1062 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in respect of an application for permission to remain here, he will take account of the fact that a Romanian couple with an Irish-born child (details supplied) have established strong ties with County Wexford where both are undertaking FÁS courses; if he will delay the making of a deportation order to enable them to complete this training and to further consideration of their application to live and work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21679/04]
210 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the capping off of FÁS community employment schemes by restricting participation to a lifetime total of three years will impact seriously on many community employment schemes in County Wexford whose participants are aged 40 to 55 and have difficulty gaining meaningful mainstream employment; if she will review the capping off restriction to take account of particular difficulties of more mature age cohorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22278/04]
35 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the main points of his address on 24 May to a conference on Employer Supported Child Care: Exploring the Benefits to Business; if he is satisfied that employers are taking sufficient steps to provide child care for employees especially in view of the recent report from the Calpol child health care and development programme showing that the shortage of child care facilities was among the biggest worries facing working parents.
[18052/04]
24 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received advice from the Attorney General in regard to the implications of the preliminary opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice in a case (details supplied) in regard to powers to deport families with Irish-born children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20693/04]
260 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made on the application from a school (details supplied) in County Wexford to have a special unit provided to care for autistic pupils; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are four children in this school suffering from Asperger’s syndrome and that further autistic children intend to enrol in the school in September 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20140/04]
36 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the latest CSO statistics on tourist numbers to Ireland for the first quarter of 2004; his further views on whether the numbers demonstrate a significant recovery in numbers visiting Ireland from abroad; the efforts his Department is making to attract an increased number of tourists from other European countries specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19726/04]
106 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed that widespread damage may have been done to the voices of primary teachers as a result of teaching duties that may leave the State exposed to claims for damages; if information is available to his Department on the extent of this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19484/04]
93 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the National Council for Curriculum Assessment on the leaving certificate and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19483/04]
355 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has resided here for more than two years.
[19025/04]
354 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has resided here for four years.
[19024/04]
55 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the information available to him on the pilot survey carried out by An Post on the possible use of roadside post boxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19201/04]
33 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the claim made by a person (details supplied) that the Government has given the kiss of death to social services provided by An Post by refusing to address the urgent need for State financial support for the company; his views on the claims made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19200/04]
82 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urge the US President to stop developing new nuclear weapons such as the so-called bunker buster, and to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18834/04]
64 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the recent EU conference on development aid at Dublin Castle; his views on whether the “Everything but Arms” agreement negotiated by the EU in 2001 to ensure the 49 poorest countries in the world have unrestricted access to EU markets for all goods other than sugar, rice, and bananas, is working effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18833/04]
62 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself with the current arrangements for the supervision of the credit union in view of ongoing reports of problems and irregularities in a number of credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13816/04]
46 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the Federation of European Employers showing that pay levels here remain among the lower range in western Europe; the Government’s views on the appropriate level of wage increase for private sector workers in the second half of the Sustaining Progress deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13815/04]
36 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention was drawn to the claim made by a person (details supplied) that intense pressure on the accident and emergency unit of Beaumont Hospital over the past year has resulted in neurology patients from all over the State finding it increasingly difficult to be admitted to have conditions such as MS and Parkinson’s disease investigated; and the steps being taken to deal with the problem and to ensure that all such patients receive prompt examination and treatment.
[18370/04]
24 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to deal with the shortage of nurses after a recent HSEA survey found that nearly 700 nursing jobs remain unfilled around the country.
[18371/04]
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by trade unions, commercial firms in the region and the board of the company itself regarding her proposals to break up Shannon Development; if an independent assessment has been done of her proposal to transfer the company’s rental income from the Shannon free zone to the Shannon Airport authority; the reasons behind her proposal to transfer 100 jobs from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18038/04]
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has considered the proposal to introduce legislation to provide for a new offence of corporate killing as recommended by the Law Reform Commission.
[18039/04]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by trade unions, commercial firms in the region and the board of the company itself regarding her proposals to break up Shannon Development; if an independent assessment has been done of her proposal to transfer the company’s rental income from the Shannon free zone to the Shannon Airport authority; the reasons behind her proposal to transfer 100 jobs from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18151/04]
102 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the Naval Service has sufficient resources at its disposal to allow it to discharge its role of assisting the Garda and Customs Service in preventing the smuggling of drugs through territorial waters; if he has plans to provide additional resources to allow it to more effectively discharge these functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17832/04]
72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date into the investigation into the circumstances in which a number of civilians came into contact with an unexploded tear gas canister near firing ranges at the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17830/04]
609 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the name, number and commencement date of policy review groups with a public consultative process under way within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17864/04]
198 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the name and number and commencement date of policy review groups with a public consultative process under way within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17874/04]
137 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the name and number and commencement date of policy review groups with a public consultative process under way within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17875/04]
79 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on whether the scheme proposed recently by the Irish Insurance Federation to open pension accounts for children here can address the current shortfall in money being put away for pension schemes; her further views on whether the Government should encourage more investment in pension schemes rather than have persons reliant on the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17704/04]
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with regard to the amount of money available to the Government for the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16788/04]
59 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the implications for planning and development here of the new EU strategic environmental assessment directive which is due to take effect on 20 July 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16505/04]
25 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the threat by the EU Commission to take legal action arising from the decision of the Government to introduce a €20 charge for making a submission on a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16504/04]
290 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting list for the D1 licence driving test; if in view of the fact that applicants require this licence for employment purposes, he can take steps to reduce the waiting time for tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16186/04]
91 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in regard to the implications of the preliminary opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice in a case of a person (details supplied), as a stateless child, this person will be entitled to Irish citizenship under the terms of the Government’s proposed Irish nationality and citizenship Bill; if this will not be altered by the proposed amendment to the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16294/04]
58 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government policy in regard to persons serving prison sentences arising from the murder of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16293/04]
75 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to grant permission for armed US sky marshals to fly on transatlantic flights into and from Ireland; if he has received requests from US carriers for sky marshals to be on board flights destined to and emanating out of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15894/04]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the status and remit of the review of security on State owned public transport services announced by him in response to the Madrid train bombings; when the review is likely to be completed; if its findings will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15895/04]
94 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children his response to the criticism made in the document published at the recent conference of the Irish College of General Practitioners of his Department’s failure to include general practice in its reform programme for the health service; the action he intends to take to address this criticism; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15584/04]
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to claims made at the recent conference of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union that annual savings of up to €100 million could be made by the State if changes were made to the way in which the national drugs bill was managed; his response to this claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15583/04]
154 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford does not have access to learning support or remedial teaching although the report of an educational psychologist clearly indicates that consistent learning support will be required for the remainder of this person’s primary education; the reason learning support is not available to this person; if learning support can now be provided for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15236/04]
172 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to Ballycanew national school, Ballycanew, Gorey, County Wexford, officials of his Department have been in touch with school authorities in relation to their application for the appointment of a full-time learning support-resource teacher for the school; the position in relation to the provision of a full-time learning support-resource teacher for the school; the reason that the appointment of two special needs assistants, as recommended by the educational psychologists in 2003 and a further recommendation for one special needs assistant for 2004, has not been granted; if sanction for a prefab to accommodate the growing numbers at the school will be granted in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15309/04]
34 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussion he has had with Commissioner Fischler on the proposed nitrates directive.
[14734/04]
149 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the costs relating to Your Education Service under headings (details supplied); and the policy initiatives arrived at as a result of the deliberations of YES.
[14810/04]
33 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made with regard to the review of the Good Friday Agreement; the Government’s priorities for the review; the length of time he expects the process to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14554/04]
24 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the prospects of concluding negotiations on a new treaty or constitution for the European Union during the period of the Irish Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14553/04]
176 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the band 2 designation assigned to phase 3 of the St. Peter’s College building programme with a view to advancing the project to tender during 2004, in view of the fact that Wexford third level campus, an outreach centre of Carlow IT, now has 150 full-time students with a projected figure of 180 for September 2004, is located on the campus of St Peter’s College secondary school, Wexford, and that many of the 270 civil servants who are to relocate to Wexford are likely to wish to enrol their children in St Peter’s College secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14139/04]
175 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason no vocational school in County Wexford was included in the recent announcement of the €30 million additional funding for primary and post-primary schools; his views on whether inadequate investment in educational facilities in County Wexford is conductive to the aim of relocating 270 civil servants from Dublin to County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14138/04]
111 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is considering introducing university tuition fees for students once they have completed three years in college; if this represents a move towards the introduction of a general three-year undergraduate degree course in universities with students opting to specialise thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14346/04]
41 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the recent call from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland for a full-time assistance service for teachers; his views on whether the absence of such a service is contributing to the growing problem of stress in the workplace; if he will live up to the Government’s commitment to provide for such services and establish an employee assistance service immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14347/04]
40 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the latest information available to her regarding when the report of the High Court inspectors into the affairs of companies (details supplied) will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13811/04]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is still the Government’s intention to introduce legislation to provide for a new offence of corporate killing as recommended by the Law Reform Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13801/04]