85 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to consideration by his Department of a new mortgage support plan; when he expects the consultation period to be complete; if the scheme will be directed specifically towards persons currently priced out of the property market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43130/06]
88 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will expand on his recent comments that ways must be found to get over the stigma that many middle class people feel about receiving drug treatment in view of increasing levels of cocaine addiction; his views on whether Ireland is in the midst of a cocaine crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42847/06]
77 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the primary legislation he will publish between now and the end of the current Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42603/06]
157 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of names removed and added to the Electoral Register prior to the publication of the draft register; the number of persons notified that they were being removed from the draft register; the number of such persons who have, prior to 9 December 2006, requested to be included in the Electoral Register; the net position regarding deletions and additions following the 9 December 2006 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42602/06]
137 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the role of his Department in relation to the local authority development plan process; the number of personnel in his Department dedicated to inputting his Department’s views on development plans; the mechanisms in place to ensure that national transport policy is reflected in local authority development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41631/06]
140 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding is being provided in capital funding for a day procedures unit for Mallow General Hospital in 2007 as it is so urgently required.
[41183/06]
124 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if capital funding required for upgrading of accommodation to enable additional facilities to be provided for a number of new consultants who will be attached to the hospital for the purpose of providing consultation service and outpatient services will be provided to Mallow General Hospital.
[41181/06]
74 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the farmers’ representative organisations with a view to addressing the obesity issues in the Irish population; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40521/06]
147 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the way she proposes to improve the literacy level of prisoners both in adult and juvenile detention centres; if monitoring is done on improvements to literacy levels of people when they are in prison; her views on whether improved literacy would reduce recidivism and assist prisoners to get employment when they are released; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40156/06]
114 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress she expects to make in the 2006-2007 school year to fulfil the commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to children under nine; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40155/06]
53 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the United Nations Conventions which it signed in 2000 in relation to the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39528/06]
19 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39527/06]
133 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent report published by the Office of Public Works in conjunction with consultants (details supplied) in relation to traffic management in the Phoenix Park.
[39249/06]
90 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the most recent figures on private sector debt; and his views on the implications of this debt level for the economy.
[39239/06]
598 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has granted Cork County Council, northern division, funding to augment the water supply to Mallow town and environs; the source of the supply and the cost of same.
[39057/06]
507 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to ensure that the former employees of Greencore, Mallow are paid their full and correct compensation as agreed by the Labour Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[39046/06]
144 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the contribution his Department makes to formulating the Government’s climate change policy; if, in view of the landmark Stern Report on climate change and the second meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Kenya, he will review the current Irish climate change policy; if he will ensure that an accelerated biofuels policy plays a key role in the Irish effort to tackle climate change; if he has reviewed the recent Energy in Transport 2006 Report publication from Sustainable Energy Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38857/06]
162 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued to non-EU nationals to date in 2006; the number issued in each year from 2002 to 2005; the breakdown of permits issued per country of origin overall from 2002 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37739/06]
122 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he is taking to ensure that the former employees of Greencore are paid their full and correct compensation, as agreed by the Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37730/06]
114 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will make regulations increasing the spending limits for the 2007 general election; the amount to which spending limits will be increased; the persons he intends to consult regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36514/06]
66 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the parts of the Aarhus Convention Agreement and its associated EU Directives 2003/4/EC and 2003/35/EC which have been ratified or transposed into Irish law to date; if he will set out for each part of the Aarhus Convention Agreement and its associated EU Directives 2003/4/EC and 2003/35/EC which have been ratified or transposed into Irish law, the date on which this occurred; the legislative instrument used to do same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36515/06]
473 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase funding for second level education to the average OECD levels in the forthcoming Estimates.
[36348/06]
285 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the committee set up to undertake a review of acute health services in the Health Service Executive southern area, will be chaired by a professor already the subject of an investigation by the Higher Education Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[36207/06]
129 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 to date in 2006; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder were initiated; the number of such cases where convictions were 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.
[36271/06]
122 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the general increase in the cost of keeping prisoners in jail and particularly the fact that the cost of keeping a prisoner in Portlaoise is now close to a quarter of a million euro per year; his plans to examine ways of reducing such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36262/06]
30 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on ensuring that a confidential reporting system for pilots and airline staff exists here to allow the reporting of unsafe practices by airlines; when he will introduce whistleblower legislation to cover this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35779/06]
28 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the improvements to Ireland’s sporting infrastructure and facilities that will be made in order to allow athletes here prepare for major international sporting competitions in general, and the 2012 London Olympics in particular; his views on whether there has been little improvement in such facilities for Ireland’s elite athletes since the 2004 Athens Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34818/06]
126 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in regard to the public statement issued on 30 July 2006 regarding the heavy loss of life arising from an Israeli air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana, he took the opportunity to convey these views personally to the Israeli or US authorities; the reply he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34492/06]
93 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the recent nuclear test conducted by North Korea; the Government’s reaction to this test and to reported uranium enrichment in that country; the sanctions which the international community proposes against the Government of that country; his views on whether a diplomatic approach is the correct one to take, as an initial step; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34493/06]
582 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application for a capital grant from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if there is progress in granting the application due to overcrowding.
[34045/06]
182 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has made a decision on an application by County Clare Vocational Educational Committee to become the patron of two primary schools in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34136/06]
115 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of men who applied to each of the primary teacher education colleges in 2006; the number of men who applied in 2005; the number of women who applied to each of the colleges in 2006 and in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34137/06]
109 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of immigrant workers from sister EU States and elsewhere working in the sea fisheries, aquaculture and sea processing industries; if worker displacement is taking place in the sector; the measures he and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are taking with regard to protection for these workers’ wages and conditions, health and safety and to ensure that workers are not displaced in vulnerable coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33436/06]
19 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to publish a comprehensive Post and Postal Services Bill before the general election; and if he has given directives or requested strategy programmes from the new chief executive officer of An Post and his management team; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33437/06]
132 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the number of people that have claimed the home child care tax credit over the last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33108/06]
103 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the individual cases of overpayments to civil servants for annual leave entitlements which they did not take during their careers; the value of the overpayment in each case; the Department each individual belonged to; the number of and which Departments are still due to report on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33111/06]
548 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the progress of a school (details supplied) in County Cork.
[33054/06]
547 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the development of a school (details supplied) in County Cork.
[33053/06]
546 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received notice from Cork VEC that arrangements are agreed for the purchase of a site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33052/06]
161 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress made on plans to ratify the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals since the inter-departmental co-ordination meeting on 5 May 2006 of the Council of Europe, which apparently discussed the matter of ratification of Council of Europe conventions and the responsibility of Departments in that regard; her views on signing and ratifying that convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32864/06]
150 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the consumer liaison panel; when it is next due to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32883/06]
43 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the risk analysis that has been carried out or is currently underway in advance of the deployment of Irish troops on peacekeeping duties in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32178/06]
67 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the recent report A Voyage of Discovery; his views on the report’s findings of low morale in the Naval Service; if he will address the many issues highlighted in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32179/06]
75 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the dispute between former workers at the Greencore plants and the owners of that plant; the dispute resolution processes that are being used to address this problem; if he will intervene directly to bring a satisfactory end to this dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32048/06]
23 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of import licences issued in each year from 2002 to present; the number of export licences issued in each year from 2002 to present; the cost to his Department of issuing each import or export licence; the number of staff allocated within his Department or its agencies dealing with import and export licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32067/06]
351 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if the provisions of section 38 of the Health Act 1970 remain in place; if responsibility for this section was transferred to the Health Service Executive under the 2004 Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32014/06]
258 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if the provisions of section 48 of the Health Act 1970 remain in place; if responsibility for this section was transferred to the Health Service Executive under the 2004 Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[31138/06]
225 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to deal with noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30910/06]
125 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the legislation governing the plastic bag levy in order to allow for a substantial increase in the levy in order to reverse the trend whereby the use of plastic bags is increasing.
[30909/06]
158 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the view expressed by the former Vice Chairman of the Policing Board of Northern Ireland strongly supporting the case for the establishment of an Independent Garda Authority; his view of same; if he will reconsider his decision not to establish such an authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30629/06]