337 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the reason batteries which are used in mobility scooters do not qualify for a VAT refund; if he has plans to provide for such VAT refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20979/05]
224 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number and locations of local authority water schemes which add fluoride to tap water; and if, in each case, legal authority for the addition of fluoride was ever sought or obtained; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16347/05]
223 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the delay in implementing an official recommendation made three years ago by the Health Research Board to reduce the fluoride limit in tap water; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16346/05]
175 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to ensure a steady supply of blood in view of the recent forced cancellation of certain procedures due to a shortage of blood; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20859/05]
81 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to address continuing concerns regarding the possible health impact of the fluoridation of water supplies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20860/05]
13 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received any request from the Abbey Theatre for increased funding following the exceptional losses which the theatre incurred in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20287/05]
49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the efforts he has made to promote an all-island energy market; his views on recent problems with the all-Ireland connector; if he has had any opportunity to raise this with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19895/05]
33 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to extend the review of the national electricity market to include all areas of energy in Ireland; if he is further considering the publication of proposals for a national energy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19896/05]
450 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason social welfare recipients who opt for payment to a bank account are paid in arrears, whereas those who opt for payment by book are paid in advance; if he has received any representations on this matter; if all social welfare recipients will be paid in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19878/05]
107 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to implement the recommendations contained in the recent report, Second Level Student Councils in Ireland, produced by the children’s research centre in Trinity College, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19659/05]
76 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if more than 1,000 primary schools have no educational psychologist and 20% of secondary schools are without one; the steps which are being taken to deal with this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19660/05]
98 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the discomfort he expressed at the term “battlegroup” at a recent meeting of the Forum on Europe, he has held discussions with the United Nations’ General Secretary and other high ranking officials in the UN regarding any suggested regional rapid reaction force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18483/05]
73 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his estimate of the loss of civilian life in Iraq; his views on the escalating loss of life and the deflection of funds from the task of reconstruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18484/05]
59 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the number of claims made by taxpayers for refunds of overpaid tax in each of the past five years and in 2005 to date; the amount being claimed in applications currently before the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18276/05]
48 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the “Prime Time Investigates” programme, transmitted on 23 May 2005 which highlighted a whole range of tax shelters and schemes available only to the well-off; if his attention has further been drawn to the concerns among ordinary PAYE taxpayers of the extent to which others are able to minimise their tax liability through the use of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18270/05]
483 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the preparation and publication of a restated version of the Electoral Acts under the Statute Law (Restatement) Act 2002 or, alternatively, of an informal consolidated version of the Electoral Acts, in particular the Electoral Act 1992, will be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18240/05]
96 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to review of the Employment Agency Act 1971 as agreed under the Sustaining Progress agreement; if the proposed policy paper has been finalised and circulated; when this process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18012/05]
44 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate of his Department to ensure payment of the national minimum wage; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by labour inspectors that they do not have adequate resources to police the national minimum wage; the steps he is taking to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18010/05]
100 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has satisfied herself that adequate procedures are in place to protect against the spread of avian flu here especially in view of the recent warning from the Food and Agriculture Organisation that the virus causing bird flu may be impossible to eradicate; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17378/05]
47 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding discussions within the EU on proposed reforms of the EU sugar regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17379/05]
414 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has considered the implication of recent court cases over rights of way and the respective rights of ramblers and land owners to access the countryside; if he is considering any legislative or other measure to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17059/05]
413 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to issue guidelines governing availability of and accessibility to toilet and changing facilities in retail outlets, especially for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17058/05]
98 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute showing that Irish pensioners have the worst deal in Europe and that the entire pensions system is in need of serious reform; if he has plans to conduct serious reform of the pensions system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17120/05]
29
D’fhiafraigh Mr. Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é an laghdú atá tagtha ar líon na dteaghlach sna Forbacha atá tar éis an deontas iomlán a fháil faoi Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[16637/05]
20 Mr. Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na contaetha is mó ina bhfuil laghdú tagtha ar líon na dteaghlach atá tar éis deontas iomlán a fháil faoi Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[16636/05]
137 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is evidence for the recent public assertion that there is widespread abuses of the rent allowance system; the number of cases of such alleged abuse that have been brought to his attention; the amount of rent allowance being wrongly claimed in respect of each such case of alleged abuse; the action he has taken in respect of each such case of alleged abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16326/05]
75 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to establish a national waiver scheme for low income households to coincide with the increased waste charges expected over the next three years with the implementation of the EU waste management directive; the progress made to date in regard to his discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding difficulties faced by those on low incomes in paying service charges, especially in cases in which there is no waiver scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16538/05]
385 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 15 states in the US have passed legislation requiring VVAT on all e-voting machines, that one other state has legislation passed which is awaiting its Governor’s signature and that 19 states have Bills before their legislatures requiring VVAT which has not yet passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15917/05]
359 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide a second level school in Shankhill, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16272/05]
313 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in regularising the immigration status of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16486/05]
304 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí assigned to Shankill Garda station for each of the years 2000-04 and to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16268/05]
213 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of rent allowance in respect of each year from 1997 to 2004; the average monthly number of tenants in receipt of rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16256/05]
212 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who are in receipt of rent allowance; the current monthly expenditure on rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16255/05]
58 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí at the latest date for which figures are available; the number expected to be recruited during 2005; the number of recruits who have graduated from the Garda Training College as full Garda members since 6 June 2002; the number of gardaí who have retired, resigned or otherwise left the force since 6 June 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16119/05]
52 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his meeting with representatives of SIPTU regarding the provision of increased Garda back-up for consignments of cash in transit, in view on the number of robberies and the cases in which the lives of security workers have been threatened or put at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16118/05]
62 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport if he has had discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in regard to the routing of the planned M3 motorway, particularly in regard to the Tara-Skryne valley; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15566/05]
20 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the discussions he had with the Dublin Airport Authority and other bodies in respect of the optimal location for a second terminal at Dublin Airport; the studies which he or the DAA has commissioned in this regard; and his views on this matter.
[15669/05]
89 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to recent figures produced by the Central Statistics Office showing that hospital charges have risen by 59.9% in three years, more than six times the rate of inflation; if she considers such a level of increase justified; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship that such a level of increase has created; the action she intends to take to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15315/05]
87 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the chief executive designate of the Health Service Executive will take up their position; if the finance director of the Health Service Executive has resigned; the steps being taken to fill this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15316/05]
466 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a request for a meeting from the Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment; if he plans to meet the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15234/05]
465 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has examined the report of the Incorporated Law Society’s law reform committee entitled Discriminatory Planning Conditions - The Case for Reform; if arising from the report, he plans any amendments to planning law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15232/05]
160 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will identify the members of the working group which her Department has established to review the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and associated regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter
[15235/05]
161 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some chiropodists are charging medical card patients for their services; if this is permissible; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15236/05]
124 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach if he intends to attend the forthcoming Third Summit of the Council of Europe State in Warsaw; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15233/05]
86 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made with regard to his discussions with the FAI and the IRFU in regard to securing an alternative venue for international matches during the course of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14997/05]
100 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if progress has been made on the commitment in the programme for Government to complete a national audit of local sports facilities around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14999/05]
74 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the appointment of the new National Salmon Commission and on the reason he did not announce a total allowable catch for salmon in 2005, which was fully aligned with the scientific advice in view of the strong pleas made during his recent consultation with the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14381/05]
35 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the current economic downturn in the Killybegs fishing industry and its serious impact on the whole south-west Donegal region, and on the major problems which were recently brought to the attention of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources during its recent visit to Ireland’s premier fishing port; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14380/05]
99 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, arising from the recent decision of the EU to ban US imports of certain types of animal feed unless they can be certified as free of genetically modified corn, checks have been put in place to establish whether any such feedstuffs were imported into this country prior to the ban; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14178/05]
61 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the outcome of her recent business development trip to the United States.
[14179/05]