5 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the establishment and operation of the private security services authority; the number of staff appointed; the functions it is discharging; the progress made with regard to a proposed code of practice for the private security sector; when the code will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21642/05]
2 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of murders in which firearms were used thus far in 2005; the way in which this compares with the same period for 2004; the progress made to date with regard to Operation Anvil announced by him on 17 May 2005; his views on the number of weapons seized to date; the number of arrests made; the number of charges preferred which have arisen thus far from the operation; the length of time the operation is intended to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21641/05]
70 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the position with regard to the establishment of the Garda traffic corps; if he has met with the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to discuss staffing levels and the timescale proposed for full operation of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21190/05]
47 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a recent National Safety Council survey that found that almost 40% of drivers admit to drink-driving; when he will introduce the legislation for random breath-testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21215/05]
525 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of non-Catholic residential institutions included in the schedule of institutions under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; the religious denomination of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20682/05]
512 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of non-Catholic residential institutions included in the schedule of institutions under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; the religious denominations of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20593/05]
471 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will respond to the serious issues raised in the correspondence from a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20684/05]
229 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the statement made at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway on 7 March 2005 that the Government is not giving adequate financial support towards rape crisis and domestic violence services, she intends to increase such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16158/05]
136 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards issued as of June 1997, June 2002 and 30 September 2004 and the latest date for which figures are available; if the Government intends to honour the pledge in An Agreed Programme for Government to extend eligibility to bring in another 200,000 persons and the commitment given on the publication of the Estimates for 2005 that 30,000 additional medical cards would be issued from 1 January 2005; the number of the promised 30,000 new medical cards that have been issued since that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20827/05]
95 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to address the serious rise in the incidence of prostate cancer; if she has plans for the introduction of a national screening service to combat prostate cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20861/05]
30 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the future of the 68 Dublin Tourism outlets and offices are secure in view of the report (details supplied) advocating the abolition of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20279/05]
111 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the latest Government plans for the ESB, in view of the record €1.2 billion the company has raised for investment in its business; his views on the way in which the company plans to spend this money; if there will be further investment in the national electricity network; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19893/05]
63 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a recent energy survey by IBEC showing that two-thirds of businesses surveyed switched from ESB to independent electricity suppliers in a bid to cut costs; his views on the high energy costs affecting Ireland’s ability to attract foreign investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19894/05]
735 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the status and future of the concessionary teaching post at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19438/05]
627 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress he has made in establishing a commission of inquiry into the allegations of child abuse in the diocese of Dublin; if he will establish commissions of inquiry in the other dioceses of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19440/05]
592 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role and responsibilities of the ministerial decisions unit in the immigration, asylum and citizenship division of his Department; if any ministerial functions, powers or duties have been delegated, either expressly or implicitly, to civil servants in that unit; if there is any difference in the relationship between the Minister and civil servants in that unit and elsewhere in the Department; and if so, the nature of the difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19108/05]
571 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will respond to the enclosed correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18964/05]
140 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to try to relocate almost 70 special needs assistants with a view to retaining their experience within the educational sector in regard to the decision to dispense with the services of same from summer 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19657/05]
108 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to results of a survey of 250 joint managerial body members which showed that some principals were working up to 70 hours per week and that many are also forced to work during holiday periods; her plans to ease the workload on principals through the provision of administrative support or other measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19658/05]
53 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response he has had to any efforts he made in relation to the 242 families who were accorded temporary residence in the United States following the eruption of the volcano in Montserrat; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18482/05]
47 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the application by a person (details supplied) to reside here; the Government’s likely response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18481/05]
81 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the comments made in the Dáil on 23 and 24 May 2005, the proposed nature of the review of the legislation and regulations regarding non-residency status for tax purposes; the person by whom the review will be undertaken; when it is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18268/05]
26 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance the implications of the recent High Court decision in favour of the Revenue Commissioners, which will require Irish financial institutions to hand over the names of those customers who held accounts of offshore subsidiaries; if these names have now been handed over; the action the Revenue Commissioners is taking on the basis of the information supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18269/05]
465 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to assist in the preservation of a building (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17895/05]
429 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be provided for a resource room, library room and computer room for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7; when storage facilities will also be provided at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17896/05]
370 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason persons are refused visas by his Department while other persons appear to have no such difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17894/05]
64 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the latest position in regard to the investigation by the labour inspectorate into allegations of serious irregularities in the treatment of employees of a Turkish company, Gama, which has been operating in this country; if all the workers have been given access to money held in accounts in a bank in Holland; if he has considered requesting the Garda to conduct an investigation into allegations that money had been diverted into accounts to which the workers previously had no access; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18009/05]
100 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to consideration of the discussion document covering the operation of the labour inspectorate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18008/05]
130 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances in which a person (details supplied) was allegedly assaulted in a hostel prior to being deported; if the appeal process had been completed in their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17714/05]
85 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance if he will reveal the whereabouts of a statue (details supplied) which was taken from the Botanic Gardens for cleaning some years ago and never returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17715/05]
36 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the Defence Forces’s capability to deal with any threat to Ireland that may exist from international terrorists; if he has held any discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the intelligence services on the level of threat that currently exists to Ireland from international terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17616/05]
26 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Defence if he has reviewed the regulations in regard to Defence Forces recruits who are injured during training being discharged due to their not having access to the public health service within the requisite six months (details supplied); if he plans to change the regulations to address this anomaly; the action he has taken following his Dáil reply on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17617/05]
207 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if it has been brought to her attention that the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Sligo, has applied to her Department for grant aid to purchase a small portion of land at the rear of the school for use as a play and recreation area; if a decision has been made in respect of the request; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17509/05]
88 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her priorities for the current round of world trade talks and the summit due in Hong Kong later in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17376/05]
52 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if procedures are in place for random testing of imported animal feeds in order that they do not contain the non-authorised genetically modified organism Bt10; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17377/05]
312 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will describe each property which has been acquired or leased by the State to accommodate asylum seekers; when agreements were signed in respect of each property; the cost of each transaction; the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each property; the position of each property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16993/05]
308 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has considered the implications for this State and for the common travel area between Ireland and the United Kingdom of the introduction in that jurisdiction of mandatory identity papers, as proposed by the British Government; if he has discussed or proposes to discuss the issue with his British counterpart; if he has received or will invite views from the Northern Ireland parties on the question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16961/05]
126 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has received a copy of the recently launched national carers strategy by the National Carers Association; if he has plans to review the payment system for carers in order that they receive the same salary as health workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17119/05]
132 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the witness protection programme; the number of persons who have been received into the programme in each of the past ten years; the cost of running the programme for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16770/05]
131 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason there are no ban gardaí attached to the Sligo-Leitrim divisional drug unit; if there are plans to recruit ban gardaí to the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16769/05]
102 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will increase immediately the complement of labour inspectors to at least 75, in order that his Department can adequately and efficiently cope with the demands placed upon it; if he will implement the necessary measures which will provide for any legal and other professional support services to enable the labour inspectorate to operate more efficiently and effectively; if he will introduce legislation to provide for a statutory linkage between the labour inspectorate and the trade union movement, either through trade union participation or a liaison body or similar forum; and if he will increase substantially the penalties for non-compliance with employment rights legislation.
[16779/05]
54
D’fhiafraigh Mr. Costello den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na moltaí, más ann dóibh, atá aige chun Gaeilgeoirí dúchais atá ar deoraíón nGaeltacht a mhealladh ar ais chun cónaithe sa Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[16640/05]
52 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the increased rate of crack cocaine use here; the level of crack cocaine use he has identified; the extent of the crack cocaine problem here; if drug treatment services are equipped to deal with persons addicted to crack cocaine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16678/05]
118 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status with regard to the proposed Critical Infrastructure Bill, which was first announced in October 2003; if a decision has been made not to proceed with the Bill; if so, his alternative proposals for dealing with major infrastructural projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16330/05]
83 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made with regard to implementation of the recommendation made in the recent report by Mr. Dermot Quigley that his Department review and consolidate its internal advice on all aspects of procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16329/05]
341 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the contents of correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16013/05]
285 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of virus attacks and hacker attacks on Garda computer systems that have been prevented in 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the number which have caused difficulties to systems; the kind of difficulties they have caused; the number of people who have been questioned by gardaí or others about such incidents during those separate periods; the number of arrests made; the number of prosecutions; the resources provided to prevent virus or hacker attacks; the number of systems files stolen by hackers or copied; if the Garda is satisfied with protection procedures in place to prevent people hacking into systems; the amount of money spent on protecting Garda computer systems annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16021/05]
193 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of interview procedures for recruitment to his Department; and if there is separate membership of interview and appeals boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15983/05]
260 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms where used in respect of each year from 1998 to 2005 to date; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder have been initiated; the number of such cases in which convictions have been secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16262/05]
36 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to deal with the surge of serious crime in recent months, including the spate of gangland style killings, robberies of cash in transit consignments, abductions and kidnappings; if he will provide additional resources to the Garda to help them combat these killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16112/05]