98 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the call made by the National Council for Ageing and Older People for the extension of the BreastCheck service to women of 65 and over; if she intends to respond to the call; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20848/05]
46 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had any further discussions with the IRFU and the FAI in regard to securing an appropriate venue for Ireland’s home rugby and soccer internationals during the period in which Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20283/05]
55 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the course of action he is taking to ensure that the ongoing dispute at Irish Ferries is resolved; if he will ensure that seafarers on Irish registered vessels receive at least the Irish minimum wage and legal working conditions; if he will ensure that the Irish Ferries workforce is not changed to a yellow pack workforce of low pay and poor working conditions, where trade union representation is banned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19942/05]
37 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the current position with regard to the proposed EU directive on ferries; when it is expected to come into operation; the implications of the directive for the current industrial dispute at Irish Ferries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19943/05]
92 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will take action to prevent publishers of school books from reprinting text books with minor textual changes, forcing parents and schools to discard expensive books after a short period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19681/05]
75 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to Rockall under the international law of the sea and the related rights of exploration that ensue from the issue of jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18505/05]
8 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his address to the foreign policy club, Centre for International Relations, in Warsaw in May 2005; the position regarding the reform of the United Nations system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18506/05]
93 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if the Government’s decentralisation plan will be carried out on a totally voluntary basis; if staff will neither be offered inducements to transfer or subject to penalties if they decide not to move; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18294/05]
89 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the number of individuals, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Ansbacher accounts at the latest for which figures are available; the number of cases where settlements have been agreed; the total amount paid to date; the number of cases still outstanding; if any additional action has been taken by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the report of the Ansbacher inspector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18293/05]
42 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the Health and Safety Authority that some small enterprises were developing a culture of risk taking, leading to industrial accidents and deaths; the steps he intends to take to combat this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18032/05]
37 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason draft regulations drawn up by the Health and Safety Authority more than 15 months ago to improve safety standards on building sites have not yet been implemented, despite the continuing high rate of deaths in the industry; when it is expected that the regulations will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18031/05]
66 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the position with regard to his consideration of the request received from the UN for Irish troops to be deployed to Sudan as part of a multinational peacekeeping force established to police the recent peace accord; when a decision will be made on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17607/05]
58 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence when the new arrangement with the Irish Bankers Federation regarding the costs of providing military escorts for cash consignments will come into operation; the total revenue that will accrue to his Department in 2005 and in a full year; if this money will go directly to his Department or into general Exchequer funds; the way in which the revenue raised will be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17606/05]
2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the outcome of the recent Defence Forces mission to the Lebanon to try to establish the location of the remains of Private Kevin Joyce who has been missing since 1981; if he has any expectation that the body will be recovered and returned here for burial; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17653/05]
94 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress she has made on the implementation of the report by the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on the early retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17387/05]
161 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she proposes to give approval for the proposed developments of a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork.
[17165/05]
181 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has approved the draft action plan on the implementation of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings by Sustainable Energy Ireland for publication; when he intends to publish the plan for public and industry consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16353/05]
127 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the recommendations of the 2002 Government commissioned report on the fire service, including the recommendation for a national fire authority, will be adopted; the reason for the delay in adopting these recommendations to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16352/05]
296 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria that are used in determining the consignments of cash in transit by security firms which merit a military escort; the process by which such a decision is reached; the number of such escorts that are provided each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12346/05]
121 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the post of consultant haematologist at the Mercy Hospital, Cork, will be filled to replace the retiring haematologist.
[16220/05]
43 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the long promised Judicial Conduct and Ethics Bill will be published; if he has brought proposals to Government on the matter; if the heads of a Bill have been approved by Cabinet; the general approach he intends to adopt; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16153/05]
10 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in implementing the report of the working group on the Coroner Service published in December 2000; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties created for coroners by the lack of appropriate penalties for those who refuse to attend when summonsed to attend inquests; when the promised legislation to update the Coroners Act will be introduced and enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16154/05]
78 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of US troops that have passed through Shannon Airport in 2005; if this figure represents an increase in the total for the same period in 2004; the type of facilities that are made available to these troops when passing through Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12348/05]
56 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport when the promised updated version of the official rules of the road handbook will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15575/05]
132 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in the publication of the Comhairle report on plastic surgical services; the date on which the report is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15348/05]
118 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the capital projects in the health area for which funding has been provided and which are expected to commence in 2005; if further such capital allocations will be made during this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15349/05]
53 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the call from the Irish Exporters Association for him to approve Dublin Port’s expansion plans to avoid a capacity crisis at the port; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14404/05]
17 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the latest information available to his Department regarding the proposed development of the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14405/05]
86 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she intends to take to address the serious crisis facing many sheep farmers due to poor prices being paid for lambs by meat plants; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14177/05]
65 Mr. Sherlock 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.
[14175/05]
99 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action his Department intends to take to deal with the situation of a person (details supplied) with Irish citizenship who has been abandoned in an orphanage in Indonesia; when the plight of this person first came to the attention of his Department or to the ambassador or embassy to Indonesia; the action which was then taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13563/05]
100 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date with regard to implementation of the recommendations of the report of the task force on policy regarding emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13564/05]
127 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the number of EU directives for which his Department has responsibility that are yet to be implemented; the number in respect of which the deadline has passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13366/05]
57 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the total amount in the funds of the national pensions reserve fund at the latest date for which figures are available; the amount invested outside of Ireland; the amount held in cash balances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13365/05]
84 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will take action to prevent publishers of school books from reprinting text books with minor textual changes, forcing parents and schools to discard expensive books after a short period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13030/05]
81 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps she is taking to ensure that all goalposts used in schools are safe, in view of a number of accidents in which temporary or portable goalposts have collapsed on children causing injury and in some cases death; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13031/05]
40 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the extent of the Defence Force’s capability to deal with any threat to Ireland that may exist from international terrorists; if he has held 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.
[12347/05]
2 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the annual cost to his Department of providing military escorts for cash in transit transfers; the total amount of the cost, in cash and percentage terms contributed by banks for these military escorts; if he has asked banks (details supplied) to contribute more money to his Department for the military escorts given to security firms; if he has received any response from the banks to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12524/05]
5 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if Irish troops are to be deployed to the Sudan as part of a multinational peacekeeping force established to police the recent peace accord; if a formal request has been received from the UN’s department of peacekeeping operations; the number of Irish troops that are likely to be deployed; the types of activities they will be involved in; the timeframe for the deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12525/05]
113 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself that the Health and Safety Authority has sufficient staff and resources to carry out its work having regard to the continuing unacceptable number of industrial accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12109/05]
105 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in regard to the direction issued to an authorised officer to cease his inquiries into three companies being carried out under section 19 of the Companies Act, 1990, he will say if the authorised officer has now completed his reports; if he has received these reports; if so, the action it is intended to take arising from the reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12108/05]
113 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent call from the Equality Authority for the Government to better support the thousands of carers across the State by investment in welfare benefits and providing better community care services; if he intends to act on the call from the Equality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11853/05]
129 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the most recent advice given to him by Garda authorities regarding the current level of threat to Ireland from international terrorists; the way in which the level of threat to Ireland compares to the level of threat to Europe in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6707/05]
126 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made with regard to the implementation of the commitment contained in An Agreed Programme for Government to end all heroin use in prisons; if he intends to proceed with plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10787/05]
41 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the situation with regard to plans to introduce open tolling on national motorways; the discussions he has had with the NRA and NTR in this regard; when the necessary legislation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9692/05]
94 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of mumps reported to date in 2005; the way in which this compares with the same period in 2004; if she is satisfied that appropriate procedures are in place to prevent the spread of this condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9424/05]
41 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing posts unfilled at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of qualified nurses who were offered permanent posts in the acute hospital service during 2004; if her attention has been drawn to warnings from the INO that the number of vacancies would rise to 2,000 over the next 18 months; the number of vacancies of ICU nurses; the hospitals in which these vacancies exist; the number of nursing vacancies in accident and emergency departments and the hospitals in which they exist; the steps being taken to deal with the shortage of nurses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9423/05]
33 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the lessons he has drawn from the recent report on the Irish team’s experience and participation in the Athens Olympics; if he has discussed the findings of the report with the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland; the steps he will be taking on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9183/05]
12 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the objectives of the new body, Culture Ireland; the role it will have in the promotion of the arts abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9182/05]
67 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed in a recent report commissioned on behalf of eight fishing agencies in Ireland, Britain and Norway that gil-net or ghost-net fishing in Irish waters has led to the decimation of a number of species, including sharks; the steps he intends to take to control these practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8221/05]