2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when audio-visual interview facilities will be generally available in Garda stations; if he will ensure that these facilities are available in advance of the introduction of planned legislation to provide for the extension of periods of detention and further restrictions on the right to silence; his views on the comments made in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy that the introduction of this taping may affect detection rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6829/00]
6 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress, if any, made in regard to her consideration of proposals whereby conservation rangers and local authorities and local interest groups may be able to assist in monitoring heritage sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6305/00]
5 Mr. Howlin asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendations of the report on the courts and the Judiciary of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2521/00]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the additional funding, if any, he intends to provide for CERT for a comprehensive programme to enhance human resource management skills in the tourism sector in view of the commitment given in the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium.
[2751/00]
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigations, if any, into allegations made in a letter sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a Galway solicitor, apparently from a member of the Garda suggesting irregularities in the detention of a person who later faced serious arms charges in the Special Criminal Court and whose prosecution was subsequently dropped by a decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions; if he has received the report he indicated he was expecting from the Garda in view of his comments made to the media in Government Buildings of 13 January 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2687/00]
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigations, if any, into allegations made in a letter sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a Galway solicitor, apparently from a member of the Garda suggesting irregularities in the detention of a person who later faced serious arms charges in the Special Criminal Court and whose prosecution was subsequently dropped by a decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions; if he has received the report he indicated he was expecting from the Garda in view of his comments made to the media in Government Buildings of 13 January 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2687/00]
14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that the 1 January 2000 date for the addition of St. John's Wort to the list of prescription only medicines is at least delayed pending the ruling of the European Commissioner for the Internal Market on this decision in view of the fact that, if the decision is seen as a restriction on fair trade, infringement proceedings will be taken against Ireland.
[27076/99]
49 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, the Government has for the future of Irish Fertilizer Industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25028/99]
46 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position the Government will adopt at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Seattle; if her attention has been drawn in particular to the concerns expressed by Irish development organisations and non-governmental organisations regarding the potential impact of the proposed millennium round on developing countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25027/99]
49 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, the Government has for the future of Irish Fertilizer Industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25028/99]
46 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position the Government will adopt at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Seattle; if her attention has been drawn in particular to the concerns expressed by Irish development organisations and non-governmental organisations regarding the potential impact of the proposed millennium round on developing countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25027/99]
7 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group on safety regulations in regard to adventure centres; the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation relating to the establishment of a statutory authority to enforce a safety code; the plans, if any, he has to have legislation in place by summer 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24740/99]
13 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether it is satisfactory that inspections have not taken place later than 10 p.m. under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996, having regard to the provisions of the Act relating to young people working after this time; the steps, if any, she will take to ensure that workplace inspections take place at all relevant hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21997/99]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he will take to facilitate the entry of a greater number of young people from disadvantaged communities into third level education and particularly into universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20092/99]
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people with disabilities employed by his Department; the proportion this represents of total employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19710/99]
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people with disabilities employed by his Department; the proportion this represents of total employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19710/99]
47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps, if any, ongoing in his Department to ensure that refugees are made fully aware of their social welfare entitlements; the measures, if any, his Department is considering which could help people who just recently received refugee status to access employment and training schemes but have been awaiting a decision on their application for a number of years and were, therefore, in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18868/99]
47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps, if any, ongoing in his Department to ensure that refugees are made fully aware of their social welfare entitlements; the measures, if any, his Department is considering which could help people who just recently received refugee status to access employment and training schemes but have been awaiting a decision on their application for a number of years and were, therefore, in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18868/99]
16 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the value of ore from Irish mines exported in 1999; the amount of royalties paid to the State on the ore mined; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16012/99]
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he proposes to take to facilitate the entry of a greater number of young people from disadvantaged communities into third level education and particularly into universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15607/99]
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he proposes to take to facilitate the entry of a greater number of young people from disadvantaged communities into third level education and particularly into universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15607/99]
94 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Kosovar refugees reported to be in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro or Bosnia; the financial contribution, if any, Ireland has made to ease the plight of the refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12023/99]
94 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Kosovar refugees reported to be in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro or Bosnia; the financial contribution, if any, Ireland has made to ease the plight of the refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12023/99]
31 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of funding the proposed pension arrangements based on the actuarial information available to his Department in view of his statement to Dáil Éireann on 21 April 1999 in which he outlined proposed pension arrangements for the former Mr. Justice Hugh O'Flaherty and the former Mr. Justice Cyril Kelly; the undertakings, if any, given verbally or in writing to them in regard to their pensions, either before or after their resignations had been received; and the conditions, if any, attached, or planned to be attached, to any offer made to them regarding pension arrangements.
[11569/99]
31 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of funding the proposed pension arrangements based on the actuarial information available to his Department in view of his statement to Dáil Éireann on 21 April 1999 in which he outlined proposed pension arrangements for the former Mr. Justice Hugh O'Flaherty and the former Mr. Justice Cyril Kelly; the undertakings, if any, given verbally or in writing to them in regard to their pensions, either before or after their resignations had been received; and the conditions, if any, attached, or planned to be attached, to any offer made to them regarding pension arrangements.
[11569/99]
9 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if a bilingual society is a policy objective of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11152/99]
40 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the recent report of the Garda Complaints Board; his views on the introduction of amendments to the Garda Siochána Complaints Act, 1986, along the lines sought in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7295/99]
40 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the recent report of the Garda Complaints Board; his views on the introduction of amendments to the Garda Siochána Complaints Act, 1986, along the lines sought in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7295/99]
70 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence when a decision will be made in relation to the Army bands; his views on whether his recent statement is the right approach in relation to the bands; and the number of meetings he has had with the representative associations in this regard.
[5006/99]
70 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence when a decision will be made in relation to the Army bands; his views on whether his recent statement is the right approach in relation to the bands; and the number of meetings he has had with the representative associations in this regard.
[5006/99]
44 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, her Department has taken to make public the identity of private donors to the National Gallery; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[2814/99]
44 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, her Department has taken to make public the identity of private donors to the National Gallery; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[2814/99]
13 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if Ireland is the only country in the EU to limit the payment of the REP scheme to 100 acres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27869/98]
44 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further action, if any, he has taken, following the Adjournment debate on the sale of lands at Glen Ding; if he has asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine the original terms of the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21978/98]
44 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further action, if any, he has taken, following the Adjournment debate on the sale of lands at Glen Ding; if he has asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine the original terms of the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21978/98]
11 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether the junior certificate course is a good preparation for the leaving certificate physics and chemistry courses; his views on whether the junior certificate course gives a sufficient number of students the confidence to tackle physics and chemistry at leaving certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20719/98]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the communication, if any, he has had in relation to inquiries being made into allegations made against National Irish Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19495/98]
38 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the communication, if any, he has had in relation to inquiries being made into allegations made against National Irish Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19495/98]
39 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to change the national road speed limits to further assist the campaign to reduce road deaths and injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19266/98]
37 Mr Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will declare a housing crisis; the plans, if any, he has to establish a housing convention of all interested parties to establish an inclusive national crisis plan of action; if he will allow local authorities to establish land banks with special capital provision and substantially increase the capital programme for water and sewerage to bring these lands into housing use; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19265/98]
39 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to change the national road speed limits to further assist the campaign to reduce road deaths and injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19266/98]
37 Mr Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will declare a housing crisis; the plans, if any, he has to establish a housing convention of all interested parties to establish an inclusive national crisis plan of action; if he will allow local authorities to establish land banks with special capital provision and substantially increase the capital programme for water and sewerage to bring these lands into housing use; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19265/98]
3 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will amend the taxi and hackney regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13885/98]
2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, to date in the road safety initiative launched in 1997; the number and dates of meetings held by the steering group; the proposals, if any, implemented by the group to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13884/98]
28 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the ministerial committee on nuclear safety has met since its first meeting on 5 February 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12867/98]
28 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the ministerial committee on nuclear safety has met since its first meeting on 5 February 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12867/98]
50 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the early implementation of the national minimum wage.
[12106/98]
50 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the early implementation of the national minimum wage.
[12106/98]
15 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position in relation to the county roads initiative; when it is expected that all county roads will be brought up to standard; the estimated total cost of achieving this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10604/98]
28 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the average legal costs incurred by the State's legal team in defending a hearing loss claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5081/98]