3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in the context of page 17 of the publication Principal Features of the 1991 Budget the nature of the provision mentioned under ministerial group/ Taoiseach of £1.866 million; the reason it is necessary to meet expected 1991 costs on projects approved in 1990 and earlier years; the agencies and cultural institutions concerned; whether other funding will be allocated for this subhead from the national lottery in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline (1) the status of the National Heritage Council, (2) their role and functions and (3) whether he intends to introduce any legislation in this area.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline (1) the division of responsibilities of his Ministers of State and (2) the overseeing role that they hold, if any, for State boards or committees operating within the aegis of his Department.
3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach when the practice of appointing an aide-decamp to the Taoiseach commenced; the rank at which this appointment has been held since 1980; the nature of the duties involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number and nature of each task force established in his Department since 1987; and the outcome of each such investigation.
4 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, having regard to the fact that this year will be the 75th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, he will outline the plans the Government have to suitably commemorate that event.
3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach whether he has directed that a special study be undertaken into the potential of the stone industry; if so, the date the study commenced; and the results achieved so far.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the purpose and nature of the special projects wing in his Department; the number and location of overseas trips undertaken by personnel from that unit in 1990; the staffing concerned; and the projects undertaken by the unit since June 1987.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number of official trips he made outside the State in 1990; the dates such took place; the countries visited and the nature of such visits; the number and grade of officials that accompanied him on each visit; and the cost to the Exchequer.
16 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in connection with monerylending and the statement issued by the Minister for Social Welfare regarding same on 21 November 1988, he will outline the present state of the examination on the law on moneylending, in particular in connection with the EC Directive on Consumer Credit 87/102; whether this directive will curb the problem of defining (a) moneylending, (b) penalities, (c) evidence of breaches and (d) maximum rates of interest; if he proposes to draft a Bill or issue regulations to implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter, with particular reference to a timetable for legislation and his discussions with the Ministers for Social Welfare and Justice.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach (1) the date of appointment and term of office of each member of the National Economic and Social Council, (2) the number and name of each appointed civil servant and (3) whether a change in the manner of nomination of persons to that body is warranted, having regard to the fact that the unemployed sector is not, as such, represented.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in respect of the National Economic and Social Council (1) the title of each report published by that body since 16 June 1987, (2) the dates such reports were received in draft and final form by his Department and (3) the action taken on each report by the Government.
80 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of production of organic food in the various categories in the past five years; the plans he has to give special assistance for the encouragement and development of organic food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
80 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of production of organic food in the various categories in the past five years; the plans he has to give special assistance for the encouragement and development of organic food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the details of the decision to sell to the Soviet Union over 200,000 tonnes of surplus butter; the effect this will have on Irish intervention stocks; the price per pound at which this butter will be sold to the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine if his Department have decided to allocate finance to the development of Clogher Head Harbour, County Louth, from the Operational Programme for Rural Development as announced on 20 December 1990; if he will outline the portion of the £15 million to be provided for infrastructural improvements at selected harbours which will apply to Clogher Head; if he will give details of the consultations his Department have had with Louth County Council or other Government Departments regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
4 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number of inquiries undertaken by tourists and others in the Genealogical Office in 1990; the numbers of grants of coats of arms undertaken there in 1990; the range of fees for the various services undertaken there; the amount received in income in 1990; the offices role in encouraging both tourist traffic and invisible earnings in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the potential of the office.
3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the nature and role of the Northern Ireland and International Division of his Department; the staffing by number and grade of those assigned there; the differences in role in relation to the Northern Ireland division in his Department and that of the Department of Foreign Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach (1) the number of staff, by grade, assigned to the Government Information Services; (2) the number currently employed there on contract or on temporary assignment from other areas of the public sector; (3) the range of functions for which the Government Information Service are responsible; (4) the number of press releases issued by the Government Information Service since 1 January 1991; (5) the number and name of Departments who use the services of the Government Information Service; (6) the differentiation of the role of the Government Information Service from that of individual constituent components of the parties that make up the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number and grade of each civil servant in his Department who receives an allowance for duties as private secretary or assistant private secretary; the individual sums concerned, to whom such officials so act.
5 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number of persons appointed by him to boards, committees and State companies since 1987; the breakdown as between female and male; the number of persons whose CVs are currently retained in his Department for consideration for appointment to such boards and committees; and if he will outline whether it is desirable that a person, other than an official, serve on more than two such bodies at any one time.
3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the guidelines which have been adopted with regard to Ministers of the Government travelling overseas to participate in St. Patrick's Day activities, particularly in relation to payment of their travel and accommodation expenses and officials and spouses accompanying them; and if he will indicate the number of Ministers and Ministers of State who will not be travelling outside the State this St. Patrick's Day.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, having regard to his replies to parliamentary questions on 2 February 1988, 12 April 1989 and 14 November 1989 in relation to an honours list-order of merit system, he will agree that the time is now opportune that an appraisal be undertaken to investigate the desirability of a merit list in this country in line with those granted by other Republics to citizens who give freely of their talents for the good of society.
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education the proposals she has to provide a proper primary school psychological service in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of the stopping of recruitment in June 1990, there is a shortage of men in the Border units, his views on the seriousness of this matter having regard to the interests of security in the most sensitive area of the State; if he will outline the steps he is taking to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the contingency plans his Department have for the withdrawal of troops from Lebanon in the event of full scale war developing between Iraq and Israel; the transport arrangements which have been arranged in relation to any such evacuation; the stage at which any such decision will be made; if there have been consultations in this regard with the Chief of Staff and the General Staff; if any such evacuation or withdrawal will include the withdrawal of equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the names of companies who received export credit insurance cover for the years 1980 to 1990; the type of business which these companies are engaged in; the amount of cover given to each company; the countries to which the goods were exported in each case; and the claims already paid or amounts currently notified to the insurance company directly or to his Department, where claims might be made with the exception of the beef exports in question.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) FCÁ members who perform 24 hour duties with the Permanent Defence Force units are being paid only one day's pay, and have to provide their own transport to and from duties which in many cases can mean a 28 hours tour of duty; (b) this payment represents an average of £1 per hour less tax and (c) for many years members were paid for two days; if he will have this matter rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the grave concern of members of FCÁ units regarding the lack of adequate transport; if he will outline by unit and corp the numbers of private hire transport paid for during the years 1988, 1989 and 1990; the plans he has to correct this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the grant-in-aid being paid to FCÁ units is totally inadequate to operate as per regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance the factors which caused the substantial increase in business expansion scheme investments in the years 1988-1989 and 1989-1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if the Government have decided to postpone the 1991 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 16 May 1989 he will outline the critria for promotion for second line officers, who have not received an adverse confidential report in the previous five years for (i) lieutenant, captain and commandant, (ii) the number of officers by rank, corps, command who fulfilled the criteria as at 31 October 1990 and who have not been promoted and whether they have been advised of the reason they have not been promoted, (iii) whether second-in-command appointments should result in promotion to captain, despite other service lieutenants having suitable service and seniority, (iv) the number of officers by rank, corps and command who have been promoted in the period 12 October 1989 to 31 October 1990, (v) the number of officers who hold the appointment of infantry company second-in-command who are (a) captains and (b) lieutenants, (vi) whether successful completion of military courses has a specific reference in the criteria for promotion, (vii) the number of second-in-command vacancies still left unfilled as referred to in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 14 November 1989, (viii) the number of FCÁSlua Muirí officers who (a) resigned in 1988, 1989 and 1990 and (b) were given an adverse annual confidential report in 1988, 1989 and 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 16 May 1989 he will outline the number of officers who were promoted as a result of the statement of a former Minister on 30 April 1989 at Skibbereen in (a) 1989 (b) 1990 to date and (c) anticipated for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 16 May 1989 he will outline whether the permanent Defence Force unit structure, in so far as infantry units are concerned, will be implemented in FCA battalions in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 16 May 1989 he will outline whether the appointment of area commander still exists, and, if so, the number in command holding such appointments at 31 October 1990; the range of duties envisaged for this appointment and the number holding the dual appointments of sub-unit commander; the number of officers who hold the single appointment of company/sub-unit commander differentiating between those who hold the appointment at the rank of commandant and those who hold the rank of (a) captain and (b) lieutenant as at 31 October 1990; the number of second-in-command appointments by corps and command (a) vacant, (b) held by captains and (c) lieutenants as at 31 October 1990; the number of area commanders appointments as at 31 October 1990 by corps and command; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if, in relation to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 16 May 1989, he will outline in relation to the second line reserve, the progress achieved by the Defence policy review in relation to the officer rank structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
35 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received the report of the National Pensions Board regarding CIE retired workers with mixed social insurance records who have been unjustly denied the pro rata age pensions; if he will extend the pro rata pensions to mixed insurance contributions on the same terms and conditions as was applied to the intermittent contributors; the reason for the delay in introducing this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare , with reference to his statement of 21 November 1988 regarding the action plan on moneylending and having regard to the Combat Poverty Report Moneylending and Low Income Families, if he will outline the action he has taken on moneylending since November 1988 with particular reference to (a) the provision of finance (b) his discussions with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Irish League of Credit Unions (c) the outcome of the review of debt clearance by public utilities such as the ESB and Bord Gáis Éireann (d) the publication and distribution of leaflets (e) the provision of a money advice service nationwide (f) discussions with the Minister for Education on the provision of a module on money management in first and second level schools; if he will make a general statement on his discussions with the Ministers for Industry and Commerce and Justice, on amending the Moneylenders Acts, 1900 and 1933 so as to curb this problem; and when the Oireachtas will have legislation placed before it for consideration.
35 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received the report of the National Pensions Board regarding CIE retired workers with mixed social insurance records who have been unjustly denied the pro rata age pensions; if he will extend the pro rata pensions to mixed insurance contributions on the same terms and conditions as was applied to the intermittent contributors; the reason for the delay in introducing this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if, in relation to his reply to Parliamentary Question No.23 of 23 May 1990 regarding primary legislation, he will outline the authority which prevents the making of a regulation to give effect to the intention of the Oireachtas when section 4(2) of the Employers Insolvency Act, 1984, was enacted, for special purposes, in view of the provision in that enactment for a resolution of the Oireachtas following the making of regulations.
8 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the title, nature and implementation date of each adopted EC directive which has not been translated into Irish law as at 30 June, 1990; and, in respect of each such directive, if he will outline (a) the action, whether by warning letter of otherwise, taken by the EC Commission against Ireland and (b) his intentions as regards implementation by 31 December, 1990.
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Council of Ministers' meeting of 21 September 1990 and the effects or benefits which will accrue to Irish industry and services arising from decisions taken.
2 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has any plans to assist industry with sales of and promotion of goods in Japan; his views on whether only limited success has been achieved under the GATT in having Japanese markets opened up to EC trade and that Japan's current trade policy is still complex and difficult to penetrate for Irish and EC goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
81 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any plans for the provision of a replacement for the pier at Clogherhead, County Louth; the money, if any, which has been allocated for this project; the estimated cost and when it is expected that work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
81 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any plans for the provision of a replacement for the pier at Clogherhead, County Louth; the money, if any, which has been allocated for this project; the estimated cost and when it is expected that work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine the amount allocated for the development of the harbour at Clogherhead, County Louth; when work will commence on the pier; the expected duration of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence, in view of the business difficulties being experienced by a company (details supplied) in the manufacture of certain weapons currently issued to the Defence Forces whether he has satisfied himself regarding the security of parts and other supplies from Belgium; whether it is intended to continue to equip reserve units with weapons from this supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the number of transport and saloon vehicles assigned to the second line reserve as at 31 May 1990; the number of such vehicles which have been returned for mechanical and other repairs; the net number of vehicles allocated to sub-units; the age of vehicles assigned as (a) under one year (b) under three years (c) under five years and (d) over five years; the number of sub-units which have not any assigned transport at 31 May 1990 (a) for one month (b) two months and (c) six months; and considering that such units require designated transport assigned to them for proper functioning, if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she will arrange that all Bachelors of Education and special education courses will include a module dealing with the issues involved in child abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter.