75 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the difficulties being experienced by Irish citizens abroad anxious to renew their passports due to the closing down for long periods of the website for the Irish Embassy Offices in Ottawa; his further views on that fact that Irish citizens abroad have expressed annoyance at the inconvenience caused by what they suggest was the failure to notify widely the fact that the consulate in Toronto had moved address; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22148/07]
44 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in regard to the development of the role and contribution of the Medical Corps and the expansion of its capacity to deliver a range of medical facilities on UN mandated missions; and his further proposals in this regard.
[21983/07]
35 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the success of the regular and targeted recruitment campaigns in regard to recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces.
[21982/07]
354 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the legislative changes proposed with reference to dog fighting and related matters following recent discussions with Dr. Ian Paisley.
[21364/07]
158 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the recent OECD report, Education at a Glance, which ranked Ireland at joint bottom place in an international league table that links spending on each second level student to overall wealth; her views on the report; if she will increase funding for this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21607/07]
134 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the recent OECD report, Education at a Glance, which showed that expenditure on education at all levels here lagged well below the EU and OECD average; if she has plans to increase funding to bring it up to the EU and OECD average; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21608/07]
194 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the establishment of a separate stand alone authority which would have jurisdiction for matters of water quality and for compliance with water directives, in particular with regard to the way such would impact on ongoing crises affecting the River Corrib; and if he will make a statement on both the general, and specific, points of this question.
[21317/07]
86 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on the US/India Nuclear Agreement as this currently stands; the discussions that have taken place recently on this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21318/07]
38 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to An Foras developing materials specifically for families who wish to raise their children through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20986/07]
19 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent report of the Working Group on Drug Rehabilitation that represents the fifth pillar of the National Drugs Strategy; the main recommendations of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20960/07]
1022 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) whose application is, inter alia , based on medical grounds and the need to obtain humanitarian leave to remain on medical grounds.
[20516/07]
1021 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) whose initial application was rejected, whose family is settled in Galway and who has become a valued and respected member of the local community.
[20515/07]
1014 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide further details on the 12 new Garda youth diversion projects recently announced; the nature, location and funding available to the project envisioned for Galway; if it is planned that this project will be operational alongside an established scheme (details supplied) of this nature based on the westside of the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20475/07]
1013 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the present circumstances of a scheme (details supplied) on the westside of Galway City; if the report commissioned giving details on this scheme is available for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20474/07]
925 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied); the date from which his Department regards this application having been made; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person applied for naturalisation in 2001, rather than 2002; and if this can be rectified and corrected.
[20250/07]
924 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons to whom deportation orders have been given following their or their partner’s having had a child while in Ireland; and the number of persons who have been deported.
[20249/07]
919 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is envisaged that an amnesty be introduced in order to deal with the large backlog of residency cases which have accrued, a possible model for such a scheme having recently been instated in the Netherlands.
[20233/07]
916 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application for leave to remain in the State by a person (details supplied).
[20200/07]
764 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will take action to redress the situation which pertains regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway for the top-up grant; her views on whether such a view taken of the situation is unreasonable; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20517/07]
749 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that correspondence of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 is responded to by her Department’s student support unit as this matter has been outstanding for some time.
[20407/07]
739 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she proposes to recognise a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she proposes to secure a site for this school.
[20232/07]
520 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the sanctions which are being imposed upon Iran, outside of those sanctions which are under a United Nations framework, by members of the European Union.
[20414/07]
515 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of international instruments, such as agreements, conventions, protocols and implementation procedures, initiated at either UN, Council of Europe or elsewhere that are awaiting ratification and implementation by the Government; the date of signature or adoption by the international institution involved; the lead Department with responsibility for implementation within the Government in each case; the position in relation to signature, ratification or implementation; and the measures he proposes to take in the national interest to eliminate the backlog which exists.
[20235/07]
491 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the details of all orders which have been made by Government since 1986 under Section 9 of the Transport (Reorganisation of Córas Iompar Éireann) Act, 1986.
[20239/07]
490 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the status of a communication (details supplied) to the board of CIÉ in relation to the assessment of such property as might be constituted as surplus to needs for public transport; the mechanisms for the assessment of same; and the implications for the future of public transport of the disposal of property owned by CIÉ in the absence of adequate assessment of present, and future, transport needs of a local, regional and national kind.
[20238/07]
489 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the way the establishment of public transport needs in accordance with their statutory requirements has been fulfilled by CIÉ in relation to such property as it holds.
[20237/07]
488 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the reason for the exclusion of upgrading and refurbishment of transport facilities at Ceannt Station in Galway from capital provision in Transport 21, which deals with the transport element of the National Development Plan.
[20236/07]
492 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport and the Marine the reason the driving test centre in Galway city’s west-side closes for the month of August.
[20240/07]
209 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway for an extension of their student visa; if the person’s value to their local community and their attendance record at their language classes has been considered in this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19608/07]
181 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the need of a school (details supplied) in County Galway to get permanent recognition; her views on whether this school, providing an excellent and important service, is deserving of and needs such permanent recognition; if such will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19429/07]
33 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the efforts he will make to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive location for film makers; his views on the fact that several years have passed since a big budget blockbuster film has been made here; the efforts he will make to ensure that Ireland does not lose out to other low cost locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19249/07]
545 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason, in view of the changed circumstances of a person (details supplied) following the release of new information, that same was brought to light two and a half years ago, when if first became available; if there are plans for an apology to be made to this person based on the experiences they have been through; and if it is proposed that compensation be made available.
[19138/07]
516 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position pertaining to the application of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who are seeking to marry here.
[18848/07]
469 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the efforts her Department are making to alleviate the accommodation demands on a school (details supplied) in County Galway.
[19139/07]
282 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent reports that the Northern Ireland Prosecutions Office does not intend to initiate charges against any member of the police or the security forces for their implication in the murder of the late Pat Finucane.
[18960/07]
281 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding reports that further members of the EU are to join and become full members of the Euro common currency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18959/07]
275 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union, as a partner in the Quartet, in relation to the appointment of former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair to a major diplomatic post charged with advancing the Middle Eastern peace process.
[18798/07]
84 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the context of the new proposed European Treaty, he envisages new mechanisms for making decisions on common, foreign and security policy accountable to parliamentarians within the European Union; if the proposed Foreign Minister of the European Union will be accountable to the European Parliament; and if in turn decisions taken on CFSP will require the assent and scrutiny of committees of the European Parliament to which such functions have been delegated or plenary sessions of such parliaments.
[18797/07]
155 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the roll out of BreastCheck around the country per centre and the latest cost estimates of each centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17600/07]
82 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the nursing home repayments scheme; the reason for the delays in refunding people; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty in getting information about refunds and delays; the amount of money it is expected to repay; the total repaid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17599/07]
140 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his proposals to use the taxation system to encourage good environmental behaviour and discourage poor practice in regard to the commitment contained in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17155/07]
114 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the implications for the public service generally of the recent Labour Court decision that the practice by the Health Service Executive of employing clerical staff provided by an outside agency, on an ongoing basis, breached the terms of national agreements; if he will review the embargo on recruitment in the public service in view of the Labour Court finding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17157/07]
67 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of journeys made on Government aircraft by Ministers or staff of his Department or its agencies to date in 2007; the origin and destination of each journey; the cost of each journey to the State; the reason a Government aircraft was used rather than scheduled air travel or surface travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15467/07]
60 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of person-hours lost to his Department and its agencies to date in 2007 due to industrial action; if pending strike notices are in place against his Department or any of its agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15466/07]
116 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a family reunification application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when the application will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15541/07]
79 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will accept the recommendation of the Law Reform Commission that same sex cohabitants should be treated in the same way as opposite sex cohabitants for social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15193/07]
60 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of Irish nationals who have been refused social welfare payments under the two year habitual residence requirement introduced in 2004; the number of persons, other than Irish nationals who have had payments refused on the same grounds; his plans to review or relax the restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15194/07]
974 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures of an interdepartmental nature, and the decisions involving inter-ministerial agreement that have been or will be taken in order to assure the future of Lough Corrib, threatened as it is by activities that fall for control by the Departments responsible for agriculture and food, environment and local government, forestry and fisheries, and tourism.
[14175/07]
951 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take to tackle the ongoing phenomenon of overcrowding in classrooms nationwide; and her plans to tackle same in a school (details supplied) in County Galway.
[15249/07]