407 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of grants approved and awarded by Enterprise Ireland for research and development projects since 2000 to date in 2006; the breakdown by scheme of the said funding; and the breakdown by economic sector of the said funding.
[32802/06]
406 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of research and development projects which have received funding from Enterprise Ireland since 2000 to date in 2006; the number of applications for funding received; the breakdown according to economic sector of the recipients of the said projects; and the breakdown of participating projects according to type of institution.
[32801/06]
290 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the reason banks and financial institutions have been exempted from the core aspects of the consumer protection code; and the reason there has been no move to strengthen or broaden the consumer protection that applies to basic banking products and services in line with the new consumer protection code.
[33186/06]
134 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on staffing needs in her Department in the coming years; the progress made on the implementation of the decentralisation plan in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32927/06]
117 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has had contacts with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding field trials of genetically modified crops; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32926/06]
45 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence the expenditure incurred by his Department during the first half of 2006; the way this compares to the figures projected in the Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32311/06]
60 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will comment on concerns expressed at the PDFORRA annual conference that military personnel levels are dropping at a time when additional commitments are coming on stream for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32310/06]
31 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a Bill to regulate Irish weapons exports will be introduced and the resources he will allocate for the implementation and enforcement of any new Bill’s provisions.
[31653/06]
26 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the fact that 1,000 jobs are being lost in the manufacturing sector per month, having declined by 31,000 jobs since 2000.
[31652/06]
190 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the finding made by the social welfare appeals office in its annual report regarding inconsistencies in the decision making process over whether to grant or deny welfare benefits to migrant workers.
[31788/06]
13 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the allocations made under the Dormant Accounts Fund since recent changes in its operation.
[31224/06]
154 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of energy which was used in buildings owned or leased by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; the energy source and suppliers used; the details of energy audits undertaken; current or future conservation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31089/06]
129 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of water which was used in buildings owned or leased by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; if he will provide the details of any water audits undertaken; the current or future conservation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31090/06]
183 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the advances made to date to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Barr Tribunal, in particular the recommendations that the Emergency Response Unit be equipped with stun guns and other non-lethal options and that improvements in Garda training in the context of siege situations be implemented without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30707/06]
149 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether it was premature to embark upon a recruitment drive for the proposed Garda Síochána Reserve in view of the ongoing refusal of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association to co-operate with the reserve; the way in which the Reserve Force will be introduced in the absence of cooperation from rank and file members; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30708/06]
245 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to make a decision regarding the development of an over-ground connection between the two existing Luas lines in Dublin city centre; and the expected timetable for the construction of such a link.
[30291/06]
90 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the number of wheelchair accessible taxis working in the Dublin area; the expected timetable for the roll-out of more vehicles; and the provisions taxis will have to make for the carrying of children in view of the introduction of new rules regarding the seating of young children in motor vehicles.
[29908/06]
91 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the amount which has been spent to date on the smart card project for integrated ticketing; the ticketing system that is being proposed; and the estimated final cost and date when such tickets integrating Luas, other rail and bus services will be introduced.
[29907/06]
5 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport his plans for regulation of the Dublin bus market; the arrangements he will put in place to allow for a new bus regulator to review or change existing bus routes; the authority the regulator will have to set service levels on such routes; and the means the regulator will have to ensure such service levels are reached.
[30290/06]
182 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person has been appointed with overall responsibility for a system (details supplied) when this person was appointed; if elements of the system have been introduced to date, the amount of money paid to a company (details supplied) to date; when these payments were made; the contingency plans in place if the company is unable to deliver on its contractual obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29564/06]
174 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in providing the 3,000 beds promised in the Government’s health strategy.
[29565/06]
285 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the house of tomorrow building scheme will be reviewed to introduce higher energy efficiency standards reflecting recent increases in oil and gas prices and the advances in building technology here which means that higher energy savings are achievable.
[27244/06]
284 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason the State’s renewable energy information centre in Bandon is operated by a company which is itself operating a renewable energy supply business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27243/06]
62 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, with regard to the recommendations made in the Advantica Report for changes to pipeline and valve stations to ensure that the Corrib pipeline pressure does not exceed 150 bar, he has received information from the developer on the changes which will be required to fulfil this recommendation; and if this will require changes to the project approval process.
[26589/06]
91 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to publish the Deloitte & Touche report with regard to dominance in the electricity market; the discussions which have taken place to date within the Government with regard to the report; and the consultation or action plan which is envisaged following publication of the report.
[26590/06]
444 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport when he expects to open the Dublin Transport Authority; the location of the Authority; the budget which has been allocated for its operation; if the authority will be in operation prior to the establishment of legislation setting out its powers; and if so, the authority such an office will have to direct other local authorities or transport companies in transport matters.
[25589/06]
443 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the arrangements which will be put in place for staff in the Dublin Transport Office following the establishment of the Greater Dublin Transport Authority; if all staff will be transferred to the new office; and if existing contracts and employment agreements will be maintained in the transfer to the new authority.
[25588/06]
442 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport when a new cycling facilities design manual is due to be published; and the role envisaged for such a manual.
[25587/06]
441 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the minimum permitted width for a combined bus and cycle lane; and the regulations regarding a bus having to overtake a cyclist in such a bus lane.
[25586/06]
387 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the job losses which have been successfully identified in advance by his Department’s internal warning system; the actions which were taken as a consequence thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25530/06]
47 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans which are in place to ensure that a repeat of the 2005 school bus ticketing crisis will not occur in 2006; the further plans which are in place to allocate sufficient places well in advance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25986/06]
144 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost of construction of all MANs erected here to date; the person who was the main contractor for the construction of each individual MANs; the turnover for each MANs for the latest accounting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25418/06]
143 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the projected cost of construction of the six new MANs announced in June 2006; the persons to whom the principal contract has been awarded;the estimated number of customers that each MANs will reach; when each of the MANs will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25417/06]
85 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s views on whether the British and American Governments’ interpretation of UN resolutions which both Governments assert gave UN sanction to military attacks on Iraq were valid interpretations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25213/06]
43 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the visit of the Royal Navy warship, the HMS Ocean to Dublin Port in June 2006; the purpose of this visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25214/06]
78 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on progress in implementing the Government’s decentralisation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24812/06]
67 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the addition of 40,000 employees to the public sector in the last Quarterly National Household Survey; and the details, including costing, of the new positions.
[24134/06]
58 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will now answer Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 18 May 2006 as to whether she will meet with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to establish a programme of re-establishing community run farmers’ markets.
[24635/06]
59 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he or his officials have had further discussions with Finland or Austria regarding co-operation in EU battle groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24145/06]
21 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his address to the Forum on Europe on 11 May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24144/06]
88 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the recent Health and Safety Authority report, which revealed that one-quarter of local authorities were in limited or no compliance with health and safety obligations.
[23944/06]
45 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress which has been made on the provision of knowledge acquisitions grants and innovation vouchers to small and medium businesses.
[23945/06]
41 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of offices and agencies operating within his Department; the functions with which they are charged; and the budgetary allocation afforded to each.
[24135/06]
131 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department in conjunction with the Pensions Board have considered the viability of a pension opt-out scheme as was recently proposed in the UK.
[23006/06]
64 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has intentions of making the tapered withdrawal of rent supplement available to all claimants.
[23007/06]
91 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will elaborate on the alternative sustainable energy policy priorities proposed under the new national strategy for rural development which is currently being prepared.
[22788/06]
79 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on and if he will be collaborating with Irish Rural Link’s rural think tank project which is being established in response to a lack of coherent policy and action in key rural development areas.
[22787/06]