425 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by his Department to increase international action on maternal health issues in view of the adoption of a new UN target to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015 under Millennium Goal 5, adopted in order to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5036/07]
246 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a missing persons helpline in view of the fact that for the most part information was not readily available for a considerable duration of the missing persons helpline pilot programme that lasted from October 2002 until 2003; and if he will address the needs of families of missing persons or of improving the communication methods used to improve awareness of missing persons such as posters at ports and train stations, or even examples, such as using milk cartons to communicate the identities and appearances of missing persons into the homes of people throughout the country.
[4952/07]
143 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used to decide whether a student qualifies for a top-up grant; if there is discretion on grounds of hardship in the awarding of such a grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5074/07]
113 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in receipt of higher education grants for the 2006 to 2007 academic year; if she will provide a breakdown of that number indicating those who are in receipt of a full grant, a partial grant and a top-up grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[5073/07]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position Ireland proposes to take at the next meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in relation to such amendment of the guidelines as would facilitate the US-India agreement on nuclear material; if his attention has been drawn to the position taken by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on this issue; his views on this position; and the issues that have been raised to date by Ireland at meetings of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in relation to the agreement.
[4494/07]
5 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government or the European Union propose to take in the short term to advance the achievement of peace in the Middle East in view of his recent visit to the region; the meetings he held with representatives of the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority and others; and the issues he raised at such meetings.
[4495/07]
191 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he is taking to ensure that cost overruns experienced on previous National Development Plans, for example on the construction of the LUAS and the Port Tunnel, will not be repeated in the NDP 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3871/07]
155 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the number of stud farms or operations which completed returns in relations to earnings and so on in respect of stallions; the final number of returns made in this respect; the average, the highest, and the lowest income and profit for tax purposes reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3891/07]
219 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in reaching a decision on the residency application of a person (details supplied) made in April 2005; and when an answer can be expected.
[3633/07]
147 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of BSE cases detected here during 2006; the location of each of these cases; the reason for the persistence of BSE in cattle here; and the steps she is taking to address the issue.
[3762/07]
119 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to introduce legislation to prevent the importation of embryos from cloned animals of any description; the timeframe in relation to same; if she has no such plans, the reason she does not; the scope that exists within the EU constitutional framework to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3748/07]
1720 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the provisions her Department is making to accommodate school transport to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if her Department will sanction a much needed school bus and driver, both of which have been already sourced by parents of children attending the school.
[2827/07]
150 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has received the results of the study commissioned by his Department from the ESRI into workplace bullying; the main results of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2533/07]
147 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has received from the Health and Safety Authority a proposed update to the 2002 Code of Practice on Workplace Bullying, as referred to by him in his answer to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 15 November 2006; the changes that will be required to legislation, either primary or secondary, to fully implement this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2532/07]
97
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil an tuarascáil faighte aige go fóill i leith theorainn na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[42860/06]
82
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn ata déanta leis an bhFoclóir Béarla-Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[42859/06]
176 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a regulator for the waste sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42589/06]
144 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received estimates for the amounts of municipal, household and C and D wastes which were land-filled in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42590/06]
66 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the resignation of former Circuit Court Judge, Brian Curtin, under section 6 of the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961.
[41914/06]
16 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Judicial Council Bill is expected to be published; the consultation he has had with members of the Judiciary regarding the contents of the Bill; his views on whether, in view of a recent case, there is still no procedure for dealing with breaches of conduct by judges apart from the impeachment process provided for under the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41915/06]
286 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department’s expenditure in community development in the Doughiska area of Galway over the past year and over his term in office as Minister.
[41898/06]
285 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department’s expenditure in community development in Galway city over his term in office as Minister.
[41897/06]
284 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department’s expenditure in community development in Galway city over the past year.
[41896/06]
83 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Bus Éireann application to his Department to provide an extra 2,000 services per week as part of the proposals for an improved bus service in Galway; his views on its proposals; the funding that has been made available in 2007 to facilitate the early introduction of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41649/06]
43 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his strategy in relation to the commencement of section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2006; the target in the average number of weeks wait for a driving test at which point he will commence this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41650/06]
126 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on reports that the accident and emergency task force will say in its final report that bed capacity is a problem in a number of hospitals; her further views on reports that there are ongoing issues that delay the discharge of patients from a number of hospitals; when the Health Service Executive’s report on bed capacity will be published; when the task force report on bed capacity will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41461/06]
94 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the impact of an Irish grant aided fishing factory ship on the livelihoods of coastal communities of African countries such as Mauritania and Mozambique; the terms of this grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39533/06]
47 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the case of a person (details supplied) who has made an application to his Department; the position of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40943/06]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of money that will be allocated by his Department towards the development of Sports Campus Ireland in 2007; the way this money will be spent; the latest timetable available for the development of sports facilities on this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40821/06]
16 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the situation regarding the planned redevelopment of Lansdowne Road; when he expects An Bord Pleanála to approve the redevelopment of the stadium; when construction work will begin; if any issues remain outstanding in regard to the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40819/06]
262 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of units of accommodation built by cooperative housing associations, as distinct from voluntary housing associations, under the capital funding schemes from 2000 to 2005; the location of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40755/06]
261 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of units of accommodation built by cooperative housing associations, as distinct from voluntary housing associations, under the capital funding schemes from 2000 to 2005 in Galway County and City; the locations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[40754/06]
83 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the initiatives she has taken to encourage the food industry to invest in research and development; the initiatives she has taken to promote transfer of intellectual property from the research base in to industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40525/06]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her view of EU law providing for the possibility of national aid for topping up the energy crops premium; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40553/06]
160 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra education welfare officers who will be appointed in the context of the recently published Government Estimates 2007; the locations where they will be deployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40166/06]
110 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of information required under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 from parents who wish to exercise their Constitutional right to educate their children at home; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[40137/06]
102 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his and the Government’s views on the implications for European Union policy of the abstention of the United Kingdom and Denmark on the Security Council Resolution condemning the loss of civilians lives in recent Israeli attacks on Palestinian homes in Gaza.
[39520/06]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland proposes to take further initiatives at national or European level to address the tragic and deteriorating situation in Darfur which has led to loss of life, dispossession and violence against the person on a scale that constitutes genocide; if Ireland, as proposed to him at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, will organise and facilitate an international peace conference at Foreign Minister level of all parties in the region as a preparatory step for a meeting to agree an accord for peace at heads of state level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39723/06]
134 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the Financial Regulator has conducted a study into the penalty charges charged to consumers here by credit card companies; if there are proposals to regulate and limit these charges as has been enforced by the Office of Fair Trading in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39242/06]
64 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work of the RCT monitoring group; the number of audits that have been carried out to date in 2006 on construction companies; the number of site visits conducted by the Revenue Commissioners Office in 2006; the yield from these audits; the percentage of tax due from these audits that is to be collected; the number of contractors that have been re-classified as employees as a result of these audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[39225/06]
549 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the impending closure of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the prospects of the future retention of teaching at this secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[39050/06]
512
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta an bhfuil suíomh aimsithe do Ghaelscoil Dara, An Rinn Mhór, i gcathair na Gaillimhe agus an bhfuil an t-iarstáisiún aimsire san áireamh.
[38520/06]
172 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way his Department assesses the latest claims by offshore exploration companies which seem to indicate a very bright future for the industry in extracting Ireland’s offshore oil and gas reserves; when he expects to receive the Indecon report on the review of Irish mineral and offshore licensing; and his plans to change the oil and gas licensing regime here.
[38834/06]
159 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will review his position in relation to the commission of inquiry proposal from the Shell to Sea campaign; his views on face to face talks between representatives of the Erris and north Mayo community and the management teams of companies (details supplied); the way the present stand off will be resolved for the wellbeing of the people of Mayo and Ireland; and the role he is prepared to pursue to find an urgent agreed resolution.
[38833/06]
163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the significant decrease in the number of import licences applied for in 2006 to date, when compared to 2005; if there is any underlying change in Department policy that means that fewer products now require import licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37718/06]
97 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason he has failed to introduce legislation to control arms brokering here by this Autumn; when such legislation will be introduced; the reason he is continuing to allow Ireland be used as a potential hub for the brokerage of military hardware; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37755/06]
371 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has plans to increase the funding available to a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo, in order to ensure that those who choose to can live their lives independently; and if he has plans to mainstream community employment schemes in order to address the insecurity of losing personal assistants after a three to four year term.
[37802/06]
356 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received representations in relation to human rights issues on behalf of republican prisoners at Maghaberry prison; if he has satisfied himself that standards required for compliance with the European Court for Human Rights and other international conventions are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37811/06]
226 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Government can give a satisfactory answer as to what Government policy, as described by his Department in correspondence with a person’s solicitors is preventing since 2002, the case of a person (details supplied) application for their children to join them here as applied for under the family reunification scheme.
[37916/06]
225 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the hours of opening of the Garda National Immigration Bureau Offices in different locations; if it is possible to deal with exceptional or emergency situations at Garda General Offices; if not, the reason same is not possible; if he has received representations on the inconvenience caused by such arrangements; if he has evaluated such; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37915/06]