9 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he is taking to increase the number of places available in further education institutions in order to retrain and upskill the increasingly unemployed workforce; if he will re-prioritise funding in his departmental budget towards providing courses, particularly in the further education sector, towards this aim; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7924/09]
82 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in the ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities; if, further to a previous question on the matter, it has been indicated to him when such ratification will be possible; and when this will take place.
[5210/09]
61 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if arising from his interview (details supplied) he will state when he will introduce legislation to provide for a major crackdown on the gambling sector to ensure that casinos are not involved in money laundering; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7589/09]
92 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff employed, in respect of her constituency office and her private office and those of each Minister of State within her Department, broken down by grade and the cost of each office in terms of salaries and expenses for 2007, 2008 and the projected costs for 2009; if there will be a reduction in staffing levels in these offices, arising from the decision of 3 February 2009 regarding administrative savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7264/09]
74 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way, in respect of the announcement of 3 February 2009, it is intended to achieve the general administrative reductions in regard to her Department; the amount expected to be saved in her Department’s budget as a result of this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7263/09]
67 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when she expects BreastCheck to be fully rolled out here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6538/09]
47 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that former patients of a doctor (details supplied) who has been struck off the medical register can attend accredited counsellors of their choosing rather than those chosen by the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6540/09]
91 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on media reports that the Financial Regulator is investigating if Anglo Irish Bank artificially boosted its deposit base around its year end to inflate its financial strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6366/09]
62 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which Irish financial institutions have been able to access the €30 billion European Investment Bank small and medium enterprise lending programme; when he expects to see the impact of this scheme to filter through to businesses operating here and the extent to which it will impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6365/09]
498 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 443 of 3 February 2009, if there is a delay in the transfer of the site of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if so, the reason for same; and the steps he is taking to expedite the matter.
[5747/09]
105 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that Galway has been chosen as the pilot demonstration city or town for the transport sustainability measures proposed in Smarter Travel; if this decision is pending; the way or if there will be a nationwide competition for local authorities, transportation departments to win this funding; when the programme will commence in the chosen city or town; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5820/09]
104 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the estimated completion dates for the Navan rail line and the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5809/09]
9 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the savings he proposes in the context of the cut in the overseas development aid budget; the details of the savings it is proposed to make; the programmes to be scaled back, cut or discontinued; and the areas within his Department’s spend these are located.
[5193/09]
2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason, in the recent reassessment of national expenditure, that part of the budget assigned to overseas development aid was cut by a higher percentage than those cuts made in other Departments and areas of Government spending; and if he will explain the implications this will have for Ireland’s assurance of devoting 0.7% of GNP to ODA by the year 2012 and, in particular, the commitment to assist the poorest of the world.
[5344/09]
147 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason REP scheme four payments were not paid in 2008 and have been delayed until now; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4878/09]
82 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who have applied for the nitrates derogation who have applied for REPS 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4879/09]
636 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the representations which have been made to his Department, giving details of a wide range of activities that are to the advantage of disadvantaged pupils, he will consider the application from the chairman and principal teacher of a school (details supplied) in County Galway, for reconsideration and inclusion in the DEIS scheme.
[4789/09]
155 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position of an application for a working visa from a person (details supplied).
[4312/09]
124 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to merge the Power of One and the Change.ie websites in view of the cost of maintaining both; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4560/09]
120 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether there is a need for stocks of gas supplies to be mandatory, similar to the reserves for oil through NORA; the position in relation to gas supplies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4559/09]
49 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding notification he has received from the Environmental Protection Agency indicating the amount of carbon emitted here for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3923/09]
13 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of money estimated, allocated, owing or spent by the Government on the purchase of carbon credits in respect of Kyoto Protocol commitments for the year 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3922/09]
139 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if, in regard the budget 2009 announcement of the decision to close a number of Defence Forces barracks and military posts, he will list those closed at present; the estimated value of each such site, including buildings; if each such premises has been vacated; the manner in which it is intended to dispose of each site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3503/09]
109 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the proposed awareness and recruitment campaign for the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3502/09]
443 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made regarding the moving of a school (details supplied) in County Galway from the local vocational educational committee to the local county council.
[3432/09]
284 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the requests he has made with regard to the release of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3023/09]
123 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the basis on which staff allocations to social welfare offices are being made; and the reason there continues to be a wide variation in the processing times for jobseeker payments among different offices.
[3229/09]
36
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cathain a fhoilseofar an reachtaíocht i leith Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[2567/09]
27
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mó post nua a chruthaíodh le cabhair ó Údarás na Gaeltachta sa Ghaeltacht in 2008; an mó post nua a chruthaíodh le cabhair ó Údarás na Gaeltachta sa Ghaeltacht, agus ar chailleadh iad in 2008; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[2568/09]
118 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress on the planned amendment of the National Archives Act 1986; when he expects this to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2275/09]
1050 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position as it pertains regarding a wind farm at Derrybrien, County Galway following a European Court of Justice ruling and on foot of debate in Dáil Éireann on the Order of Business of 13 November 2008; if he will meet local groups involved in the issue who are concerned by ongoing problems since a mudslide in the locality in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[48066/08]
940 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the two year limit on illness benefit payable to people with 260 contributions as it impacts in general terms as well as in the specific case of a person (details supplied).
[1116/09]
119 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that war crimes have been committed in Gaza and Israel in recent weeks.
[1922/09]
100 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the call made by a person (details supplied) and supported by Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, for a full investigation in order to establish whether war crimes were committed in the recent military operations in Gaza.
[2308/09]
262 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a family resource centre was promised for the Ballinfoyle area of County Galway; if this remains the intention; and if it will be in the 2009 Estimates.
[47475/08]
251 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of both Ireland’s total official development assistance, and that spent only by his Department in both of the years 2006 and 2007 that is dedicated to supporting education in the developing world.
[47474/08]
68 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action that will be taken arising from the seven reports from the Morris tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46747/08]
18 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding contacts he has had with the Human Rights Commission regarding difficulties it will face as a result of his decision to cut their budget by 24% for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46748/08]
431 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the early December meeting in Poznan, Poland on climate change issues; the progress which was made at the meeting; the position and contribution made by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46611/08]
351 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has held with colleague Ministers throughout the European Union, following the withdrawal for sale of Irish pork products, in efforts to have such products available for sale again.
[46618/08]
350 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on discussions regarding Colombia at the third session of the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council.
[46617/08]
349 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the third session of the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council which was held between 1 and 15 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46616/08]
348 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Mumbai, India following the recent terrorist attack there; if all Irish persons who had been in the vicinity have safely left the area; and if Irish and European officials have contacted Indian counterparts in the aftermath of the events.
[46615/08]
347 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation as it currently pertains in Thailand.
[46614/08]
345 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the recently announced scheme whereby the Football Association of Ireland is to have a welfare officer with responsibility for young Irish players living in Britain; the way it is proposed to fill, finance and maintain this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46610/08]
346 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent hostilities between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants; his views in particular on comments attributed to Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs to the effect that the truce in the area is over; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46612/08]
344 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the blockade of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian inhabitants of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Government; the action the he proposes to take as part of the EU, in view of the fact that some 80% of those living in the Gaza Strip depend on these supplies to live; if his attention has been drawn to the calls by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU External Affairs Commissioner Beneta Ferrero-Waldner for the immediate reopening of the commercial crossings into Gaza; and his views of such a proposal.
[46609/08]
343 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the actions of the Iranian Government against the Baha’i community with regard to arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of same; and the action that has been taken in protesting such discriminatory measures with Iranian counterparts.
[46608/08]