13 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment when he expects that the by-pass at Dunleer, County Louth, will commence; the expected cost; the level of EC funding which will be made available for the project; the contract time; the expected level of employment during construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if widows and unmarried mothers who are not claiming benefit or assistance and who are in the paid work-force pay PRSI at a higher rate than those who claim benefit or assistance; his views on whether this situation is fair; if it was his intention to bring about such a situation; if this is a discouragement to those widows and unmarried mothers who wish to become self-sufficient and who are struggling against the odds to support themselves and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to (1) the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, as amended, which enable him to make redundancy lump sum payments to employees where employers, including fly-by-night or informally insolvent firms or companies, failed to pay the lump sums in cases where the employees concerned had taken all reasonable steps, other than legal proceedings, to obtain payment of the lump sums, (2) and the fact that employees of those delinquent firms have not yet been paid compensation due under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973, for want of proper notice of dismissal; if he will now promote primary legislation in this parliamentary session to enable compensation for lack of minimum notice to be paid from the fund where the employee has taken all reasonable steps, other than legal proceedings, to obtain payment of the compensation as in the Redundancy Payments Act; alternatively, if he will promote measures for a decision of the Government to anticipate amending legislation as previously occurred in relation to Section 8 of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1971, in view of the number of awards of the Tribunal since 1983, which are not being paid from the fund.
20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to (1) the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, as amended, which enable him to make redundancy lump sum payments to employees where employers, including fly-by-night or informally insolvent firms or companies, failed to pay the lump sums in cases where the employees concerned had taken all reasonable steps, other than legal proceedings, to obtain payment of the lump sums, (2) and the fact that employees of those delinquent firms have not yet been paid compensation due under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973, for want of proper notice of dismissal; if he will now promote primary legislation in this parliamentary session to enable compensation for lack of minimum notice to be paid from the fund where the employee has taken all reasonable steps, other than legal proceedings, to obtain payment of the compensation as in the Redundancy Payments Act; alternatively, if he will promote measures for a decision of the Government to anticipate amending legislation as previously occurred in relation to Section 8 of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1971, in view of the number of awards of the Tribunal since 1983, which are not being paid from the fund.
15 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour the manner in which the Statute of Limitations is applied by his Department, in relation to payments from the social insurance fund affecting compensation payable under the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act, 1984, with particular reference to awards of the Employment Appeals Tribunal which arise from dismissals since 22 October 1983, and for which special provision was enacted in section 4 (2) of the Protection of Employees (Employers Insolvency) Act, 1984; and, in view of his reply to a parliamentary question of 23 May 1990, on the scope of the legislation, which differs from the reasons given to and accepted by Dáil Éireann for that ministerial amendment to the Bill, if he will indicate the effective steps proposed to be taken by his Department to safeguard and secure the payment of compensation for workers who have lost their jobs since 1983, and of the payment of awards made by the tribunal, notwithstanding the statute of limitations.
32 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance if he has any estimate of the damage likely to be done to employment in the Border counties as a result of the European Court ruling on the 48-hour rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the purchase price paid to the United Nations for ten Panhard vehicles; their age; if they are fully operational; the arrears due to his Department from the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
109 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to give refunds to PRSI contributors who have to pay for extractions because of the dispute between his Department and the dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
108 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans his Department have to assist low income families with the purchase of school uniforms/clothing/ footwear; the amount of any such assistance and the date from which it will apply; the method to be used for application purposes and when applications can be made for the September 1990 school term; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
109 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to give refunds to PRSI contributors who have to pay for extractions because of the dispute between his Department and the dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
108 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans his Department have to assist low income families with the purchase of school uniforms/clothing/ footwear; the amount of any such assistance and the date from which it will apply; the method to be used for application purposes and when applications can be made for the September 1990 school term; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
48 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to close military posts and barracks; if any new barracks are planned; the locations to which existing troops will be transferred when posts and barracks are closed; and the plans, if any, he has to provide extra accommodation at Gormanston Camp, County Meath, to cope with the transfer of troops to that post.
41 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has regarding the rationalisation of the Air Corps and the transfer in the short or long term of the operations at Gormanston, County Meath, and Baldonnel, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she considers it proper for teachers to be involved in fund raising activities for the provision of basic necessities in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she has any proposals to alleviate the high cost of heating, lighting, maintaining and insuring schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she considers it proper for teachers to be involved in fund raising activities for the provision of basic necessities in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if she has any proposals to alleviate the high cost of heating, lighting, maintaining and insuring schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if, in light of his failure to date to bring forward the heads of a Bill or details in a substantial form of the environmental protection agency, he is now, having regard to the delays in the legislative process, prepared to establish on an interim basis the environmental protection agency so as to ensure that the agency is up and running in advance on enabling legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to cases of individual companies being at risk; if he has a predetermined and regular review of companies at risk under the chairmanship of his Department; if so, when meetings take place; the names of those attending such meetings; if the group reports to him; if he surveys the group's written report; the action, if any, which is then taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
4 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having regard to the fact that the last successful fraud prosecution in Ireland took place in 1982, he is satisfied that the powers and resources available to him, as opposed to those available to other Departments, are adequate to assist him in eliminating fraud from Irish businesses; if he is satisfied that the Companies Bill, when passed, will ensure that all legislative provisions necessary for the elimination of fraud will be in place; if he will consider publishing a code of good business practice to supplement and augment the existing and forthcoming companies legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the hardship which has been suffered by many trawlermen who have been unable to secure licences because of the delay in the commission report; when the report will be finalised; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the number of officers by rank, command and corps who are serving in an acting capacity as at 1 January 1990; the number who are serving in the acting rank (a) from nought to three years and (b) from three to five years; the number of officers who reverted to their previous rank since 1980; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence, having regard to the second line reserve, the man hours initially and finally allocated in 1989 from command and corps; the number of man hours taken up in respect of annual training; the number by rank and command and corps to which this relates; the type of courses involved; in respect of security duties, the number by rank, command and corps; and the initial allocation of man hours in 1990.
10 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to provide money for the establishment of a kidney dialysis unit in the North Eastern Health Board area; if he is satisfied with the present provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline the major developments that will take place in 1990 that are accounted for in the capital allocation for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Communications the number of persons who were employed by the State companies under his control in each of the years from 1985 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the elements of the action programme of the European Commission on the Social Charter which will be enshrined in Irish law by the end of 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the nature of the Eighth Directive; the date by which it must be implemented; the manner in which it must be implemented; whether the Companies Act, 1963 (as amended) will be required to be changed; the date by which he will publish his proposals in relation to same; if he has had consultations with the social partners and the accountancy bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has any plans to order an inquiry into the cost of motor insurance premia; whether the abolition of juries and the reduction of the level of legal representation has benefited the motoring public; the reason insurance cover in Ireland is on average the highest in the EC; if his attention has been drawn to the substantial difference in cover from one company to another; the reason for such variations; the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that increases are restricted to the level of inflation; whether these increases are contrary to the spirit of the Programme for National Recovery as agreed with the ICTU; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the mandatory retirement age for each rank in the Defence Forces; the number by rank, command and corps who at 1 January 1990 are serving after the ages specified; the procedures for gaining such exemptions; whether there are any changes in duties for those given permission to serve after the normal retirement age; the rationale for providing this privilege; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the various categories of fee set by him in relation to the services administered by him; the amount collected in 1989; the percentage increase in (1) 1969 and (2) 1979; the reason for the increase; the amount of fee in 1989; the date set; and the amount at which it would stand if it had been indexed to the cost of living since it was last set.
50 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the reason for the delay in availing of the EC funds available for development of the railways north and south of the Border; if he supports such development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
50 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the reason for the delay in availing of the EC funds available for development of the railways north and south of the Border; if he supports such development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.