147 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, on foot of reports that members of An Garda Síochána are to be equipped with pepper spray, under which his Department and the Garda Commissioner propose such spray may be used; and the research he and his Department have undertaken as to the use of such sprays in other jurisdictions with particular reference to long-term health problems experienced by those who have had such sprays used on them.
[37649/08]
39 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on giving farmers more flexibility in the spreading of slurry and farmyard manure for the remainder of 2008 owing to the wet weather recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37442/08]
25 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of sheep and lambs from Great Britain slaughtered in the six lamb factories here (details supplied) for 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008 with a monthly or weekly breakdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37443/08]
159 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for the completion of the remediation of a mine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37143/08]
137 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his target as part of the objective of a 3% cut in carbon emissions per annum as per the programme for Government; the way he will meet this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37144/08]
54 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to establish an independent electoral commission to take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight.
[36400/08]
28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to implement the recommendations contained in the Report on the Future of the Electoral Register in Ireland published in April 2008; and, if so, when he will introduce the required legislation.
[36399/08]
104 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason, in view of budget 2009 and cuts in Government spending, Dublin City Council continues to be paid in excess of €10 million per annum to operate 11 ambulances in the city of Dublin on behalf of the Health Service Executive, when she has at her disposal the HSE national ambulance service that could operate the 999 system in Dublin at less cost; her views on same and the fact that, effectively, there are two ambulance services in Dublin competing with each other with no communications system leading to inefficiencies and duplication.
[36364/08]
56 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Army mission to Chad; if any of the costs will be met by either the United Nations or the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35880/08]
52 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to extend the mandate of the Irish contingent serving with EURFOR beyond March 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35879/08]
159 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the effectiveness of policies in relation to the take-up of supplementary pensions.
[34882/08]
132 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the assessment she has undertaken of the risk to defined benefit pension schemes of the actuarial funding standard; the discussions she has had with affected employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34883/08]
43 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, in advance of World Food Day on 16 October 2008, that has been made both here and by the international community to eradicate hunger, according to the terms of the millennium development goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[35138/08]
36 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the international financial crisis, it has been considered to use an instrument mooted at the time of the establishment of the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Financial Corporation, in order to seek an international system of some control and regulation.
[34195/08]
154 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he and his EU colleagues have discussed the possible effects on Pakistan of the facilitation of the US-India nuclear agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34304/08]
153 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps which have been taken to ensure the safe return of Irish expatriates who wish to return home.
[34303/08]
152 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the crisis in Darfur; and the efforts being pursued at present at EU level to help ensure that civilian refugees receive the food and medical attention needed.
[34302/08]
32 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if legislation to enable the international Convention on Cluster Munitions will be confined to the final text published following the Dublin meeting or if it will more comprehensively deal with issues of definition, new technology and interoperability.
[34177/08]
2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the Government’s change of policy and facilitation of the US-India nuclear agreement at the Nuclear Suppliers Group; the implications for the future of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and the discussions which preceded the Government’s decision to abandon the view on this issue which it possessed.
[34248/08]
325 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason, in view of the revelations regarding the water supply in Galway and other areas here, the Aarhus Convention has yet to be adopted particularly as the adoption of the Aarhus Convention was to have been included in the programme for Government; and when this will happen.
[34242/08]
182 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the issue of special visas for artists coming here; the progress his Department has made, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, towards ensuing special visas will be obtained by visiting artists more promptly than is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33776/08]
124 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on expanding the culture night in 2009 to allow greater participation over, for example, a weekend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33786/08]
387 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding plans for the Oughterard sewerage scheme; his views on the need for an accelerated process in view of the water quality issues involved; and the information on the matter that has been made available to the community.
[33630/08]
377 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding plans for the Oughterard sewerage scheme; his views on the need for an accelerated process in view of the water quality issues involved; and the information on the matter that has been made available to the community.
[33420/08]
311 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives being worked on to help those who emigrated more than 50 years ago and who now wish to return home; the discussions that have taken place with other appropriate Governments, particularly those of the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, to facilitate the homecoming of those émigrés who wish to return.
[33364/08]
307 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to cut funding in respect of returning émigrés; and if he will honour the pledge made in August 2002 to provide assistance to agencies working with elderly and vulnerable Irish emigrants, or if it is planned to ignore the financial contribution which the Irish immigrant community has made over the years here.
[33363/08]
223 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the stoppage of catering services in the Lá Nua Day Hospital in Galway City, a service which provides badly needed nutrition to some of the most vulnerable members in society; the reasons for this decision to further inflict cuts on under-funded health services in Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[33443/08]
194 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the way it is possible that the Revenue Commissioners can, under the provisions of the Finance Act 2002, deem a ship as qualifying for inclusion in the scheme known as tonnage tax irrespective of where such a ship is registered and that the Revenue Commissioners can allow ships to be included that are part of the flag of convenience system (details supplied).
[33631/08]
189 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the way, in view of the fact that Ireland has ratified the relevant sections of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires that a genuine link exists between the country of registration of a seagoing commercial ship; and that of the beneficial owners, and it is therefore to be presumed that Ireland as a sovereign nation, upholds that principle, it is possible that the Revenue Commissioners can, under the provisions of the Finance Act 2002, deem a ship as qualifying for inclusion in the scheme popularly known as tonnage tax irrespective of where such a ship is registered and that the Revenue Commissioners even allow ships to be included, that are part of the infamous flag of convenience system, where one of the principle characteristics is that there is no genuine link between the beneficial owners of a ship and where it is registered and flagged.
[33418/08]
163
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cathain a bheidh an foclóir leictreonach Gaeilge-Béarla atá ullmhú ag Foras na Gaeilge ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[33509/08]
145
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na heagrais Ghaeilge a bheidh á gcur ar ceal nó a chaillfidh deontas in 2009; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[33508/08]
66 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposed changes to the role, structure or organisation of the Human Rights Commission; if he is satisfied that such changes would be consistent with the obligations entered into by the Government under the Good Friday Agreement that the Human Rights Commission here would have a mandate and remit equivalent to that in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32832/08]
21 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if cutbacks are planned in the services provided for or funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32838/08]
59 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the number of alleged car write-offs that he has been made aware of; his views on whether there may still be car write-offs on roads here; the estimate of the number there may be; if he will introduce a compulsory reporting system for car write-offs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32535/08]
42 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the progress he has made on ensuring that all foreign registered vehicles and non-Irish driving licence holders are subject to the same laws, penalties, fines and toll charges as Irish registered vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32534/08]
495 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he proposes to take to address issues that have arisen regarding the safety of the water supply system in certain areas of Galway City; if it is planned that he, and senior officials from his Department, will meet officials on Galway City Council; the measures he has taken to address the lead contamination issues that have arisen in certain housing areas in Galway; if such an issue was examined in previous examinations of the water supply; and the steps he proposes to take.
[32345/08]
363 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if following the detention of a person (details supplied) at Cloverhill Prison overnight and being strip searched in front of prison officials although the person’s paperwork was entirely in order and the person was merely seeking to travel to Limerick to visit relations, he has apologised to the person in question as well as to the Nigerian Ambassador who has voiced his concerns at the degrading way in which this person was treated upon arrival on Irish soil.
[31885/08]
173 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will establish a patient safety authority or agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32157/08]
169 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when she will meet with a group (details supplied); if she will address their concerns that information they have received under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 suggest that investigations held to date into the retention of organs of deceased patients have been inadequate and incomplete.
[32156/08]
179 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, following the detention of a person (details supplied) at Cloverhill Prison overnight and being strip searched in front of prison officials although the person’s paperwork was entirely in order and the person was merely seeking to travel to Limerick to visit relations, he has received a report on the incident; and the measures he has taken to ensure an apology has been made and an assurance that such an incident will not recur.
[31683/08]
32 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures in view of the publication of the document “The Public Finances in EMU — 2007” that have been taken to improve the overall quality of budgetary procedures, particularly in relation to performance budgeting, the use of budgetary reserves, the use of prudent economic assumptions and budget transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31349/08]
16 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent comments (details supplied) with respect to staffing levels in the public service.
[31348/08]
1473 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in Galway city, the provisions of the housing adaption grant are not being met because the financial allocation received from his Department is insufficient; and if he will make funds available for this important and valuable scheme.
[30573/08]
526 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is envisaged to implement a national diabetic retinopathy programme; if so, when this will occur; and if not, the reasons therefor.
[30492/08]
299 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the registered name and the International Maritime Organisation registered number of each commercial vessel that is currently registered as a qualifying ship by an Irish Shipowner in order to avail of what is popularly known as tonnage tax under the provisions of the Finance Act 2002 and subsequent amendments thereto.
[30330/08]
173 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a report from the Competition Authority following its request to the authority to monitor the operation of the grocery trade on an ongoing basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30916/08]
150 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs she expects to be created during 2008 in regard to manufacturing and other sectors; the way these compare to figures each year going back to 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30917/08]
30 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if cutbacks are planned in the services provided for or funded through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28033/08]
18 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a call from EirGrid for more to be done to construct the 250MW per annum needed to reach the Government’s renewables targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28026/08]
81 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that have been taken in response to the recent findings of the report compiled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland, that found that since the transposing of the European Union Habitats Directive over a decade ago the condition of many protected habitats have deteriorated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27575/08]