122 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 fund a number of fourth level scholarships in the conflict resolution area.
[20314/08]
121 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 establish a system of roving ambassadors to crisis regions.
[20313/08]
120 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 establish an annual €25 million stability fund, overseen by the conflict resolution unit.
[20312/08]
119 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 establish an academic centre for conflict resolution.
[20311/08]
118 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 adopt an integrated approach to development across all Government Departments.
[20310/08]
117 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 ensure that the sourcing of fair trade goods where possible is part of all Government Departments purchasing policy.
[20309/08]
116 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 act on the findings of the hunger task force.
[20308/08]
115 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 ensure funding mechanisms for non-governmental organisations are accessible and simplified.
[20307/08]
114 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 develop regional aid programmes in southern and western Africa to address transnational threats such as disease and food insecurity.
[20306/08]
113 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 develop programmes to assist both individuals and institutions to participate in the aid programme.
[20305/08]
112 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 spend at least €100 million per annum combating HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in the developing world.
[20304/08]
111 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 the number of programme countries to a minimum of ten by 2012.
[20303/08]
110 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 strengthen the capacity of Irish and international non-governmental organisations to respond more quickly to international emergencies.
[20302/08]
109 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 by at least €40 million to the Irish Government emergency response fund and increase funding to the UN central emergency response fund.
[20301/08]
108 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made with the commitment given in the programme for Government to increase funding to the regional supply depot for Africa, based in Accra, Ghana.
[20300/08]
107 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made with the commitment given in the programme for Government to double the amount of emergency relief supplies held in, and distributed from, Ireland’s new pre-positioned humanitarian relief centres at the Curragh, Kildare and Brindisi, Italy.
[20299/08]
106 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made with the commitment given in the programme for Government to increase the size and capacity of the rapid response corps, the civilian corps of volunteers trained and equipped by the Government to be on the ground in an area of humanitarian crisis in a short period.
[20298/08]
33 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the all-party 1916 centenary commemoration committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20156/08]
118 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the process of consultation which has taken place with the patrons of primary schools and other interested bodies under section 30 of the Education Act 1998 in order to enable him, by way of regulation, to prescribe the primary school curriculum; the number of organisations and bodies contacted; the number and dates of meetings which were held during the course of those consultations; when the regulations will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19713/08]
519 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for permission to remain on humanitarian grounds of a person (details supplied) who came here from Cameroon in 2001 and whose two children are here since 2003, one of whom is sitting their leaving certificate examination in 2008.
[19454/08]
148 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for an increased rate of export refunds to assist milk processors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19628/08]
103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will clarify his stance on the EU proposals on the reform of pesticide legislation that are being finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19629/08]
21
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bhfoclóir leictreonach Béarla-Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[18840/08]
9
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na cainteanna a bhí aige ó thús na bliana leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha, i dtaobh stádas na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina dtaobh.
[18841/08]
405 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make a capital allocation for the building programme of the new schools which he has announced for Kilcolgan-Clarenbridge, Ballinasloe, Tuam and Carraroe; when the school authorities, including the board of management and principal, will be informed in each case; and the length of time he expects the construction period to last in the different projects.
[18095/08]
394 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 24 April 2008, he is in a position to provide further and additional information to his initial answer; the books which were destroyed; and the director general’s plans to ensure such an incident does not recur.
[18034/08]
97 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the likelihood of the introduction of multi-annual funding in Budget 2009 for the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17663/08]
103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects a Government decision will be made on attending the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17667/08]
386 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if it is envisaged that this allocation will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17159/08]
220 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the response she proposes to make to that part of the Council of Europe‘s Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg’s report on his visit to Ireland that refers to the large number of children with psychiatric needs who continue to be treated in adult circumstances and his further comment that the placing of such children in adult facilities is in breach of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which Ireland has ratified.
[17882/08]
219 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps her Department will take on the continuing issue of 278 separated children who entered the country as unaccompanied minors and who have gone missing while under the care of the Health Service Executive; her views on whether the human rights of these children have not been vindicated; and if she is in a position to state that the children involved are not in danger of involvement in circumstances such as the abuses associated with human trafficking.
[17881/08]
42 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will increase the number of inspectors carrying out inspections on ships docked in Irish ports, especially in view of the tragic death of a young mariner in August 2007; if he has reviewed the resources that are allocated to the inspections system in the context of the recent report by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch into the 2007 fatal accident on the Dublin Viking in Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17345/08]
33 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he has had consultation with the RSA, the Gardaí and the HSA on the safety implications for newspaper workers, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians of the distribution of newspapers on the Irish road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17349/08]
202 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Article 4 of Directive 980/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998, contain the giving of powers of compulsory acquisition.
[17000/08]
201 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the purpose and effect of the European Communities (Internal Market in Natural Gas) (Compulsory Acquisition) Regulations (S.I. No. 517 of 2001); the provisions of Directive 98/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998, regarding common rules for the internal market in natural gas, given effect to by those regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16999/08]
135 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason, as has been reported, it is not authorised that this school would progress for the next stage at this time; if, in view of the fact that the school has had stage three approved and, with the imminent closure of another school, an increased school going population, together with cramped and outdated working conditions and facilities, this school is included in her Department’s multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2008; if so, the date for the project to move on to next stage; and if not, when it is envisaged that the next stage of the project will recommence.
[17011/08]
100
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha cad tá á dhéanamh aige chun a dheimhniú go gcuirfí córas iomlán aistriúcháin agus ateangaireachta ar fáil do Chomhaltaí Éireannacha i bParlaimint na hEorpa de réir Rialachán 1/1958, Sa tslí is go mbeidh ar a gcumas a ngnó a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge ar bhonn comhionann agus gan idirdhealú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[17040/08]
33 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position in relation to the announcement of the independence of Kosovo, including the future presence of the Defence Forces in the new circumstances that are created.
[16823/08]
2 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the European Union and Ireland are making to ensure a democratic response to the recent elections that have been held in Zimbabwe; the details of the talks that have been held with the African Union and neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe; and his views on the statements of leaders of civil society that the country stands on the brink of human rights catastrophe.
[16868/08]
100 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the results of a visit by an investigative group from the European Parliament some time ago which examined the impact and consequences of deregulation in the Irish case.
[16810/08]
99 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if, in the powers delegated to the taxi regulator, it was understood that taxi driving would be a sustainable livelihood; if further such a livelihood was envisaged as being a full-time occupation for the majority of taxi drivers; and if it was envisaged that training in the skills necessary for a full-time occupation would be provided.
[16809/08]
98 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that only three of the 16-strong advisory council established under Part 4 of the Taxi Regulations Act 2003 are drawn from the ranks of those who have taxi driving experience.
[16808/08]
387 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if, in future, when civilian ships have to be chartered to transport units of the Defence Forces or their equipment to and from overseas missions and a vessel that is not in conformity with Article 91 of UNCLOS has to be used, he will take firm and decisive steps to ensure, before any contractual commitments are entered into by the State, that the terms and conditions of employment for the crew are set by a collective bargaining agreement of a type approved by the International Transport Workers Federation, such approval by the ITF being the normal quality assurance procedure and practice worldwide for maritime collective bargaining agreements.
[16024/08]
384 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to a meeting (details supplied) at which an understanding was reached as to an investigation which would be made on the sourcing of funding for a project in Galway, funding will be provided.
[16666/08]
266 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total sum spent to date in each year of the €3.8 billion Government allocation under the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 to 2013; and if he will give details of the €2.7 billion due to have been allocated and spent by 2008.
[15982/08]
85 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Information and Quality Authority report of a review of pathology services at University College Hospital, Galway will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16254/08]
45 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when the Cork University Hospital report into the appointment of a pathologist (details supplied) which was commissioned in August 2007 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[16255/08]
184 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the recently revealed destruction of stocks of books held by UNESCO, of which Ireland is a member.
[15735/08]
156 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if persons in receipt of rent supplement are entitled to receive their payments through electronic fund transfer; and if in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway they will be made through this method.
[15768/08]