44 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the chief executives of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland that the high price of alcohol and poor travel links out of Ireland’s cities are two of the main challenges facing the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15381/04]
28 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on regulating veterinary practices in the enlarged EU to fight epidemics such as foot and mouth disease; his further views on whether it will be possible to impose regulations in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14771/04]
9 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the conditions laid down for the use by foreign military aircraft of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; if his attention has been drawn to a recent incident in which a US military aircraft at Baldonnel flew a skull and crossbones flag; his views on whether this is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13389/04]
114 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he intends to allocate the extra 350 special needs teachers he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14359/04]
113 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to introduce amending legislation to the Commission to Inquire into the Child Abuse Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14358/04]
66 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which her Department has responsibility which have yet to be implemented; the number in respect of which the deadline for implementation has passed; if she has satisfied herself with the rate of compliance by her Department; the number of cases in which legal actions have been notified or commenced by the EU Commission arising from a failure to implement a directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13839/04]
26 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has been formally notified by a company (details supplied) of its intention to make more than 200 workers redundant; and if she intends to use the powers available to her under the Protection of Employment Act 1977 to require the company to enter into consultations with her on the proposed redundancies.
[13817/04]
86 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the impact on the economy here of high world oil and other energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13702/04]
49 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the recent two-day meeting of the EU Defence Ministers in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13388/04]
42 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the steps that are being taken to address the serious shortage of medical officers which is currently less than half of the establishment level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13474/04]
39 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the proposed role of the Pilatus aircraft being acquired by the Air Corps; the capacity that is available to the Air Corps to protect this country against airborne terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13473/04]
28 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the decision of the Finance Ministers on 25 March 2004 to nominate a Spanish candidate to fill the vacancy on the board on the European Central Bank.
[12970/04]
10 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the total number of suspicious financial transactions that might involve money laundering reported to the Revenue Commissioners during 2003; if he has satisfied himself that adequate procedures are in place to prevent money laundering; the work being undertaken by the money laundering steering committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12870/04]
137 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of outstanding applications for medical cards in the Southern Health Board area; and the number of successful applicants there are as a percentage of those that have applied within the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12882/04]
14 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is considering proposals to tie pub licences into planning permission; the way in which such a system would operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12684/04]
205 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the permanent appointment of consultant radiologists and a geriatrician at Mallow General Hospital and approval for a CT scanner.
[12704/04]
72 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current position with regard to the promised regulations concerning end of life vehicles; when the regulations will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12236/04]
51 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will list the number of cases in which the European Commission has initiated legal action or announced that it intends to take legal action, arising from the failure by this country to implement EU directives for which his Department has responsibility; the steps he is taking to ensure that all of these directives are implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12235/04]
117 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when it is intended to implement the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government to establish a group to report on options for lower income groups to ensure that they can have an earnings related pension when they retire; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12065/04]
102 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when it is intended to implement the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government to remove the requirement whereby a person reaching 65 years must first retire for a period before being able to work and retain a portion of their pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12064/04]
210 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he has given approval for the construction of a mixed complex of residential and small businesses to the rear of the FCA hall, Slievenamon, Thurles, County Tipperary; if this will result in the demolition of the existing FCA timber building, the provision of a right of way through his Department’s property, a significant reduction in the number of parking spaces and the halving of the space available for training of personnel; if his Department has received financial compensation for the loss of the facilities involved; if it is intended to provide an alternative building for the FCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11673/04]
141 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received the report from Údarás na Gaeltachta into the tender process for the sale of its holiday home complex in Connemara; if he has satisfied himself that the tender and sale process was carried out appropriately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11858/04]
132 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he has taken following the cancellation of the tender for sale of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s holiday home complex in Connemara; if he will publish the report into the tendering and sale process undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11856/04]
30 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to publish the report commissioned from a company (details supplied) on the GMS, in view of the fact that it is over a year since a draft was submitted to him; if the report has been brought to Government; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10792/04]
279 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if Statutory Instrument No. 90 of 2004 (details supplied) will be implemented; and the effect the statutory instrument will have on the Health Act 1970.
[10467/04]
43 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to his discussions with the EU on proposals to regulate foreign television stations broadcasting into Ireland; when he expects that this matter will be concluded; the progress that was made on this issue at the EU Informal Broadcasting Council on 2 March 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10232/04]
16 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the information available to his Department regarding the proposed development of the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10231/04]
98 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his address to the opening meeting of the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 15 March 2004.
[9918/04]
107 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s view of the current problems in Kosova, particularly for minorities, in view of the recent outbreak of ethnic violence.
[9917/04]
151 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science when he plans to implement the recommendations of the McIver report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9801/04]
35 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have been asked to provide support for the Garda during the planned visit of President George Bush to Ireland; the role he expects the Defence Forces to play; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9267/04]
33 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the number of medical doctors serving as officers in the Defence Forces; the way in which this compares to the establishment level; the steps being taken to fill outstanding vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9266/04]
5 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the role being played by Irish troops serving with KFOR; the information available regarding the recent incident in which a number of Irish troops are reported to have been injured; if he has satisfied himself that all appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of the troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9398/04]
2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the work of the office of emergency planning; if the office intends to take new initiatives in view of the Madrid bombing atrocity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9397/04]
362 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the original financial allocation for 2002 and 2003 in respect of hospitals (details supplied); the number of in-patients treated; the average duration of stay; the total number of in-patient days; the estimated daily cost per in-patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8520/04]
361 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received an application from the Southern Health Board for the appointment of a consultant geriatrician to Mallow General Hospital; his decision on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8519/04]
360 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received an application from the Southern Health Board for the appointment of two radiologists to Mallow General Hospital; his decision on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8518/04]
43 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the number of High Court orders sought to date by the Revenue Commissioners under the Finance Act 1999 to require financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information regarding holders of bogus accounts at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases in which orders have been granted; the general progress made to date in identifying the holders of such accounts who did not avail of the recent voluntary disclosure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8950/04]
38 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he has received the results of the independent investigation into concerns expressed about the procurement of certain goods and services by the OPW in connection with the EU Presidency; the main findings of the investigation; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8949/04]
66 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she intends to publish the results of her review of the 1987 groceries order which forbids below cost selling; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8098/04]
13 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that there are a sufficient number of inspectors to carry out an adequate level of workplace inspections; if she has plans to increase the numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8097/04]
163 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date by the consultation group established to consider the issue of access to waymarked ways; if he has received the consultation group’s report; when he expects that the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7705/04]
150 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report by a consultancy firm (details supplied) expressing serious concern regarding the cost-effectiveness and accountability in the operation of Area Development Management Limited, the organisation established to disburse EU and Government funds for local development projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7686/04]
70 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take arising from the recent report of the Environmental Protection Agency showing that more than a quarter of group water schemes tested in 2002 showed evidence of contamination; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7157/04]
51 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in regard to his request to the British authorities to allow Irish experts inspect the Sellafield nuclear plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7159/04]
128 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to address the continuing serious shortage of nurses; the steps being taken to ensure that qualified nurses remain in the hospital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7066/04]
116 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he intends to take to deal with the threat to health posed by the rising level of obesity identified in the recent annual report of the National Nutritional Surveillance Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7064/04]
156 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to introduce height restrictions for trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6798/04]
113 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport his views on recent reports that there is a lack of consistency in the testing equipment used in national car test centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6797/04]
90 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to bring forward an order applying the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6255/04]