163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a press statement issued by his Department on 1 October 2006 said that the weekly fuel allowance had been increased by €5 and that the increase commenced from 25 September 2006 when this increase had come into effect following Budget 2006; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people were misled by his statement into believing that there had been another increase of €5; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[37595/06]
50
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén fáth go bhfuil díolúine iomlán ón dátheangachas sna dréacht-rialacháin maidir le fógairtí taifeadta béil agus stáiseanóireacht atá le húsáid taobh amuigh den Stát faoi alt 9 d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 a chuir sé os comhair na Dála; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith.
[37021/06]
28
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén fáth nach bhfuil dada sna dréacht-rialacháin a chuir sé os comhair na Dála faoi alt 9 d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, faoi shíneacha tráchta d’ainneoin go bhfuil comharthaí luaite go sonrach san alt; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[37018/06]
76 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to publish a national sustainable development strategy; the matters such a strategy will address; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36510/06]
55 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects the next report on the 42 national service indicators for local authorities; his plans to review those indicators; the arrangements that will be made to involve consumers of local authority services in the review of the indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36511/06]
347 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 266 of 6 December 2005 his Department is in a position to have the Labour Court recommendation of January 2001 implemented and thereby endeavour to have the gap between conditions, income and cost per person to the State and accountability of established, and long serving non-established staff of his Department serving at Irish missions abroad equitably narrowed.
[36106/06]
132 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposed timetable for the development and completion of the new prison at Thornton Hall; the estimated cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36247/06]
105 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the figures for headline offences for the third quarter of 2006 published by the Central Statics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[36240/06]
228 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the recourse of an Irish citizen (details supplied); her views on whether this situation is anomalous and unfair to the person in question; the steps this person can take; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35982/06]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the position on the reopening of the western rail corridor; and the timescale proposed for these works.
[35784/06]
533 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position of Ireland in relation to the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity; the meetings which have taken place in the context of securing Irish support and acceptance of the terminator technology and patent in relation to genetically modified seeds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35606/06]
154 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that one in eight people here is suffering from chronic pain; her further views on the new drug-free implant which uses the body’s own nerves to control pain being used at present in St. Vincent’s; her plans to extend the number of pain clinics here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35484/06]
130 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the lack of facilities for the estimated 200,000 people with eating disorders; her further views on the fact that the only dedicated public services are three beds at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin that are designated to eating disorder patients over 18 years; her plans to address this issue to provide services to under 18 year olds that have eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[35485/06]
33 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position with regard to the development of the Abbotstown Sports Campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34827/06]
7 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent suspensions handed down to Irish athletes by the Irish sport anti-doping disciplinary panel; his views on whether there is reason to be concerned at levels of doping among Irish athletes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34809/06]
161 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department proposes to accept their responsibilities as the funding agency for the Bris programme which was discontinued in the west side of Galway City, in terms of their obligations to the community worker to whom an award was made on foot of the ending of their employment on the sudden ending of this project, and which remains outstanding; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those who acted as agents for his Department are claiming inability to pay and that as a result the community worker involved is being deprived of the award that has been made to them by an independent statutory authority.
[34755/06]
79 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the Government’s view that a referendum may be necessary on the St. Andrews agreement and, if so, his views on the circumstances of such a public consultation.
[34713/06]
76 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether genocide has taken, and is taking place in Darfur; and the most recent and explicit proposals that have been made by the European Union in terms of an adequately resourced and expanded United Nations force being given a mandate either in support of or within the forces of the African Union already in place.
[34712/06]
531 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for failing to fill the vacancies that have existed for some time on the board of CIE and on the board of Iarnród Éireann; if he will redress the regional imbalance in filling such vacancies; and if the west of Ireland could be allowed representation on such boards by filling the vacancies which exist by nominations from within the region.
[34514/06]
452 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the current position in Thailand; the prospects which exist for a safe and secure transition in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[34531/06]
189 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will appoint a new board to FETAC; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that courses cannot be approved in the absence of a board; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34109/06]
155 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to consider the provision of a post-graduate entry veterinary degree course in a higher education college here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[34108/06]
58 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the comments of the new chief executive officer of Eircom to the effect that it is uneconomic for the company to enable the 700 phone exchanges that constitute the final 25% of lines to facilitate broadband services; the impact of the company’s stated intention of splitting the network’s division from the retail arm on the process of local loop unbundling; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33421/06]
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of the MANs network currently lit; the level of uptake on the MANs; the way he intends to invigilate the operator if the present multi-million euro level of losses continues; if he is still investigating the possibility of establishing a new semi-State operated telecommunications company under the name Project Dingle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33420/06]
153 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance in relation to tax incentives on psychiatric care institutions, the number of applications which have been made under the scheme; the number of applications which have been approved; the number of hospital beds to be supplied by the approved applications; the expected cost of the tax foregone on these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33107/06]
101 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the action he will take arising from Chapter 2.5 of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Annual Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33089/06]
377 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the state of broadband accessibility in Moycullen, County Galway; the reason for which there appears to be a discrepancy between broadband connection speed in this part of the county as opposed to others close by; his proposals to improve the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32933/06]
306 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by elderly persons here with regard to nursing home subvention; her views on the general sense of equity in the rules and assessments regarding subvention for the elderly; the reason savings are regarded as income in regard to the rate of ordinary subvention; and her further views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has been allocated €11.47 per week to defray their nursing home costs, while those costs amount to €630 per week and rising.
[32672/06]
249 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the application for asylum of persons (details supplied); the stage their applications have reached; the prospects for their being granted asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[33002/06]
229 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application for a visa by a person (details supplied); if delays have been encountered in this application; when this application will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32679/06]
177 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has seen the final report of the World Trade Organisation Disputes Panel on the claims by the US, Argentina and Canada that the de facto moratorium on the approval of genetically modified products within the EU constituted an economic barrier to trade; if she has seen the final report, her views on same; if she will provide this Deputy with this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32873/06]
201 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress made over the past four months on the achievement of the goal of an all-Ireland freedom of movement for farm animals; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32872/06]
151 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding for a third-level course by a person (details supplied) in County Clare; the action this person should take in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32496/06]
72 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 538 of 6 July 2006, if the Garda authorities have now completed their consideration of the evaluation report of the Bris project in Galway; the findings and recommendations of such a consideration; and the details of such findings.
[32500/06]
87 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government’s position regarding the proposal from the European Commissioner for Trade, Mr Mandelson, to impose tariffs on certain imports from China and Vietnam; his views on whether the outcome will be beneficial to Irish and European consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32037/06]
52 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made in relation to introducing Fair Trade products to his Department’s offices and to setting a target date for making the canteens, cafeterias and restaurants under the control of his Department and its agencies use only Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32046/06]
502 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the decisions taken in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the proposals her Department has in relation to the school’s needs; and the meetings sought and granted on the part of the parents, teachers and board of management of the school.
[31557/06]
244 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the case of an application for a visitors visa by a person (details supplied); the stage the application is at; the likelihood of such a visa being granted; and if it is to be granted, when such a decision may be taken.
[32023/06]
225 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the present circumstance of an application to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds by a person (details supplied) and when a decision will be reached.
[31699/06]
219 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on bringing the recruitment procedure for An Garda Síochána into line with European Union practice with regard to the age limit for entry in so far as time spent on compulsory civil service or compulsory military service is taken into account; and his views on whether European Union citizens who have come to live here would be treated equally by such a practice being accepted for entry into An Garda Síochána.
[31566/06]
193 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to consideration by his Department of a new mortgage support plan; when he expects the consultation period to be complete; if the scheme will be directed specifically towards people currently priced out of the property market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31729/06]
115 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the rapid rise in the cost of rent supplement; his views on the replacement of the rent supplement with a new housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31730/06]
60
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cathain a thosóidh Céim a Dó de thionscadal an fhoclóra Béarla-Gaeilge.
[31299/06]
16
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis na hAchtanna Parlaiminteacha go léir a aistriú go Gaeilge.
[31303/06]
171 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the moneys collected to date by each local authority under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000; the acreage of land received by each local authority under Part V of the Act; the amount of funding spent by each local authority in the provision of social and affordable housing; the amount of the land received which has been used by each local authority to build social and affordable housing; the number of houses built by each local authority under Section V to date; and the number of houses built in total in each local authority area since the enactment of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
[30895/06]
204 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he will ensure that Article 16.2.3 of the Irish Constitution’s requirement for equality of representation is not breached without undertaking a review of constituency boundaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30896/06]
198 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 to date in 2006; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder were initiated; the number of such cases where convictions were secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30613/06]
140 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if Operation Anvil, announced by him on 17 May 2006 remains in operation; the number of weapons seized to date; the number of arrests made; the number of charges preferred, arising from the operation; the length of time the operation will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30612/06]
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he has finished his consideration of Iarnród Éireann’s business proposals in relation to phase one and two of the western rail corridor; and the plans to provide funding for the extension of the services northwards to Collooney, County Sligo.
[30068/06]
71 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the reason for his inaction in stopping the dismantling of Irish rail freight infrastructure.
[30070/06]