2 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main features of the redundancy and severance package offered to employees of Irish Fertilizer Industries; if her attention has been drawn to the serious disappointment expressed by the employees at the contents of the package; the steps she intends to take to address these concerns; the reasons it was decided to place the company in a voluntary creditors' liquidation, rather than a members' voluntary liquidation, as recommended by the board; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25189/02]
82 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of asylum seekers currently being paid full supplementary welfare allowances, including rent allowances payments; the criteria for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24712/02]
71 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals to increase the cash payment to asylum seekers under the direct provision scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24711/02]
82 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of asylum seekers currently being paid full supplementary welfare allowances, including rent allowances payments; the criteria for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24712/02]
71 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals to increase the cash payment to asylum seekers under the direct provision scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24711/02]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has refused access to Irish prisons to an Amnesty International research mission; the basis on which this decision was made; if he refused to meet or accept a telephone call from the secretary general of Amnesty to discuss the matter; his views on whether this is an appropriate way to treat a prestigious international organisation with a long track record of defending human rights throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23705/02]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has refused access to Irish prisons to an Amnesty International research mission; the basis on which this decision was made; if he refused to meet or accept a telephone call from the secretary general of Amnesty to discuss the matter; his views on whether this is an appropriate way to treat a prestigious international organisation with a long track record of defending human rights throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23705/02]
54 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the companies or consortia which have expressed interest to date in the development of a new national stadium; the contact his Department has had with the said interested parties; if he has begun an assessment of these expressions of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22475/02]
54 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the companies or consortia which have expressed interest to date in the development of a new national stadium; the contact his Department has had with the said interested parties; if he has begun an assessment of these expressions of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22475/02]
93 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the latest information available to his Department on the prospects for the tourism market for the remainder of 2002; the prospects for the tourism market for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19073/02]
93 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the latest information available to his Department on the prospects for the tourism market for the remainder of 2002; the prospects for the tourism market for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19073/02]
11 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in the investigation into the death of a garda in an accidental shooting in Abbeyleix on 7 December 2001; if any new procedures are planned governing the use of firearms in these situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18495/02]
75 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if it remains Government policy that Irish Rail should continue to provide a full national freight service, having regard to the implications for traffic and road safety of transferring freight to the road system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18232/02]
75 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if it remains Government policy that Irish Rail should continue to provide a full national freight service, having regard to the implications for traffic and road safety of transferring freight to the road system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18232/02]
135 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding arrangements which have been put in place to ensure that all the provisions of the national health strategy can be implemented over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18048/02]
49 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to complaints expressed by the INTO that proposals for the introduction of a new standard retirement age of 65 for new entrants to the teaching profession was misguided in view of new figures showing that less than one in five teachers stay until 65; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14740/02]
49 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to complaints expressed by the INTO that proposals for the introduction of a new standard retirement age of 65 for new entrants to the teaching profession was misguided in view of new figures showing that less than one in five teachers stay until 65; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14740/02]
72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a target has been set for increases in public expenditure for 2002 and for the remaining years of An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14583/02]
70 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received for the special savings investment scheme at the closing date for applications; the average amount of savings per investor per month; if, on the basis of such figures, his Department has an assessment of the likely cost to the Exchequer of the special savings investment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14582/02]
72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if a target has been set for increases in public expenditure for 2002 and for the remaining years of An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14583/02]
70 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received for the special savings investment scheme at the closing date for applications; the average amount of savings per investor per month; if, on the basis of such figures, his Department has an assessment of the likely cost to the Exchequer of the special savings investment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14582/02]
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence when he expects to receive the report of the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13824/02]
24 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the position in regard to the proposed sale of the various Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13825/02]
51 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the 1999 special steering group on the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11779/02]
27 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the plans there are for the participation of Irish troops in a peacekeeping force in Afghanistan; if he has satisfied himself that an appropriate UN mandate is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11778/02]
27 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the plans there are for the participation of Irish troops in a peacekeeping force in Afghanistan; if he has satisfied himself that an appropriate UN mandate is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11778/02]
51 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the 1999 special steering group on the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11779/02]
15 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position at EU level regarding the liberalisation of the postal service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10494/02]
15 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position at EU level regarding the liberalisation of the postal service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10494/02]
4 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made regarding the review of the Prohibition of Incitement to Racial, Religious or National Hatred Act, 1989; when he expects the review to be completed; the further action he proposes to combat racism, having regard to the increasing number of racist statements and racially motivated attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6118/02]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date regarding allegations of falsification of conviction rates in Garda records in Waterford; the scope of the investigation; the reason it is limited to 2001, when the documents refer to the practice going on for five years; if, in view of the increasing lack of public confidence regarding crime statistics, he will consider a role for the Central Statistics Office regarding the compilation of crime statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6117/02]
48 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when he expects to publish legislation providing for the establishment of an Oireachtas Com mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5557/02]
48 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when he expects to publish legislation providing for the establishment of an Oireachtas Com mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5557/02]
48 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in regard to her public statement of 13 December 2001, she will indicate the progress which has been made regarding her contacts with the receiver appointed to a company (details supplied) regarding the possibility of keeping the company in business and preserving employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3319/02]
48 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in regard to her public statement of 13 December 2001, she will indicate the progress which has been made regarding her contacts with the receiver appointed to a company (details supplied) regarding the possibility of keeping the company in business and preserving employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3319/02]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken as a result of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which showed that the Garda Síochána had paid £208,000 more than was due to a company (details supplied); the efforts being made to recover the money; the state of the criminal investigation into this affair; if, in view of the strong criticism in the report of Garda management and control systems, he has legislative or other proposals for reform of Garda management; if his attention has further been drawn to concerns expressed regarding the manner of the awarding of a contract for the installation of video recording equipment in Garda stations; the tendering procedures used; the investigation held into the procedures used; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32212/01]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has completed consideration of whether a referendum commission will be established for the forthcoming referendum regarding the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) Bill, 2001; if an alternative method of providing financial assistance to promote the different sides in the campaign is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31110/01]
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has completed consideration of whether a referendum commission will be established for the forthcoming referendum regarding the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) Bill, 2001; if an alternative method of providing financial assistance to promote the different sides in the campaign is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31110/01]
102 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if Bord Fáilte has estimated that tourism revenue could fall by as much as £230 million as a result of the combined impact of foot and mouth and the terrorist attacks in the US; the assistance he intends to provide for the tourism sector in view of these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27875/01]
91 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans to review the targets set for the tourism sector in the national development plan in view of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27876/01]
102 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if Bord Fáilte has estimated that tourism revenue could fall by as much as £230 million as a result of the combined impact of foot and mouth and the terrorist attacks in the US; the assistance he intends to provide for the tourism sector in view of these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27875/01]
91 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans to review the targets set for the tourism sector in the national development plan in view of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27876/01]
81 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the recent post-mortem conducted on the exhumed body of a person (details supplied) confirmed that the injuries from which this person died were consistent with a traffic accident; if he will publish the report into this death and related events undertaken by a senior Garda (details supplied); if, in view of the serious public concern, he will establish a sworn public inquiry into allegations of misconduct by members of the Garda in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27666/01]
81 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the recent post-mortem conducted on the exhumed body of a person (details supplied) confirmed that the injuries from which this person died were consistent with a traffic accident; if he will publish the report into this death and related events undertaken by a senior Garda (details supplied); if, in view of the serious public concern, he will establish a sworn public inquiry into allegations of misconduct by members of the Garda in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27666/01]
16 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the additional staff which will be provided to deal with the additional workload arising from the commencement of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27151/01]
12 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the call made by the co-ordinator of Coastwatch Europe (details supplied) for a wetlands awareness campaign in view of the threat to wetlands areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27150/01]
42 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions she has had with An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union regarding the delivery of a wide ranging reform package aimed at securing a long-term viable future for the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24206/01]
31 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 3 October 2001, she will indicate when she expects a response from the EU Commission for clearance under the State aid regime of the proposed £10 million increase in the share capital of An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24219/01]
42 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the discussions she has had with An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union regarding the delivery of a wide ranging reform package aimed at securing a long-term viable future for the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24206/01]