199 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 4 November 2010 and No. 82 of 8 December 2010, he will provide references for the best international engineering gas leakage detection practice he refers to; the details and specifications the developer has proposed for systems which would detect a leak; if he will outline any peer-reviewed studies proving the detection success rate in varying environmental conditions of such systems proposed by the developer; if those studies were independent studies; his level of confidence in the veracity of their findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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165 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform his views on reports that an undercover British police officer infiltrated some legitimate community protest groups in recent times; his further views that activities whereby measures in the enforcement of law would mirror those breaking the law is inappropriate; if there is truth to rumours that there was agreement between those charged with administering the law in our own jurisdiction and those in another jurisdiction; his views on this matter and if he will clarify the foregoing as a matter of urgency.
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157 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 December 2010, the rules and regulations which apply to the use of batons by gardaí; the location at which citizens of this State can publicly access such rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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125 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if there have been any further in camera court proceedings since 23 December 2010 concerning any aspect of the injection of State funding into any bank in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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60 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to illegal business practice being conducted by Irish companies in Western Sahara; if he will, similar to the Norwegian Government, condemn such practice and request any Irish companies operating there to immediately suspend their business until such time as the Saharawi people benefit from the presence of international companies in their country.
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10 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the case of a person (details supplied) who has appealed a decision; if this appeal will be successful, if not, why not; her views on this person’s options in the absence of such a grant being awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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271 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on the need to change the law here to ensure that Irish airports are not used for illegal rendition flights and that aircraft involved in such activity are subject to proper inspection by authorities here; and if he will legislate accordingly.
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25 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the present position in southern Sudan and such briefings as he may have received on border and resource issues as may arise following the recent referendum.
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2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the monitoring and implementation measures that will prevail in support of any human rights clauses which may be imposed as conditions in any EU — Colombia Agreement on trade or other matters; if he will further indicate the similarities between this treaty and similar treaties signed by the EU and indicate any such further additional measures as are contained in the present proposed EU — Colombia Treaty.
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113 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by sub-contractors in the construction sector when main contractors go into receivership, both in regard to unpaid contracts and difficulties in retrieving equipment and tools from construction sites; his plans to provide protection for sub-contractors in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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107 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he intends to proceed with the provision contained in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act that allows for a reduction in the national minimum wage; the date from which it is intended to apply the reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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70 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the success of the Dublin bike scheme; if he recognises its potential for expansion; his plans to encourage the introduction of the bike scheme into other cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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76 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when investigations will be completed into inappropriate use of Health Service Executive funds for the SKILLS and other related programmes; the sanctions that will be taken against persons found to have misused such funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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47 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if there have been any major gaps in appropriately experienced and qualified personnel to ensure that services are well managed following the recent redundancy-early retirement scheme; the measures being taken to ensure that appropriate staff are in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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132 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he intends to proceed with the disposal or merger of Irish credit institutions in which the State has a majority or controlling stake, particularly Irish Nationwide and Educational Building Society; when he expects to make a final decision on any such disposals or mergers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1398/11]
89 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the future viability of Irish Life and Permanent; if he expects that the State will be required to make a capital injection into the bank during 2011 in view of the revised PCAR analysis and enhanced capital requirements; if he remains committed to the future existence of a third force in Irish banking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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37 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the affect the announcement of a 10% cut in funding will have on the services his Department can provide to communities.
[46045/10]
95 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made on the construction of a new treatment plant for Oughterard; if the revised design review report, submitted to his Department on 22 October 2010, has been passed by him; if he will confirm that if he has passed the report the council can then proceed to contract document stage.
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75 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); his views on same and if he will indicate the assistance he has offered in this matter.
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82 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the specific method by which odourless gas will be able to be detected at a particular gas terminal (details supplied); the body or authority to which incidences of leakage will be reported; which body or authority members of the public can contact should they detect or suspect a leak; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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65 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had the opportunity to review a particular case (details supplied); his views on whether the person is deserved of an apology; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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49 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if there are specific regulations which apply to the use of batons by gardaí; if there are areas of the body which are precluded from being targeted during the use of a baton; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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251 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons rent supplement was discontinued in respect of a person (details supplied) and if this decision will be revisited.
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13 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in respect of EU directives for which he has responsibility, the number remaining to be implemented; the directives that are now overdue; the number of reasoned opinions received from the EU Commission since 2002 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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17 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his plans to publish anti-victimisation legislation, designed to protect those workers who choose to join a trade union and which was promised by March 2009 under the review of Towards 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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68 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to open the agri-environment options scheme for those farmers leaving REPS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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214 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he recognises that there are goods on the Irish market from companies (details supplied) that are misleadingly labelled particularly in light of Case C386/08 of the European Court of Justice which clearly stated that produce from illegal Israeli settlements can neither be considered Israeli or Palestinian.
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213 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that retailers are not only free to label goods from the West Bank accurately but that, under an EU Directive, they are obliged to label goods from the West Bank accurately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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51 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding promised legislation to enhance the protection of national monuments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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15 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment that there would be a review of the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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39 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the capital spend for artistic and cultural facilities for each year from 2000 to date in 2010 in tabular from; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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126 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding discussions in the General Assembly of the UN on a transaction tax; the discussion at UN level and such bilateral discussions at diplomatic level which have taken place on this topic.
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125 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the overt, and covert, actions of unaccountable but publicly registered finance companies whose actions have led to the undermining of the sovereignty of member countries of the EU in financial matters and given that some of these companies have paid large fines to the federal system in the United States, if the control of such companies is being discussed at diplomatic level.
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64 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school’s (details supplied) request to expand their school which is overcrowded and is no longer able to properly accommodate its students, particularly with regard to attempts to construct a new school at a different site to address the accommodation issues of it and other secondary schools in the Athenry area.
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2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the large number of trades unionists killed in Colombia and the failure in recent years of the European Union in its negations with Colombian Governments to make the protection and freedom of trades unionists and human rights protectors a condition of any beneficial relationship with the EU.
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64 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that patients in the west had their planned chemotherapy cancelled in recent weeks because of a shortage of beds in University College Hospital Galway; if she has given any directives to the Health Service Executive to ensure the full implementation of policy on cancer treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated deficit in the Health Service Executive west; if progress has been made in collecting outstanding debts from health insurers to HSE west; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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252 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation following a proposal made by Irish hotels to introduce a 30% waiver on rates due on hotels and guest houses particularly given the slowness of revaluation of properties under the Valuation Act 2001; his views of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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176 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the present situation as it pertains to a home (details supplied); her plans for this home in the coming years; if her attention has been drawn to the real dangers which will be involved in any decision to close it down; her advice to those persons using the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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300 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the situation of Saharawi citizens who, in protest at state activity, have established refugee camps and are under threat of intervention from the Moroccan army and police forces
[41255/10]
299 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding plans aimed at drafting guidelines for retailers in labelling of goods from illegal Israeli settlements and his views on the reason Ireland has fallen behind other countries on this front which have already implemented such guidelines
[41254/10]
78 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reasons she has not yet published the Hunt report, which was effectively completed by August this year; when she will officially publish the report; if she will proceed with the implementation of its proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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228 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in reference to a particular gas terminal (details supplied) if he will detail the specific risk assessments that have been made by the State and are required to be made by private companies using the terminal; the procedures in place to deal with any gas leak; the specific methodology if any for detecting gas leaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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190 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the operational approach taken during deportation procedures with specific reference to the way those deported are treated when they arrive in the country to which they have been deported; if there are procedures operated by Irish officials in place to help those persons who have been deported to adapt and accustom themselves to their new surroundings; if Irish embassies and consulates are used in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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62 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress that has been made on the reform process regarding the Committee on World Food Security and its role within the UN system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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37 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount paid out to the horticulture sector under the investment aid grant scheme under the national development plan; the number of payments issued to date; the highest amount of a single payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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68 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding available to communities through the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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339 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the next general election in Angola is due to take place in 2012; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the last election in 2008 was judged by some observers to be illegitimate; the steps Ireland is taking directly and through the EU to ensure that preparations for the election in 2012 and the elections themselves will be free, fair and legitimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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338 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to reports that preparations for the referendum to decide the future of south Sudan and the peoples of that region due to take place on 9 January 2011 have not been adequate; the action Ireland is taking bilaterally and through the EU to ensure that preparations are supported to ensure the process is legitimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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291 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will give further details on the awarding of a licence for a route between Galway city centre and Knocknacarra; to whom this award has been given; if the offer has been accepted and his views on the way this will impact on those persons who currently provide a service for this route.
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