6 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to deal with the surge of serious crime over the past few months, including the spate of gangland style killings, robberies of cash in transit consignments and abductions and kidnappings; if he intends to provide additional resources to the Garda to help it combat these killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16261/05]
37 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport the main findings of the security audit at Dublin Airport recently undertaken by the European Civil Aviation Conference; his views on the serious security lapses reportedly discovered; the steps which have been taken to deal with such lapses and remove any safety or security risk to passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15550/05]
9 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to deal with the delays caused to passengers at Dublin Airport arising from the introduction of enhanced security measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15551/05]
124 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the IMO regarding the introduction of the promised doctor-only card; the plans she has for further discussions; the number of such cards issued to date; when she expects that the full complement will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15314/05]
64 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards issued in June 1997, June 2002, 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 another 200,000 people and the commitment provided in 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 1 January 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15313/05]
93 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received a report (details supplied) commissioned by Fáilte Ireland; the main recommendations of the report; if he intends to implement them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15007/05]
79 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by public representatives across all parties at the proposal to abolish Dublin Tourism; if he intends to approve the proposal, especially in view of the finding in the report produced by a company (details supplied) that Dublin Tourism was a success; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15006/05]
102 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the ongoing difficulties in the scallop fishery in Waterford and the south-east; his views on solutions to the present effort and capacity issues.
[14378/05]
76 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will address the serious issues raised repeatedly with him by an association (details supplied) regarding the protection of the Lough Swilly native oyster fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14379/05]
244 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the publication date of a review (details supplied) of inland fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14342/05]
243 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the provisions in the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 to ring-fence moneys for funding programmes produced by the independent sector; the sums of money which have been identified for such programming to date; the works which have been commissioned; if the scheme has attracted the attention of EU scrutiny; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14300/05]
28 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish citizens travelling to and from England have been fingerprinted by immigration officers at Holyhead (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10797/05]
130 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance the progress made in his discussions with the Financial Services Ombudsman Council about the financial service providers not regulated by the financial regulator that should be brought within the scope of the Financial Services Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13341/05]
81 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has now concluded its consideration of the letter from the Commission directorate general for agriculture and rural development advising that it had come to a preliminary opinion that the stallion tax exemption scheme would seem to constitute an aid that was not compatible with the common market; if a reply has been submitted; if an extension of the one month deadline for reply has been agreed by the Commission; the amount he has submitted to the Commission of the estimate for 2003 of the stallion income exempted by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13342/05]
344 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of participants in each prison here who are enrolled on the CONNECT project, in particular the number of prisoners who have completed the options programme on the CONNECT project since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12784/05]
147 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that average primary class size here is now the second largest in the EU; the steps she intends to take to deal with this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13002/05]
138 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools at primary level and secondary level inspected by the Health and Safety Authority in each of the past five years; the number of cases in which adverse findings were made by the inspectors; the steps she is taking to ensure that all schools are brought up to an acceptable level and that such inspections should no longer be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13003/05]
95 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate and the number of prosecutions initiated by the inspectorate in respect of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; when the promised additional 11 staff, which he announced on 12 April 2005, will be recruited and in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12086/05]
85 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the call from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for improved regulation of recruitment and placement agencies to ensure protection of workers’ rights and avoid a race to the bottom on pay and conditions; if he intends to act on the call from ICTU; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12085/05]
137 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has plans to meet the specific child care requirements of single parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11830/05]
114 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he is considering the publication of a Green Paper on lone parents; if so when the paper is likely to be published; if he intends to consult interested groups prior to the publication of any such paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11829/05]
139 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied); if the allegations contained therein are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11594/05]
138 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number, gender and rank of gardaí that are allocated to the drug squad in Sligo; the other resources that are allocated to the drug squad in Sligo; the number of gardaí attached to the drug squad nationally; if he intends to increase the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11593/05]
49 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason he cannot give a definitive date for the publication of the draft charities legislation; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties which the ongoing delay in this respect is having for the entire charities sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11379/05]
8 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is considering seeking Cabinet approval for the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the issues raised in the first annual report of the Coimisinéar Teanga; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11407/05]
933 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if the stay in school retention initiative will be retained at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10722/05]
680 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the Morris tribunal rescinded its decision to move to Letterkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10223/05]
575 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Iarnród Éireann has erected a telecommunications mast at Ballymote Railway Station, County Sligo without planning permission; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the planning authority in Sligo advised Iarnród Éireann that planning permission would be required for such a development; his views on semi-State companies ignoring the advice of planning authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10720/05]
89 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding his consideration of the recommendations of the legal advisory group on the defamation law, particularly in regard to the proposals for the establishment of a statutory press council; when he intends to bring proposals on this matter to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10760/05]
66 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there are plans to review the procedures used for the issuing and execution of deportation orders, in view of his decision to revoke the deportation order in respect of Mr. Olukunle Elukanlo; if the file in respect of this case had been read by him prior to the signing of a deportation order; if files in general are read by him prior to signing deportation orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10943/05]
63 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made in the Garda investigation into two robberies of security vans in Dublin during March 2005 in which more than €4 million was taken; the total amount taken in raids on security vans during 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the number of such cases in which charges have been laid; if he is satisfied that the Garda has sufficient resources to deal with this plague of robberies and to bring those responsible to justice; the matters discussed at his meeting with representatives of the security industry on 31 March 2005; the reason he has opted to give the security industry four months to improve security rather than implement the powers to set standards under the Private Security Services Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10942/05]
145 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times each of the four men convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe has been granted temporary release from Castlerea prison in each of the past five years; the reason for the temporary release in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9781/05]
59 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services and funding available to persons suffering from diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9762/05]
51 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent EuroRAP report on the state of roads here; his further views on whether poor road conditions are a contributory factor to the deaths of many persons in car accidents; the efforts he will make to improve the particular stretches of road that have been highlighted in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9684/05]
43 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he has any plans to address the frequency of road deaths caused by cars and lorries turning off main roads into housing developments; if a disproportionate number of road deaths are caused in this manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9685/05]
91 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards issued at 30 September 2004 and at the latest date for which figures are available; the reason the number of medical card holders continues to decline having regard to 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 1 January 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9401/05]
105 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recently published Review of Governance and Accountability Mechanisms in the General Medical Service (details supplied), particularly in regard to its findings on the issuing of medical cards to the over 70s; the action, she intends to take on foot of the report’s findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9402/05]
500 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will have their application for naturalisation decided.
[9065/05]
476 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his response to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8822/05]
425 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of child care places that have been created by his Department in each of the past five years under the equal opportunities programme; the number of child care centres that have been created in each of the past five years; the number of staff that have been recruited under the programme in each of the past five years; the amount that has been allocated by his Department under the programme in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8637/05]
424 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and location of half way houses for prisoners and ex-prisoners in the greater Dublin area; the number accommodated in each house; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8636/05]
67 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which a child care worker who was abusing children at a school (details supplied) in Kilkenny was allowed by the health authorities to foster two children, who were also abused by them; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8779/05]
83 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to act on the recommendations of the report of the marine casualty investigations board into the loss of four crew from a yacht (details supplied) on 20 May 2001, particularly in regard to the dangers of consumption of alcohol by masters and crew; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8192/05]
82 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the preliminary views received from the EU Commission on whether licence fee payments and other measures granted to RTE and TG4 are compatible with the common market; when he will complete his consideration of the views; if all possible steps will be taken to defend public service broadcasting here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8191/05]
85 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will publish the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7956/05]
56 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to add additional institutions to the list under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7957/05]
359 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations located in County Meath; the number of gardaí allocated to each of the Garda stations in each of the past five years; if he has plans to increase the allocation of gardaí to any of the Garda stations; if he proposed to introduce community policing throughout the county of Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7824/05]
351 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases relating to any aspect of immigration that are before the courts at the present time; the category into which each case falls; the average length of time that each case is before the courts; if immigration related cases are creating a problem for the operation of any court; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7779/05]
350 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the large number of break-ins and robberies in pharmacies on the north side of Dublin in recent months; if he will list the number of such offences in each Garda district for each month over the past two years for the Dublin metropolitan area; the main types of offences committed; the steps he intends to take to tackle such offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7778/05]
340 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will locate a Garda sub-station in the Raheen and Dooradoyle area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7563/05]