52 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to address the threat to a number of protected species including the freshwater pearl mussel, otter, hare and Atlantic salmon, that was identified in the report compiled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Wildlife Species in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27574/08]
104 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on providing the Refugee Appeals Tribunal with detailed and up-to-date country reports outlining the political and humanitarian situation in those countries from which Ireland is currently receiving asylum seekers.
[23513/08]
77 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Government proposes to ratify the United Nations Convention on Disability.
[23518/08]
28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools in County Mayo; the number of these schools that have prefabs; the number of prefabs; the age of the oldest prefab; the age of the youngest prefab; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26100/08]
11 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is to establish an enrolment commissioner-admissions officer; if this appointment is contrary to the spirit of the recommendations of the Cromien report 2000 in the context of an audit of school enrolment policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26069/08]
102 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence his Department’s properties deemed surplus to requirements that have been disposed of to date in 2008 or that are to be disposed of in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26014/08]
76 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if any of the vacancies for two non-commissioned officers and ten privates in the Army equitation school have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26013/08]
339 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contingency arrangements in place, including discussions he may have had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, on such issues as status and other aspects of citizenship, entitlement and social provision, as may arise following the evacuation of Irish citizens from Zimbabwe to Ireland.
[25918/08]
338 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens living in Zimbabwe; and the diplomatic and consular steps which have been put in place for an evacuation of Irish citizens from Zimbabwe should any of these persons wish to leave.
[25917/08]
333 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made with regard to the position adopted by the Government at the recent international conference on cluster munitions that there would be disinvestment from companies involved in the production of such munitions; the steps that have been undertaken in this regard; and the companies no longer invested in by State agencies.
[25508/08]
332 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress in view of the fact that Ireland hosted the recent international conference calling for the banning of cluster munitions at the end of which a text to that effect was agreed that has been made in ratifying and enacting the treaty arising from the conference in advance of the second conference on this subject which is to take place later in 2008.
[25507/08]
255 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has informed her of an assessment it has made or is currently making regarding the impact of the recent move of orthotic services from the hospital to the community setting on patients who have recently undergone a surgical procedure substantially affecting their mobility notably, for example, a hip replacement; if the Health Service Executive has further informed her whether it has assessed if the recent move has resulted in patients having to walk and travel more directly after surgery than before to avail of orthotic services; and if the Health Service Executive will provide post-surgery preliminary orthotic services up to and including sanction for orthotic devices in the hospital setting in order to minimise the need for patients to have to walk and travel in a delicate state after surgery.
[25703/08]
254 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has informed her that orthotic services have recently been transferred from the hospital to the community setting with payment for such devices as orthopaedic footwear and insoles sanctioned by local health offices; and if the Health Service Executive has further informed her of their assessment of the success or otherwise of this transfer and of cutbacks it may be making in terms of front-line staff or local health office sanction of orthotic devices in order not to overspend its 2008 budget.
[25702/08]
126 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide targeted assistance to those who received the woodland enhancement grant for pre-1993 plantations in order to bring these plantations in line with current forest practices; if he will create greater biodiversity to improve plant health and the quality of timber produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25553/08]
100 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he is taking to address an afforestation rate of less than the 5,000 hectares expected in 2008 which is the lowest in 20 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25552/08]
40
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil cathaoirleach nua le hainmniú don fhochoiste Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge.
[24935/08]
18
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mó cruinnithe a bhí ann go dtí seo den fhochoiste Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge.
[24934/08]
88 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which living alone is factored into the setting of social welfare rates; the details of any analysis undertaken by or on behalf of her Department which has determined the extra cost associated with living alone on social welfare relative to a couple; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24770/08]
76 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the timeframe she envisages for taking and implementing decisions on pension reform.
[24787/08]
371 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on providing the Refugee Appeals Tribunal with detailed and up to date country reports outlining the political and humanitarian situation in those countries from which Ireland is receiving asylum seekers.
[24432/08]
87 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has to introduce legislation in respect of Culture Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24581/08]
115 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the status of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention 1949 (No. 98), ratified by the Government on 4 June 1955; and if the act of ratification included binding obligations which were assumed by the Government.
[23516/08]
75 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the status of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 1948 (No. 87), ratified by the Government on 4 June 1955; and if the act of ratification included binding obligations which were assumed by the Government.
[23515/08]
74 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans she has to actively work towards building a social floor on a global level in view of the Government’s campaign in favour of the Lisbon Reform Treaty including the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the keynote address of Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Organisation on 9 June 2008 to the 97th International Labour Conference calling on Governments to come together to develop a comprehensive social floor globally.
[23510/08]
111 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the suspension of freedom to operate on the part of non-governmental organisations including those dealing with food aid in Zimbabwe has been considered by him; and if the issue has been considered at European level by the general and External Affairs Council.
[23505/08]
65 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to implement the wishes of Dáil Éireann as expressed in the all-party motion on Zimbabwe on 15 May 2008; if he has sought assurances regarding the issues relating to voting conditions in the second round of presidential elections set for 27 June 2008; if election results will again be posted outside polling stations; if licences have been granted to domestic election observers; if there will be sufficient numbers of domestic and international election observers in all constituencies; and if the police and the army will be banned from entering polling stations.
[23503/08]
63 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will host a conference to discuss the different options available for responding to the food crisis in the developing world in general, and Africa in particular, in order to ensure there is an adequate consideration of the different models available for the achievement of food security and appropriate commercial usage as part of a development strategy best suited to such regions.
[23532/08]
519 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of penalisations and prosecutions taken in conjunction with compliance with the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006; the number of the penalties and prosecutions taken that were taken against employers and the number against employees; and the name of those employers who have been penalised or prosecuted under the Employment Permit Acts.
[23168/08]
439 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that when he and his departmental officials are making statements regarding the activity of maritime surveyors-inspectors from his Department, operating under the provisions of the Paris memorandum on port state control, it is important to avoid couching these statements in language which gives the impression that his Department can and does deal comprehensively with the full ambit of seafarers’ working conditions when a large amount of the most important working conditions of seafarers is outside the remit of his Department.
[22971/08]
438 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that over the past seven years, more than €1.3 million in unpaid wages for the crews of foreign registered commercial cargo vessels trading into Irish ports has been recovered by the Irish Inspectorate of the International Transport Workers Federation working in tandem with SIPTU; and the steps he will take to publicly acknowledge that there is a problem of unpaid wages for many seafarers on vessels trading into Irish seaports and identify practical steps within the constraints of current legislation or regulations that he can and is willing to take to help the Irish ITF inspectorate/SIPTU in their day-to-day tackling of this problem.
[22970/08]
137 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the new national cycling strategy; the measures he will introduce to reach his target of 10% of all trips to be by bicycle by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23317/08]
129 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on recent proposals from the Dublin Transport Office to remove all road signalling and signage from roads in Dublin City centre; if he has examined similar schemes in operation in other EU states such as The Netherlands; his views on changes to existing traffic signage guidelines; if he plans to include similar proposals in his forthcoming sustainable transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23318/08]
51 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to introduce legislation to ban female genital mutilation here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22153/08]
35 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the changes that will be brought about in the context of the new contract for hospital consultants; the timeframe for increasing the number of consultants and moving from a consultant led to a consultant delivered service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22154/08]
255 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is the only EU State not to ratify the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters; if the treaty was laid before Dáil Éireann; if, close to the tenth anniversary of the treaty, Ireland is the sole European Union country that has not ratified the Convention; and if so, the reason this is the case.
[21790/08]
142 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns expressed by a number of European Union Finance Ministers that one of the causes of the difficulties being experienced by banks and other financial institutions is the bonus culture of very large sums being paid to people in financial services regardless of the high levels of risk undertaken; if he has plans to curtail this phenomenon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21981/08]
141 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the reforms the Government or the EU favour in relation to affording more accountability on the part of the Bretton Woods institutions.
[16848/08]
48 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent European Commission report that found that the necessary safeguards were not in place to ensure that RTÉ and TG4 were drawing a clear distinction between public service and commercial activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21378/08]
18 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to reports from the UK that deregulation of the postal market had delivered no benefits to most customers and put the finances of the State owned postal company under severe strain; if there are lessons to be learned from the UK experience; if so, the steps he will take to address them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21391/08]
109 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the recently published third annual report of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime.
[21084/08]
99 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to review the procedures for the delivery of summonses in view of reports that more than 33,000 drivers had their cases for speeding struck out in court in view of claims that the appropriate summons had not been delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21087/08]
324 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding qualification for the back to education allowance; and the framework by and through which it is determined that a person qualifies.
[20909/08]
302 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of prosecutions taken since 2003 against employers in conjunction with compliance with Irish and European legislation, directives and conventions for the protection of workers; the number of convictions achieved; and the forms of sanctions imposed.
[20646/08]
301 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of prosecutions taken since 2003 against employees in conjunction with compliance with Irish and European legislation, directives and conventions for the protection of workers; the number of convictions achieved; and the forms of sanctions imposed.
[20645/08]
141 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in establishing the housing aid for older people scheme with local authorities and the delay in transferring the housing aid for the elderly scheme from the Health Service Executive to local authorities; if his attention has been drawn to the confusion and upset which this causes applicants; and when the plan will be fully implemented.
[20783/08]
103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of houses developed under the social housing scheme and the number of houses developed under the affordable housing scheme since the introduction of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000; the number of applicants on the waiting list for social housing and the number on the waiting list for affordable housing in the same period.
[20784/08]
236 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to prioritise effective enforcement of the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Act 2006 and the Geneva Conventions Acts 1962 to 1998 by making resources available for specialised training in the provisions of those statutes to members of An Garda Síochána and by other means as may be required by An Garda Síochána in order to ensure effective protection for the dignity of all persons within or passing through the State.
[20315/08]
125 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to work to deliver free public transport for emigrant pensioners when they visit Ireland.
[20318/08]
124 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to complete the process whereby RTÉ can be broadcast into the UK.
[20317/08]
123 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to increase funding for emigrant welfare to €34 million per annum.
[20316/08]