180 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recently announced International Monetary Fund rescue package for Latvia; the full details of same, and the response to the crisis which the European Union has made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46613/08]
82 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he has received representations in relation to a link-up or merger of Dublin Port Company and Drogheda Port Company leading to a joint development for large scale port traffic at Bremore; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46372/08]
121 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when he will introduce measures to facilitate the mandatory testing of all drivers involved in serious road collisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46361/08]
395 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the Oughterard sewerage scheme, County Galway; the position in respect of the brief; if stage two approval is available; the timeline for the project; when design consultants are expected to be appointed; the commitment from his Department’s budget to the overall project; and if he will confirm that there will be no further delays in the delivery of the project.
[45934/08]
76 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that money has been allocated to commence the process of establishing a bowel cancer screening programme to be rolled out in 2010; the money that has been allocated in Budget 2009 for this preparatory work; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45503/08]
73 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when she will introduce a cervical cancer vaccine programme for schoolgirls; if she has had further discussions on the cost and feasibility of introducing the scheme in Autumn 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45502/08]
206 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will specify the kinds of equipment it is permitted to use when cutting turf; if it remains the case that while use of the sausage machine is illegal, it is permitted to use the hopper machine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45731/08]
62 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the holding of the National Pension Reserve Fund; if they are held directly or through funds, in banks quoted on the Irish Stock Exchange and banks quoted on international stock exchanges; if he will set out a table of these holdings on 30 September 2007, 31 December 2007, and 30 September 2008; the acquisition cost of each investment; the market value of each investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45376/08]
35 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the work of a person (details supplied) on the review of the National Pension Reserve Fund; the terms of reference for this review; if consideration is being given to the adoption by the fund of comprehensive principles or rules on ethical investing; if consideration is being given to modifying the investment criteria to encourage investment in domestic infrastructure or public private partnership projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45375/08]
116 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which her Department has responsibility remaining to be implemented; the directives that are overdue; the number of reasoned opinions received from the EU Commission since 2002 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[44911/08]
98 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace accidents and workplace fatalities recorded to date in 2008; the way this compares with the same period in each year from 2002; if she is satisfied that all accidents are reported; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[44910/08]
34 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding grants available for teachers who wish to pursue a postgraduate qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44379/08]
19 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department spends on postage costs regarding the circulation of notices to school boards of management; his Department’s policy on the use of e-mail for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44361/08]
150 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position with regard to the animal welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43973/08]
116 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reverse the decision to cut payments under the suckler cow animal welfare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43972/08]
306 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing religious persecution of Ahmedin people in Pakistan; and if this persecution is taken into account in the event of persons of this community applying for asylum, citizenship or other such applications here.
[43472/08]
279 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing religious persecution of Ahmedin people in Pakistan; and if this persecution is taken into account in the event of persons of this community applying for asylum, citizenship or other such applications here.
[43471/08]
278 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of an Adjournment debate question (details supplied) he will indicate the other form of photographic identification document that is acceptable in this regard.
[43470/08]
135 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans for an interconnector to France; if this would have implications for policy in relation to nuclear power; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43650/08]
127 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding his Department’s target as part of the programme for Government’s target of a 3% cut in carbon emissions; the way he will meet that target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43643/08]
59 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the case of a person (details supplied); the way a person might transfer from an older work permit which ties one to one’s employer to a more modern work permit allowing the individual a higher level of personal freedom.
[43269/08]
20 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that will be taken to amend planning legislation in order to ensure that future development is sustainable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43049/08]
158 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if, following on from a recent parliamentary question, she will indicate the person who is undertaking the work to examine the potential for improved efficiency in the delivery of emergency ambulance services; if it is the case that responsibility for patient care in the ambulance environment has been shifted from her Department to county councils; if so, the reason for same; and the reasons recommendations made by ambulance service reviews dating back to 1998 have not been implemented.
[42986/08]
104 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the number of tenders received to date for the re-floating of the Asgard II ; when a decision will be made on the possible re-floating of the vessel; the progress that has been made with regard to the possible use of a temporary replacement vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42760/08]
94 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by members of the Defence Forces and the broader community in Donegal at the social and economic implications of the decision to close a number of Army posts in Donegal; if he will reconsider the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42757/08]
132 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the new products that have been developed that would help in the control of hospital-borne infections such as C. difficile and MRSA; if her Department has carried out research into the efficacy of such products; if there is consideration of the use of such products here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[42435/08]
95 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will be rolled out in the remaining counties in the south and west that do not have the screening programme.
[42436/08]
39 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of on-the-spot fines for breaches of consumer law imposed to date under the terms of the Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007; the type of breaches in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41777/08]
11 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to implement the commitment in the programme for Government that steps would be taken to ensure that consumer codes of conduct are published by businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41778/08]
Bill entitled an Act to provide for the exercise of powers under the Air Navigation and Transport Acts 1936 to 1998 in accordance with the international legal obligations of the State in respect of secret detention facilities and inter-state transport of prisoners; and to provide for related matters.
114 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made on introducing multi-annual funding for the Arts Council; when this will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41116/08]
111
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, cad iad na cainteanna a bhí aige le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta faoi ghníomhachtaí Thaighde Mara Teoranta a chur ar ceal; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[40908/08]
123
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil maoiniú á cháilliúint sa bhliain 2009 ag aon cheann de na 19 n-eagras dheonacha Gaeilge a fhaigheann bunmhaoimiú trí Fhoras na Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[40909/08]
74 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied regarding the capacity of the preferred bidder to deliver the Thornton Hall prison project; the progress that has been made on the project since the enactment of the Prison Development (Confirmation of Regulations) Act 2008; the estimated date for the commencement and the completion of the project; the estimated cost of the project, including the cost of acquiring the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40199/08]
10 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce legislative provisions to give the Garda powers to search aircraft using Irish airports to determine whether the planes may be used for the practice known as extraordinary rendition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40195/08]
97 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the estimated completion dates for the full Navan rail line and western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39838/08]
92 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of proposals for Luas or light rail systems in Cork, Galway and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39839/08]
155 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the timetable she is working to in relation to a decision on future pensions policy.
[39515/08]
126 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the claims from the pension industry that the regulatory regime is putting pressure on the sustainability of defined benefit pension schemes.
[39553/08]
157 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the full amounts of moneys collected over each of the past three years through applications made to his Department and its offices for the stamp four scheme.
[39073/08]
79 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the full amounts of moneys collected over each of the past three years through applications made to her Department and its offices under the work permit scheme.
[39074/08]
73 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of recent financial developments, he is in favour of European and international support for the Tobin tax.
[38396/08]
15 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the details of the proposed committee which will address issues relating to remuneration structures in the financial sector here including its membership, terms of reference and implementation timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38841/08]
99 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, specifically with regard to the position in the Gaza strip; if he is in a position to give details regarding proposals to extend the ceasefire for a further six month period beyond its expiration in December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38565/08]
97 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposals for a new institution at United Nations level to deal with international monetary transfers and trade which would report through the Economic and Social Committee to the Secretary General of the UN.
[38564/08]
338 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Afghanistan, particularly with reference to Pakistani and Afghan political and tribal leaders recently agreeing to establish contacts with the Taliban to end insurgencies in both countries as an outcome of a two-day meeting endorsed by the governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
[38400/08]
337 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Iraq; and his views on the plight of members of the Christian churches in that country, many of whom have been displaced and had to flee their homes.
[38399/08]
333 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the case of a person (details supplied), as well as other similar cases recently documented; his further views on whether these testimonies prove that Ireland, Irish airspace and Irish airports are implicated in actions which are torture by another name; the implications for Ireland in this regard in view of the illegality of such torture; if, in view of this material, it is proposed to end this tacit approval of such actions by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38197/08]
151 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the withdrawal of the grant in respect of foreign qualified teachers to attend courses in the Gaeltacht; if his Department has put a de facto recruiting ban on foreign teachers into the primary school system because they can no longer improve their standard of Irish to the required level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38018/08]
121 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not consider removing State support for private, fee-paying schools in budget 2009; if his failure to do so is in line with his recent comments on third level education and making 33,000 millionaire families pay appropriate fees; his views on the principle of universal access to free education; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[38017/08]