75 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will give a commitment that the special nature and ethos of the community welfare service will not in any way be curtailed or frustrated; his views on strengthening SWA legislation to further enshrine its unique flexibility and ability to respond to need, as this feature is not always a characteristic of schemes administered and controlled by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17388/06]
46 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the pressures on environment sections of many local authorities to focus on waste issues is to the detriment of their work on water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16468/06]
6 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he intends to take to update the electoral register and to curb electoral fraud.
[16476/06]
169 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in completing arrangements in order that Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 can be commenced.
[16240/06]
78 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself with the level of statistical information available to local authorities outside of Dublin on traffic congestion commuter numbers, freight traffic, mode use and so on; the efforts he has made in terms of funding to support the provision of such information; if a funding stream exists for such research; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16238/06]
29 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount paid out either in respect of court awards or out of court settlements for claims taken against members of the Garda Síochána regarding assault, unlawful arrest, or other breach of a citizens right in respect of each year from 2002 to 2005 and to date in 2006; the number of cases in which awards were made by the courts and the number of cases which were settled out of court; the number of such cases pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15666/06]
16 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to increase the number of juvenile liaison officers in view of the proven success in dealing with juvenile offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15665/06]
57 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the €160 million bill to settle the 1,300 claims for alleged medical negligence lodged with the State Claims Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15463/06]
55 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the State’s €65 million bill for drugs and medicines in hospitals and in the community which is significantly ahead of expectations; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in six of the country’s major acute hospitals, drug costs increased by an average of 19%; her plans to address these rising costs; if she has plans to encourage use of generic drugs; if so the way in which she intends to do so and the timescale of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15472/06]
5 Mr. Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the position regarding arrangements being made for the 2006 commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising; if he will confirm if representatives from all political parties in Northern Ireland have been invited; if he has invited representatives from the British Embassy to attend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11777/06]
21 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the other legislation which is planned, or in draft stage, in relation to the ESB and the electricity sector with reference to both the electricity Bill and the single electricity market Bill; when the electricity Bill will return to the Dáil Éireann legislative programme; if the delay in bringing forward the electricity Bill will have implications for commercial and strategic decision making at the ESB; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13633/06]
16 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the opening of the gas market; the number of third-party operators providing gas to the industrial and domestic sectors; the way in which the operation of the natural gas grid is to be managed; the locations where the majority of oil and natural gas imports here are sourced; the forecasted demand for natural gas here in 2020, 2030 and 2050; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13634/06]
152 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if her campaign to attract more men into teaching is successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13525/06]
55 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on concerns expressed by a number of survivors’ groups, including the Aislinn Centre, One in Four and Irish SOCA, regarding the operation of the Residential Institutions Redress Board in relation to the way in which survivors are treated in their contacts with the board; if she will ensure that these concerns are addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13524/06]
140 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his meetings over the St. Patrick’s Day period with members of the US Administration; the topics of such discussions as he and his staff held; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13120/06]
105 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in the United States with regard to the various legislative proposals being considered in relation to the regularisation of illegal immigrants in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13121/06]
91 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the amount repaid by the Revenue Commissioners to individual taxpayers in respect of overpayments of tax in respect of each of the years 2002 to 2005; his plans for information campaigns to ensure that taxpayers are made fully aware of all their entitlements and are claiming all credits and allowances provided for; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12399/06]
29 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if an estimate has been undertaken of the number of civil or public servants who do not wish to relocate and will be surplus to requirements as a result of their jobs being transferred to other locations under the Government’s decentralisation programme; the jobs which will be provided for these personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12398/06]
478 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress on the application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork.
[11973/06]
124 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the inquiry that is to be established into the events surrounding the Niemba ambush in the Congo in 1960; the length of time he expects this inquiry to last; the remit of the inquiry; the personnel involved in the inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12078/06]
37 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide assurances that any decision taken on whether to commit Irish troops to a new EU peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo will satisfy the triple lock mechanism; when a UN decision on this mission is likely; when a Government decision will be made; when Dáil Éireann approval will be sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12077/06]
35 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions or contacts he has had with the job creation agencies with a view to seeking new industries for Mallow, County Cork, in view of the implications for Mallow and the surrounding areas of the announcement by the Irish Sugar Company that it is to close its plant with the loss of 320 full-time and part-time jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11339/06]
29 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details of the participation and remit of Government representatives of the EU Group of European Directors-General on Labour Relations; if his Department will take steps to ensure that the minutes of meetings of the EU Group of European Directors-General on Labour Relations are made available to Members of both Houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11285/06]
799 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if there has been progress in the acquisition of a site for the building of a new school, which has been in demand for a number of years.
[10911/06]
798 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork where an application was made for an extension in 1999 to meet the needs for increased pupil numbers.
[10910/06]
742 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if a site has been purchased for a new primary school in Rathcormack, County Cork; when the new school will be constructed; the length of time the construction of the new school will take; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10220/06]
381 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the application submitted by Ballycotton Harbour Development Association for development of the harbour, as moneys are to be provided under the 2006 expenditure programme.
[10912/06]
298 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the Fermoy flood relief scheme; if a contract for the scheme has been selected; when work on the scheme will commence; the length of time this work will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10218/06]
159 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the original financial allocation for 2003, 2004, and 2005 in respect of Cork University Hospital, South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and Mallow General Hospital; the number of inpatients treated at each hospital during the same period; the average duration of stay; the number of inpatient days; the estimated daily cost per inpatient; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10217/06]
82 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on extending the drugs task force area; the position regarding the work of the drugs task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10804/06]
221 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a progress report on the Buttevant, County Cork sewerage scheme collection system; if a tender has been accepted; and when work will commence.
[9806/06]
63 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the level of threat to Ireland from international terrorists in view of the bombings in London in July 2005; if the current threat to Ireland remains low; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7186/06]
9 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the series of pipe bomb incidents which occurred in Dublin in recent weeks that required the presence of Army bomb disposal experts; if he is concerned at the prevalence of such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7174/06]
205 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position on the proposed new school for Rathcormac, County Cork, especially in view of the overcrowding.
[9756/06]
114 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of dwellings currently being used as accommodation for rent supplement tenants; the percentage of these which have been inspected at least once; the percentage of those inspected which have been deemed unsuitable; and the percentage of those deemed unsuitable which have been the subject of legal action.
[9593/06]
104 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to initiate a more proactive system of enforcement in respect of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) 1993, as the current system normally only operates on the basis of complaints received; and his views on including a provision within such a proactive system to allow his Department to request a higher rate of inspections in areas which required them, for instance, in areas where the properties are older.
[9594/06]
145 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a recent study by Irish railway news which showed that 26 rail freight flows have been lost to road since 1994 with at least ten lost during the past two years; his reaction to these findings; his proposals to halt the decline in rail freight; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9187/06]
83 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the steps he proposes to take to ratify the recently agreed Bill for rights for seafarers under the International Labour Organisation’s 2006 Maritime Labour Convention.
[9195/06]
102 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of the 30,000 additional full medical cards that were promised in November 2004 that have been issued; the number and percentage of the population covered by full medical cards at the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8539/06]
34 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the long delay in publishing the report of the inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) in Monaghan Hospital in October 2005 in view of the undertaking she gave Dáil Éireann in October 2005 that the report would be completed within eight weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8563/06]
56 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the examination of the possible public private partnership procurement models for the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George’s Dock is complete; if he has brought a report to Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8197/06]
73 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the progress of the consultation process promised in advance of the introduction of a new national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7871/06]
70 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will account for the doctor recruited on a contract basis to members of the Defence Forces serving in Liberia who had been struck off the medical register in his home country of South Africa; the investigations he has undertaken regarding the situation following these revelations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7168/06]
7 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence what efforts are being made to evolve the Defence Forces into an ethnically diverse military; his views on whether it is necessary to target recruitment from among ethnic minorities and other nationalities to acquire invaluable specialist linguistic and cultural knowledge for the Army’s missions at home and abroad; if he will set a specific target for increasing the numbers of non-nationals and members of ethnic minorities to be recruited to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7169/06]
5 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the new investigation into the death of Army Private Kevin Barrett in Lebanon seven years ago; if he has met the Barrett family to discuss details of the new investigation; when the investigation is set to commence; the length of time he expects it to last; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7493/06]
2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the measures he has taken to ensure that Irish neutrality is not compromised by the participation of Irish troops in EU battle groups; the way in which the triple lock mechanism will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7492/06]
154 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a copy of the SDLP’s recently published North South Makes Sense document; the efforts he is making to progress North-South economic and social development while the institutions created under the Good Friday Agreement are in abeyance; the areas he wishes to prioritise in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6988/06]
96 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent comments from the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the salaries and allowances of MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly may shortly be terminated; his view on whether this represents a threat to the maintenance of democratic culture in Northern Ireland as only those of independent or other means will be able to maintain a living through politics; his further views on whether this threatens the livelihoods of an entire generation of politicians in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6989/06]
164 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the Corrib gas pipeline dispute; the stage the mediation process is at; when an agreed resolution will allow the project to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6712/06]
87 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is proposing to bring forward measures to develop cross-Border renewable energy supplies after recent comments by the Northern Secretary, Mr. Peter Hain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6726/06]