town, County Wexford; when a final decision will be made on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27778/04]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which grants under the language planning initiative were allocated to the five successful applicant groups; the way in which the spending of these grants will be monitored by his Department; when the next tranche of money will be allocated under the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27964/04]
18 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will elaborate on his recent comments that action against illegal waste activity would have the highest priority in his ministerial role; the efforts he will make to stamp out illegal waste activity throughout Ireland; the specific measures he proposes to take; the timetable for an action plan on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27326/04]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has a role in investigations into cross-Border sham recycling operations following the interception of six trucks in Northern Ireland containing hundreds of tonnes of illegal waste from the Republic; the efforts his Department is making, in conjunction with the Garda Síochána, to clamp down on cross-Border illegal dumping rackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27325/04]
117 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposed role and functions of the Garda inspectorate announced by him on 5 August 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27244/04]
93 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by members of the Garda Síochána regarding the reliability of the Garda radio system and that some gardaí on patrol have had to use their own mobile phones to keep in touch; the steps that are being taken to ensure that all gardaí are provided with a reliable radio system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27243/04]
232 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing bed crisis at Wexford General Hospital; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there are up to 25 persons on trolleys in the accident and emergency area of Wexford General Hospital; when the additional 19 inpatient beds will be provided; if she will provide a date for commencement of the construction work on this unit; if all funding difficulties have been resolved to provide staff for these beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27055/04]
151 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the changeover of all speed limits from miles to the metric system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26961/04]
142 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport when the full penalty points system will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26962/04]
88 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons over 70 who have received medical cards and who would not have qualified on income grounds at the latest date for which figures are available; the cost of extending medical cards to the over 70s and the way in which this compares with the original estimate; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26339/04]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recent report of the strategic task force on alcohol; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26340/04]
248 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider raising the threshold for payment of the €253 health-employment levy by self employed persons from the earnings threshold of approximately €3,000 per annum to €5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26079/04]
168 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has satisfied herself that adequate resources are in place to fund adult literacy services in view of the increase in the numbers availing of adult literacy services in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26114/04]
141 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science her policy with regard to State support for private fee-paying schools in view of recent figures showing an increase in the numbers attending such schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26113/04]
58 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is his view that the postal market may not be able to bear any more price increases in postal charges; his further views on whether further increase in charges are merited; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25642/04]
89 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to encouraging competition in the Irish mobile phone market; if he has plans to request ComReg to implement new policies calling for lower prices for mobile and fixed line telephone bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25643/04]
280 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received from primary schools in County Wexford for special needs assistants in the school year September 2003 to August 2004; the number of special needs assistants appointed to primary schools in County Wexford to date in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25690/04]
548 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if officials of her Department have been in touch with school authorities in relation to their application for the appointment of additional learning support and resource teaching for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford which is necessary to keep pace with the growing numbers at the school; if disadvantaged status will be granted to this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25388/04]
508 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that six primary schools in the Gorey area have been excluded from the official catchment area map for a community school (details supplied) in County Wexford; the alternative choices proposed in relation to second level education for children attending these primary schools; the reason for this exclusion; if a review of the official catchment area map in order to include these schools will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25092/04]
453 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the basis on which a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, who is the subject of a deportation order, was arrested and detained in Mountjoy Prison for two weeks; the basis on which this person’s Irish born child was placed in care in Mullingar; the basis on which this person has been told she must leave her rented accommodation and reside in a hostel to be designated by his Department; his views on whether this person has been treated in a fair and humane manner in all respects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25105/04]
452 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a deportation order issued to persons (details supplied); if he will consider rescinding the deportation order in this case in view of the circumstances of these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25104/04]
347 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received reports of cases in which, following separation, one parent may withhold a child’s passport thus preventing the other parent from taking the child on holiday abroad with regard to the fact that children can no longer be included on a parent’s passport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it may not be feasible for aggrieved parents to pursue this matter repeatedly though legal channels; if he has proposals to remedy such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25098/04]
211 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the EU decision to lift the arms embargo against China; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25301/04]
230 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to recent comments, that the 0.7% target of GNP for ODA will not be reached as planned by 2007 despite the commitments to achieving this target in speeches made to various international gatherings since the UN Millennium Summit, New York, 2004; the reasons for this U-turn; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25300/04]
77 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the call made by the Information Commissioner (details supplied) during the course of an address to the finance and public services committee on 7 July 2004 for a review of the scale and structure of charges under the Freedom of Information Act 1997; if he intends to act on the call; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24652/04]
25 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the main features of the Exchequer returns for the first nine months of 2004; the way in which spending and the tax take for this period compare with the projected levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24653/04]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has analysed the immediate consequences of decoupling on farmers in terms of its effects on production of crops and land holdings and other effects; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24490/04]
18 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department has given consideration to a targeted cull of BSE infected cattle as opposed to the present system of mass culling of herds in which an infected animal is discovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24491/04]
73 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the information available to his Department on the reported reduced level of premiums for motor insurance; if he has satisfied himself with the reported level of reduction, having regard to recent figures showing a huge rise in profit levels for the non-life insurance industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23641/04]
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of prosecutions initiated, in respect of each of the past five years, against non-nationals for working without a work permit and against employers for employing non-nationals without a work permit; the number of convictions obtained in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23662/04]
20 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Irish Exporters Association regarding the implications of the decision by Aer Lingus to end most of its cargo services; if his Department has done an assessment of the implications of the decision for firms exporting; if he intends to raise the matter with Aer Lingus or take other steps to ensure that air cargo services remain available to exporters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23639/04]
5 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his strategy for supporting employment and creating jobs in unemployment blackspots within the southern and eastern regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23791/04]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he has taken or intends to take arising from the report of the High Court inspectors into the affairs of a bank (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23790/04]
178 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proposals and objectives in his Department’s sectoral plan under the Disability Bill 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23308/04]
191 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of social welfare appeals in 2003; the rate of success for those who appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23307/04]
169 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his priorities in the area of rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22764/04]
152 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of submissions received to date to the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22765/04]
76 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated cost to the Exchequer of work to decontaminate a site (details supplied) in County Cork, following the recent decision of the High Court that the liquidator was not responsible for these costs; the steps being taken to ensure the decontamination of the site; when it is expected that this work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22569/04]
47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the way in which this figure compares with the corresponding figure for the equivalent dates in each of the previous five years; the number of local authority dwellings completed or acquired in 2002 and 2003 and the anticipated number for 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22568/04]
1289 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason third level students who are available for but fail to secure summer employment cannot be considered for unemployment assistance in view of the fact that the student summer jobs scheme has been discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21228/04]