177 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he intends to introduce laws, regulations and administrative decisions to comply with Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and Council that was agreed on 25 June 2002 and is required to be enacted into national law by 18 July 2004; and the legislative changes intended to be made in this regard.
[13973/04]
10 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the criteria which apply to the IDA and Enterprise Ireland on the nature of companies they can support; if restrictions exist for either agency on the basis that their client companies have to be engaged in a certain percentage of exporting activity; if it is possible for companies involved in import substitution to meet such criteria; and if not, if she will consider a review of such arrangements.
[13895/04]
164 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason no measures are being planned within his Department to encourage petrol vehicle users to convert their vehicles to run on LPG fuel; and if he has current environmental and comparative cost data, outlining the advantages versus disadvantages in addressing the cost of conversion, maintenance, servicing and upkeep and cost of fuel which support his Department’s reluctance to promote LPG vehicle conversion at present.
[13736/04]
163 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason he is reluctant to promote the wider use of a low emission fuel such as LPG as a cheaper, cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol in view of Ireland’s obligations to reduce carbon emissions as set out in the Kyoto Protocol; and the details of emissions and by-products, both in production and consumption of different fuels, which support his Department’s stance on the issue.
[13735/04]
83 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the Government expects to publish a report outlining the way in which a reduction in the use of indiscriminate offshore drift net fishing for salmon will take place in view of the fact that the inland fisheries report in 1975, the report of the salmon review group in 1987, the report of the salmon management task force in 1996 and the Indecon report in 2003 have all advocated such a reduction; and if the Government is willing to provide matching funding to add to those which may be provided by the north Atlantic salmon fund to allow for the buyout of such drift net licences.
[13683/04]
70 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has made any representations to the European Commission to encourage the inclusion of measures to restrict the advertising to children of foods high in sugars, fat or salt within the new draft of the television without frontiers directive, which will apply to all broadcasters in the European Union.
[13684/04]
34 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends appointing the proposed three person energy regulation commission; if the work of the three regulators will be divided on the basis of energy pricing, security of supply and environmental issues; and if he intends extending their remit to include the regulation of fossil fuel products other than natural gas.
[13861/04]
56 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent war game Black Dawn, organised by the European Union and NATO to counter potential nuclear terrorism; if Ireland participated in this exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13470/04]
192 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has adopted a position on the contraction and convergence model of response to the threat of climate change; the level of debate at a European level on this proposal; and the role the Government has taken in advancing such a debate.
[13066/04]
60 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the number of freedom of information requests made to the information commissioner on an annual basis since 1997.
[12962/04]
19 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the level of wage increases that can at present be sustained without adding to inflationary pressures.
[12963/04]
141 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason no measures are being planned within his Department to encourage petrol vehicle users to convert their vehicles to run on LPG fuel; and if he has current environmental and comparative cost data outlining the advantages versus disadvantages in addressing the cost of conversion, maintenance, servicing and upkeep, and cost of fuel which supports his Department’s reluctance to promote LPG vehicle conversion at present.
[12775/04]
140 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason he is reluctant to promote the wider use of a low emission fuel such as LPG as a cheaper, cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol in view of Ireland’s obligations to reduce carbon emissions as set out in the Kyoto Protocol; and the details of emissions and by-products, both in production and consumption of different fuels, which support his Department’s stance on the issue.
[12774/04]
139 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the procedures which have been put in place to secure the preservation of the existing Navan to Kingscourt railway line pending the reopening of the line in conjunction with the opening of rail services from Navan to Dublin.
[12773/04]
50 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends investigating the discovery of unknown remains at the sites of former Magdalene laundries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12734/04]
184 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action his Department has taken on the follow up to reported levels of lice at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; and the enforcement action which has been taken by his Department in its role as licenser for salmon farms in this particularly sensitive area.
[12643/04]
183 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department’s attention has been drawn to reports that lice levels at a location (details supplied) in County Galway in February 2004 were greatly in excess of the levels permitted under the licensing agreement and under State protocol.
[12642/04]
130 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the policy changes he intends to introduce to ensure that a change to more sedentary transport modes is reversed in view of the concerns expressed by industry groups such as IBEC that changing exercise patterns are the primary cause of the rise in the levels of obesity here and in view of the fact that the latest census statistics have shown a further dramatic reduction in the numbers of children walking and cycling to school; the number of safe routes to schools traffic management projects undertaken here in 2003; and the national budget for safe routes to schools projects in 2004.
[12541/04]
128 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the role his Department has in the possible extension of the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood; when he expects this project to be approved; the length of the planning and construction of the line will take; and the funding sources that are likely to be used to finance the project.
[12540/04]
31 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to ensure that the TEN-T guidelines that threaten Nature 2000 sites here and in the extended EU are rejected and strong environmental provisions are incorporated in the guidelines.
[12300/04]
21 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason the Government decided to attach a use it or lose it clause to the emissions trading certificates that power generation companies will receive under the new European emissions trading arrangements; and if he is concerned that this clause will encourage power generation companies to maintain older power plants which have high CO2 emissions in operation.
[10301/04]
107 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the additional costs incurred by her Department as a result of the recent industrial dispute at An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12096/04]
100 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her position on the views of the chief executive of the Equality Authority that aspects of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act may be discriminatory.
[12097/04]
260 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider giving direction to the National Treasury Management Agency to divest the estimated €47 million shareholding in ExxonMobil corporation which is held within the National Pensions Reserve Fund and to reinvest the same money in renewable energy companies; and if the Government shares the concern of environmental groups about the refusal of the ExxonMobil corporation to accept the science of climate change, their failure to invest in new renewable energy technologies or to pay the €7 billion fines for the Exxon Valdez oil disaster which occurred in 1989.
[11177/04]
157 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the role played by his Department at a recent conference held in Tullamore on rural development organised by Teagasc.
[11816/04]
110 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the Law Reform Commission report on the future use and organisation of the courts poor box system, and the suggested role his Department should play in this.
[11815/04]
167 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to negotiations between Aer Lingus and other companies regarding potential future investment within the company or a potential working agreement with the company; when he expects the Government to decide on the future ownership structure of the company; and if an analysis has been done within his Department comparing the possible merits of the company being able to issue its own share offering as against the possible trade sale of part or all of the company.
[10951/04]
58 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of remuneration for those on the task force for obesity; the frequency with which the task force meets; when he expects its first report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10822/04]
64 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children when he hopes that Ireland will be able to comply with the European Working Time Directive for junior doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10821/04]
385 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the EU regulations or directives expected on monitoring and abatement of noise levels in residential areas; the existing regulations for such noise created by construction activity; and the agencies responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of such regulations.
[10744/04]
384 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether a restriction can apply to a person holding a migrant working permit, who has been a resident here for more than six months, from standing as a candidate in the local elections in June.
[10743/04]
185 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether a restriction can apply to a person holding a migrant working permit, who has been a resident here for more than six months, from standing as a candidate in the local elections in June 2004.
[10742/04]
168 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the guidelines on best practice for commissioning artwork for all public bodies was published, as promised, by the end of 2003; and if so, the feedback there has been regarding the implications of same.
[10613/04]
62 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the reported recent use of nets in the Brandon Bay and in other Kerry estuaries, supposedly for the purpose of catching sea bass; if such fishing is permitted; the actions the fisheries board use to monitor such activity and enforce the relevant regulations; and the actions which have been taken by the South Western Fisheries board in relation to the breaches of both the sea bass and wild salmon fishing regulations in each of the past three years.
[10299/04]
32 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the person who will finance, own and operate the proposed Mayo gas pipeline extension to connect from the existing national grid to the proposed Bellanaboy gas terminal; and the number of years of current Irish natural gas usage which could be supplied by the projected recovery from the Shell-Enterprise energy, Corrib gas field.
[10300/04]
7 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the person he asked to carry out a review of the proposed An Post ESOP; when he expects the report on the matter to be available; if he will make it available to members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; and the circumstances in which he will consider offering the workers shareholding in this company.
[10310/04]
201 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he has given consideration to measures to promote the wider use of LPG and to encourage the conversion of vehicles to LPG in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10313/04]
182 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the current state of Eircom’s telephone infrastructure and carrying capacity for broadband in Inishowen.
[10323/04]
181 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the regional broadband investment initiative will be rolled out in Inishowen.
[10322/04]
180 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will conduct an economic risk assessment for Inishowen, measuring the negative economic impact, for example, investment disincentive, of further delays in delivering broadband to Inishowen.
[10321/04]
179 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will set out a precise schedule for the provision of an efficient network capable of bringing broadband to domestic and business consumers in Inishowen.
[10320/04]
178 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether broadband access for communities and actual and potential investors can contribute significantly to overcoming the marginalisation and impoverishment of people living on the Inishowen peninsula.
[10319/04]
177 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether information and communications technologies afford the Government an opportunity to redress a generation of neglect and marginalisation with regard to infrastructure, investment and social inclusion on the Inishowen peninsula.
[10318/04]
133 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the participation of a company (details supplied) in the construction of the wall in Palestine is in contravention of the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights 2003.
[8118/04]
132 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the involvement of Irish companies in the construction of the security wall in Palestine (details supplied).
[8119/04]
54 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Government’s approach to that conflict; the Government’s views on the Israeli Government’s targeting of Hamas leaders for assassination; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10081/04]
29 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the US authorities have requested permission to bring special weapons, such as the so-called mini-gun, to accompany President Bush on his visit here; and if so, the Government’s views on the request.
[9302/04]
130 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify who holds responsibility for the safety of pupils waiting for school transport, either within the school grounds or outside; if within the school grounds, whether this is the responsibility of the school and whether in fact the school management representative bodies acknowledge this; the consultations which have taken place regarding same; and the funding which has been provided to ensure this happens.
[9767/04]
129 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if there are plans to carry out studies regarding the availability of and participation in physical education during school hours, or by pupils outside of school hours on school premises.
[9766/04]
152 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the sections of her Department that have already been relocated outside Dublin to date; and the extent to which the workers transferred were the original workers attached to her Department.
[9495/04]