76 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of vacant posts in his Department; if competition for these posts is to be confined; if some are willing to move to the decentralised location of his Department at the appropriate time.
[14933/04]
75 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans for the staff of his Department who opt to remain in Dublin after the headquarters of the Department has been moved out of Dublin in accordance with decentralisation; the work they will do if they will remain with his Department; and where they will be accommodated.
[14928/04]
72 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence if he has appointed an audit committee for his Department; its members, charter, number of meetings to date; if it has issued any reports to him or to the Secretary General.
[15051/04]
71 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence if a management information framework as recommended by the Mullarkey committee has been put in place in his Department; and if he will explain the way it works.
[15036/04]
70 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the action taken by his Department on each recommendation of the PA consultancy report on the implementation of the strategic management initiative.
[15021/04]
69 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the implementation plan for each Department or agency under his aegis which is to be decentralised; the costs associated with the plan; and if any alteration will be needed to the multi-year financial projections of the Department or agency in question to meet any such costs.
[14991/04]
68 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the composition of the management advisory committee of his Department; the number of times it has met since its formation; the number of times he has attended it in person; and the issues it has considered.
[14976/04]
67 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence if the Secretary General brought to his attention all relevant financial consideration for decisions being taken in accordance with relevant sections of public finance procedures; and if a decision was taken in recent times where the Secretary General did not have an opportunity to comply with this aspect of public finance procedures prior to a decision being taken or announced which had financial implications.
[14959/04]
66 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the number of times he has issued written directions to his Secretary General, within the meaning of sections 4 to 6 of the Public Service Management Act 1997; and the nature and purpose of each such direction.
[14944/04]
65 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacant posts in his Department; if competition for these posts is to be confined; if same are willing to move to the decentralised location of his Department at the appropriate time.
[14931/04]
64 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the staff of his Department who opt to remain in Dublin after the headquarters of the Department has been moved out of Dublin in accordance with decentralisation; the work they will do if they will remain with his Department; and where they will be accommodated.
[14927/04]
62 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has appointed an audit committee for her Department; its members, charter, number of meetings to date; if it has issued any reports to her or to the Secretary General.
[15050/04]
61 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a management information framework as recommended by the Mullarkey committee has been put in place in her Department; and if she will explain the way it works.
[15035/04]
60 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action taken by her Department on each recommendation of the PA consultancy report on the implementation of the strategic management initiative.
[15020/04]
59 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will list the number of meetings in the past year of each interdepartmental committee or body on which her Department is represented; the frequency and location of its meetings; and where it is intended those meetings will take place after decentralisation.
[15005/04]
58 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the implementation plan for each Department or agency under her aegis which is to be decentralised; the costs associated with the plan; and if any alteration will be needed to the multi-year financial projections of the Department or agency in question to meet any such costs.
[14990/04]
57 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the composition of the management advisory committee of her Department; the number of times it has met since its formation; the number of times she has attended it in person; and the issues it has considered.
[14975/04]
56 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Secretary General brought to her attention all relevant financial consideration for decisions being taken in accordance to relevant sections of public finance procedures; and if a decision was taken in recent times where the Secretary General did not have an opportunity to comply with this aspect of public finance procedures prior to a decision being taken or announced which had financial implications.
[14958/04]
55 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times she has issued written directions to her Secretary General, within the meaning of sections 4 to 6 of the Public Service Management Act 1997; and the nature and purpose of each such direction.
[14943/04]
150 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the initiatives he has put in place to reduce the pupil/teacher ratio in schools in Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14811/04]
118 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 11 May 2004, if a Supplementary Estimate will be sought and obtained by his Department to ensure that funds will be provided for measures necessary and able to be provided in order that there is no repeat of the flooding in Mornington in view of the additional increased revenue which exceeded the Government’s expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14682/04]
100 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Cuba relating to the trial of 75 persons in connection with charges alleging attempts to subvert the constitutional order in Cuba; if his Department has had contact with the Cuban Embassy on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14511/04]
11 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) that the former President of the Convention on the Future of Europe has claimed to have brokered a deal on voting weights in the Council that would be acceptable to the Spanish and the Polish; and if he will make a statement on his consultations with him on this.
[14390/04]
127 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the impact of the massive increase in steel prices over the past quarter on the competitiveness of the Irish economy in the view of the fact that steel is a key component in construction and manufacturing projects; the action she is taking to try and control the price increases; the impact this will have on the Government proposals to introduce fixed price contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14310/04]
125 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in recent months the availability and cost of steel has become extremely volatile, resulting in a scarcity of supply and in rapidly rising costs of up to 25% in the last quarter which in turn is adding up to €10,000 to the cost of a new apartment; if she will raise this growing concern at EU level; and the actions she can take to ensure that suppliers of steel products are not permitted to take advantage of the vulnerable situation by profiteering; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14304/04]
120 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in her role during the Irish EU Presidency, she will seek that China cease its embargo on coke and steel exports in line with agreements within the World Trade Organisation in order to increase the worldwide supply of raw materials, thereby leading to a reduction and stabilisation in the price of steel which has increased by more than 25% in the past four months; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14295/04]
42 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the decentralising of his Department; if a site has been finalised; the number of staff who are willing to move; when he expects this move will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13633/04]
146 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has taken steps to ensure that additional funds have been allocated to Meath County Council to allow the flood alleviation works in Mornington to commence; if the Office of Public Works has plans to assist Meath County Council in carrying out works in Mornington; if reports have been compiled by his Department or by Meath County Council regarding the remedial works which are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13254/04]
32 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which the provision of Article 11 of the Constitution have been used to exempt revenues of the State from inclusion in one central fund.
[12822/04]
18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total value of tax revenue collected from the purchase, registration and use of motor vehicles, distinguishing the amount collected under different tax headings.
[12936/04]
97 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the categories under which Culmullen national school, Drumree, County Meath, failed to have the necessary works required in the school, to improve the quality of the drinking water in the school, to provide insulation in the school building to provide the installation of a trip switch in the electrical mains in the school, to allow the roof to be repaired and the ceiling replaced, carried out in the summer works project 2004; the reason the school was not successful to have the works carried out in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12770/04]
58 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Government is taking steps to give effect to Article 41.2.2° of the Constitution.
[11625/04]
55 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the provisions of Article 15(6)(1) and (2) of the Constitution are being respected.
[11623/04]
166 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans within his Department to provide a new school for the Eureka secondary school in Kells (details supplied); the stage the process to provide the new school is at; if he has plans to meet with the school management board, the parents, or the teachers in this regard; when his Department will be making an application for planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12547/04]
74 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the plans if any he has to address the driving test backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11006/04]
82 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to abolish provisional driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11005/04]
15 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he has proposals to amend the provisions of the Constitution in respect of the composition and powers of Seanad Éireann.
[11624/04]
74 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the perceived need for decentralisation, he has proposals to avail of Article 15(2)(1) of the Constitution to create or recognise subordinate legislatures within the State.
[11622/04]
36 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will list all excavation licences issued to a company (details supplied) indicating the locations at which and when the excavation took place; its purpose; and if a statutory report has been lodged, if this report may be inspected.
[11595/04]
831 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has asked his services to analyse the methodology and evidence in the reports, UK House Prices: A Critical Assessment and The UK Housing Market: Bubbles and Buyers, that show a high risk of a housing price bubble in Britain; the similarities and dissimilarities of their content to the Irish housing market; and if he will make a statement on the evasive action that can be taken to mitigate the risks involved.
[11997/04]
803 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will take steps to have the electoral register included on the website of each local authority; and if there are technological or legal obstacles in the way of doing this.
[11566/04]
770 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the perceived need for decentralisation, he has proposals to avail of Article 15.2.1° of the Constitution to create or recognise subordinate legislatures within the State.
[12031/04]
610 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to implement in full the recommendation of the commission on nursing that there be a review of nursing staffing in hospitals and homes caring for the elderly; and if he has satisfied himself that nursing staff levels in such homes operated by health boards are of a sufficient level to ensure that in all cases patients can be evacuated quickly in the event of a fire.
[11955/04]
538 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he plans to increase the number of consultant urologists serving in the health system in view of the two year waiting list for diagnosis of cancers in which urologists are specialised.
[11407/04]
332 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that funds will be provided to St. Peter’s school in Dunboyne for the provision of a special needs classroom, together with the funding to provide a special needs teacher for the students who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11245/04]
288 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has asked his services to analyse the methodology and evidence in the reports, UK House Prices: A Critical Assessment, and The UK Housing Market: Bubbles and Buyers, which show a high risk of a housing price bubble in Britain; the similarities and dissimilarities of the content of these reports to the Irish housing market situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter and on evasive action that can be taken to mitigate the risks involved.
[12029/04]
174 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the circumstances in which, in accordance with Article 8(3) of the Constitution, provision by law is made for only one of the official languages of the State to be exclusively used in public business.
[11620/04]
140 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the new rural social economy programme will begin; the persons who will administer and operate scheme; the persons who will be responsible for administering and distributing payments to those employed by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11918/04]
110 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a site will be allocated to the Educate Together school in Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11086/04]
380 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will put in place a long-term financing system for local authorities to replace the gap that will eventually be created when development returns to normal levels and a consequential reduction in income from development levies takes effect.
[10683/04]