136 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the Health Service Executive’s child protection services are properly resourced to carry out all their competing functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22058/09]
52 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he is making to finalise an agreement on inter-country adoption with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; if he plans on visiting that country to help secure the agreement; the level of support he is providing to the Department of Health and Children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21851/09]
2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views as to the appropriate form of international independent investigation to ascertain the facts as to civilian casualties, breaches of human rights or possible war crimes committed in recent times in Sri Lanka.
[21950/09]
183 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the rationale underpinning cuts to the library services; the consequences of these actions; and if he will seek to ensure that these cuts are reversed as well as to ensure that local authorities will be asked to ring-fence these necessary library services.
[21698/09]
106 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity and values of seizures of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs here during 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the proportion of the overall flow of drugs into Ireland which is believed to be represented by these seizures; the new initiatives he is planning to control the flow of illegal drugs into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21477/09]
67 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the appointment of a new chief executive for the Equality Authority; when he expects an appointment to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21478/09]
321 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, particularly in view of the current economic difficulties, it is proposed to simplify and streamline the bureaucratic transition from receiving jobseeker’s allowance to temporary paid employment and back; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21078/09]
320 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to incidents whereby employers seeking to offer short-term work to persons receiving jobseeker’s benefit, but who have not been successful in this due to the persons in question being unwilling to withdraw temporarily from the social welfare system, have contacted her Department to seek clarification of difficulties in this regard but have yet to be responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21077/09]
319 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to incidents whereby persons receiving jobseeker’s benefit, who have been offered temporary work for a number of weeks and which holds some prospect of possible long-term employment, are unwilling to take the short-term position since the person would then have to, for the sake of a short period of employment, withdraw from jobseeker’s benefit and are reluctant to so due to the difficulties experienced in seeking such payment in the first place and fears that returning to the system following such period of employment would again mean a lengthy period waiting for payment to resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21076/09]
151 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the ECCE scheme, in its attempt to extend the preschool year by two weeks beyond that required by primary schools, is unacceptable for two reasons, namely as discrimination to require preschool Montessori teachers to work a longer school year than that which is required by national school teachers, at a reduced rate of pay, as well as the fact that under these proposals children of a very young age would then have a longer school year than they ought to have; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21380/09]
152 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will explain the way the fee of €64.50 was reached in regard to the ECCE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21381/09]
150 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if, with regard to the proposed ECCE scheme, she agrees with persons working in the area who feel that fixing the fee at €64.50 per child per week is equivalent to price fixing in the industry and in that regard may be open to legal challenge; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21379/09]
149 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from persons involved in the ECCE scheme; the views expressed in this regard that the proposed operation of this scheme will be inoperable; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21378/09]
100 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if his recently expressed personal support for phase two and three of the western rail corridor means that the full western rail corridor project will proceed on deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21269/09]
78 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when he will respond to the Commission on Taxi Regulations submission on long-standing proposals to take over responsibility for the issuing of small public service vehicle driver licences from An Garda Sióchána; if he will confirm, if a ban on the recruitment of new staff is the reason this reform of the taxi licensing system has been delayed indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21273/09]
73 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the timescale for her consideration of a new way to finance the health system here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20463/09]
53 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when her attention was first drawn to the issue of consultants who have opted for a public-only contract not being able to admit patients who have health insurance in a private capacity; the amount of a shortfall in cash to public hospitals that is expected to result from this; the way the money will be made up; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20462/09]
118 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to restore the disadvantaged area payment rates to their 2008 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20169/09]
99 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers still awaiting payment under REP scheme four; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20170/09]
97 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons working on temporary contracts and the number of such contracts which are due to expire by the end of 2009 in respect of her Department and each of the State agencies or boards for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19827/09]
89 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacancies which are expected to arise by the end of 2009 which will remain unfilled as a result of the circular issued by the Department of Finance on 27 March 2009 in respect of her Department and each of the State agencies or boards for which she has responsibility.
[19828/09]
123 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on reports that a credit institution covered by the bank guarantee is paying significant bonuses to its front office staff.
[18948/09]
106 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the income tax heading of the Exchequer returns includes both the income levy and the pension levy; the breakdown of the contribution of these revenue streams to total income tax receipts; if he will separate these revenue streams from the income tax heading going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18980/09]
216 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive’s post-placement reporting practices are in line with best international practice; if the HSE’s practices are in line with the current agreement with the Russian Federation; and if her reports that the reporting practices of an agency (details supplied) are in line with requirements of the Russian Federation.
[18639/09]
219 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has advice for parents who have been caught by the lapse in securing the continuation of the inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam yet are still seeking to adopt; if these applications are valid; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18642/09]
218 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views, in view of the lapse in securing a continued bilateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the Adoption Board allowing parents facing a second declaration renewal to roll over the declaration in an expedited way; and her further views on making the initial declaration valid for two years as opposed to one.
[18641/09]
217 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the Minister of State with responsibility for children travelling to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to progress discussions, demonstrate commitment and reach agreement on bilateral inter-country adoption; and the reason he has not done so.
[18640/09]
220 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on proposing reforms to the inter-country adoption assessment process.
[18644/09]
215 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the status discussions regarding a bilateral agreement between Ireland and the Russian Federation have reached; the level at which these discussions are being held; and the timeframe envisaged for reaching agreement.
[18638/09]
214 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if a copy of the agreement with the Russian Federation will be made publicly available to ensure all parties are fully aware of their rights and duties.
[18637/09]
213 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when and by whom her attention was drawn to the fact there was a problem with the authorities of the Russian Federation regarding post-placement reports.
[18636/09]
212 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of post-placement adoption reports by region for children adopted from the Russian Federation which are outstanding; the length of time they have been outstanding; and the action being taken to ensure they are followed up by the Health Service Executive.
[18634/09]
167 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding discussions with an association (details supplied) and other stakeholders in respect of proposals to secure funds for labour intensive construction or infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18981/09]
101 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish the findings of the fuel poverty action research project; when this was first due for publication; the number living in fuel poverty; the number of people who benefited from the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18721/09]
115 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his target for ocean energy technology; the mega wattage of ocean energy connected to the grid; the number of applications received; the amount of the €26 million announced for ocean energy that will be spent in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18777/09]
150 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a contention that the process for selecting representatives to the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Clare did not accord with the Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure of national schools; if his Department is making inquiries into the matter; if so, the stage those inquiries have reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18375/09]
35 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Planning Bill 2009; the provisions which will prevent urban sprawl and the wasting of public resources on poorly located excessive zonings; if this Bill will be passed before future county of city development plans are adopted by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18109/09]
31 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to deliver the programme for Government commitment to bring about sustainability proofing of county development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18108/09]
261 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in the context of a growing need for Alzheimer care in Galway city and county, including respite, long-stay and in-home provision, and that a group (details supplied) is the only organisation providing the full range of services needed for sufferers from Alzheimer’s and their families in the region, and that this same organisation has secured a site, designed a purpose-built 22 bed high dependancy unit and secured full planning permission at Merlin Park Galway, she will indicate the position with regard to this issue and the funding of same, in view of the fact that all relevant documentation has been with the Health Service Executive for more than a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17947/09]
249 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the plan his Department has for meeting the educational needs of children in a community (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17155/09]
103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Information and Quality Authority has a statutory role to assess inter-country adoption procedures here from the standpoint of international best practice; if such an assessment or inspection of the relevant social services will take place at some point in the future.
[17179/09]
102 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the time it takes to carry out inter-country adoption procedures varies from just a few months to a year in some parts of the country to four or five years in other parts; if she will provide figures detailing the number of social workers involved in processing these procedures by county or relevant administrative area; and if her Department has plans to reduce the waiting times for carrying out these procedures in those parts of the country where it is currently high.
[17178/09]
101 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding inter-country adoption, in particular, such adoptions between Ireland and Russia and Ireland and Ethiopia; the status of any adoption agreement between Ireland and those countries; and if her Department has plans to further facilitate adoptions from those countries.
[17177/09]
367 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received correspondence from a group (details supplied); the position regarding the reaction and response he propose to make to the suggestions contained therein with regard to the appointment of consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16840/09]
332 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the application for the funding of a community development project in a RAPID area (details supplied); and if he will support the project.
[16230/09]
257 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has been contacted by representatives of the approximately 5,000 people who use Irish sign language on a regular basis towards making the language into an officially recognised language; if so, if their request has been acted upon; and his position on the issue.
[16150/09]
205 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that adequate transparency was observed in the tendering process undergone by nursing homes for the winter initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16375/09]
204 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the national positive ageing strategy as committed to in the programme for Government 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16374/09]
96 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding provided by him to Comhaltas Ceoltóri Éireann; the way this funding is decided; his views on whether this funding represents the best value for money for the promotion of traditional arts and music here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16353/09]