165 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the recent statement from the acting director of the Combat Poverty Agency that the provision of quality public services is crucial to the tackling of poverty; the steps he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20709/07]
7 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the staffing level of the communications unit within his Department; the estimated annual cost for 2007; if changes are planned to the communications unit following the general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20151/07]
4 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the constitutional amendments the Government plans to bring forward during the lifetime of this Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20150/07]
291 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland has complied with its obligations under EC law to prepare and forward to the European Commission by 30 June 2007 an National Energy Efficiency Action Plan on the way to achieve a 9% savings target by 2016 set by the Energy End Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive.
[19404/07]
290 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Government did not make a formal submission in response to the European Commission’s Communication (details supplied) of 24 May 2005 on review of the Scope of universal service in accordance with Article 15 of the Universal Services Directive.
[19403/07]
277 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the latest position in regard to proposed sewerage schemes at Burtonport, Bunbeg/Derrybeg and Laghey, County Donegal.
[19421/07]
276 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position, under the Local Government Act 2001, of local authority members in County Donegal who have failed to make a declaration to the Ethics Register for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19420/07]
275 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Commission infringement procedure 2006/2485 relating to Ireland’s failure to correctly transpose the Landfill of Waste Directive (Council directive 99/31/EC); and the main concerns being raised by the Commission in this case.
[19416/07]
272 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Ireland is in full compliance with all its obligations under the EC Environmental Noise Directive on the assessment and management of exposure to environmental noise (2002/49/EC) including the obligation to prepare and forward to the European Commission strategic noise maps by 30 June 2007.
[19408/07]
271 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Commission infringement procedure No.1994/2238 on Ireland’s failure to comply with the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) particularly in relation to the low level of sanctions foreseen for breaches of the rules adopted to give effect to Ireland’s whole territory action programme; if he has followed through on the commitment given to the Commission to amend the enabling legislation and to revise the existing implementing regulations; and when the Government formally replied to the Commission’s reasoned opinion.
[19397/07]
270 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason, at the 2812th Environment Council meeting of 28 June 2007 in Luxembourg, he failed to vote alongside the Belgian, Greek, Hungarian, and Italian delegations against the draft regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products, which did not take up the European Parliament’s amendment No.171 of 22 May 2007, to Article 17(3) of the Commission’s original proposal, which sought to prevent products from being labelled organic if they contained genetically modified organisms, unless they had been contaminated accidentally and even then only up to a threshold of 0.1%, compared to a 0.9% threshold in the Commission’s original proposal.
[19396/07]
269 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of negotiations with the European Commission regarding its assessment of the Irish legislation transposing Directive 2002/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment as amended by Directive 2003/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2003; the issues that have been raised by the Commission in its assessment; and when he expects these negotiations to be concluded.
[19395/07]
274 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Ireland’s obligation to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling of 2 June 2005 in Case C-282/02 for, inter alia , not having an authorisation system for discharges from urban waster water treatment plants and other waste water infrastructure as required by Council Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment.
[19415/07]
273 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Commission infringement procedure no. 1997/4409 on Ireland’s failure to respect obligation regarding microbiological standards for drinking water set down in the Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as well as weaknesses in Irish legislation governing private water supplies; when Ireland formally responded to the Commission’s reasoned opinion.
[19414/07]
268 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to the ruling of 2 June 2005 of the European Court of Justice in Case C-282/02 that Ireland was in breach of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 regarding urban waste water treatment, for inter alia not having an authorisation system for discharges from urban waste water treatment plants and other waste water infrastructure, if he will confirm that Ireland is in full compliance with this directive.
[19394/07]
214 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the European Commission has raised concerns with him regarding the Government’s transposition into Irish law of the EC Directive on the general framework for equal treatment in employment and work conditions (details supplied); if so, the principal issues involved; and the status of the Commission’s challenge.
[19402/07]
213 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the European Commission has raised concerns with the Irish authorities regarding the Government’s transposition into Irish law of the EC Directive on equal treatment between persons without racial and ethnic discrimination in employment and the social sector (details supplied); the principal issues involved; and the status of the Commission’s challenge.
[19401/07]
159 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress that has been made on compensation for fishermen, in view of the economic hardship for offshore islanders, arising from the ban on salmon fishing; if she is planning to make special concessions or provide a higher level of compensation for island fishermen; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19419/07]
132 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason, in transposing the EC Unit Prices Directive (98/6/EC) into Irish law, the Government did not voluntarily extend its provisions to cover services as several other EU Member States have done according to the European Commission, thereby allowing it to cover services such as air fares.
[19400/07]
119 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the steps it is proposed to take to replace the bus service (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19418/07]
7 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the latest figures for overseas visitors to Ireland from the Central Statistics Office and on the drop in the number of British visitors to Ireland; his further views on whether a renewed marketing campaign for Irish tourism in Britain is required to address the shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19247/07]
597 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18824/07]
571 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18827/07]
514 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18831/07]
472 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18821/07]
421 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18825/07]
364 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18820/07]
354 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has received correspondence from a group (details supplied) regarding the proposed offshore wind farm in Dundalk Bay; the consideration she is giving to the submission which was made to her; if she will amend the foreshore legislation; if such an amendment will have been enacted prior to any decision in respect of the proposed wind farm in Dundalk Bay; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18581/07]
346 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18822/07]
335 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18832/07]
321 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18823/07]
304 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the gymnasium (details supplied) in County Wicklow satisfies current health and safety legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18845/07]
303 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18826/07]
280 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18829/07]
263 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18834/07]
230 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to and including 1 January 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18830/07]
195 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18828/07]
181 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the appointments to State boards, bodies or committees made since 24 May, 2007 to date in 2007; the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies exist; the number of vacancies in each case; the State boards, bodies or committees in which vacancies are anticipated to arise up to an including 1 January, 2008; and the number of vacancies in each case.
[18833/07]
169 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has held discussions with his incoming counterpart in the reshuffled British Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18658/07]
101 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had an input to efforts towards securing freedom for a person (details supplied) held for over 100 days in the Palestinian territories.
[18659/07]
31 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine when the pilot scheme to examine the possibility of allowing motorcyclists use bus lanes will be initiated; and when it will be completed.
[17888/07]
27 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine if any air navigation undertaking has sought the grant or, if granted, the renewal of a ministerial indemnity in its favour under the Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Acts 2001 or 2005, or both; if so, the identity of the undertaking concerned; his receipts and expenditure for each year since 2001 to date in 2007 in respect of arrangements under those Acts; the aggregate amount of the liabilities in respect of arrangements in respect of each such year under those Acts entered into during that year
[17887/07]
358 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is intended to seek designation of Clonmacnoise as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; if he will also seek such designation for Tara; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17811/07]
357 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way it is intended to update and consolidate the law on National monuments to maximise and clarify the protection provided to Ireland’s archaeological heritage.
[17810/07]
356 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is intended to fully implement the Aarhus Convention.
[17808/07]
355 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the landfills which are currently provided for under regional waste management plans, which the Government intends will be the last to be constructed for a generation.
[17807/07]
354 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the new ambitious waste management targets that will be established for maximum prevention, re-use, recycling and modern waste treatment; and the best EU performance for re-cycling which it is intended to match.
[17806/07]
353 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to undertake an international review of waste management plans, practices and procedures.
[17805/07]
352 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will establish a high level commission on climate change; the functions the commission will have; and the way it will be composed.
[17804/07]
351 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way it is planned to offset all official air travel in support of urban forests.
[17803/07]