197 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the findings of the working group established by the Health Service Executive following publication of the Pollock Report into services for people with cystic fibrosis in Ireland; the agreed proposal for the development and reconfiguration of services of cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29527/06]
132 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on reports that an employment ceiling and a lack of funds prevented the Health Service Executive from establishing a triage system and hiring security personnel in the casualty department of Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan; the steps she intends to take to address these deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29528/06]
828 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of formal meetings held with Oireachtas Members, as indicated in the Statutes, following the abolition of the dual mandate, by each local authority in each year since such a requirement came into effect.
[28065/06]
735 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 13 June 2006, the proposals his Department have received in relation to social and affordable housing from Galway City Council in the past three years; the number currently at his Department; the number awaiting sanction; the projected dates for sanction; and the number of social housing units expected to be provided in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
[27262/06]
734 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 13 June 2006 he has received a review statement from Galway City Council in relation to the action plan for housing for the period 2004 to 2008; and if he will provide the information sought in that question and Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 13 June 2006.
[27261/06]
587 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received representations from a person (details supplied) with regard to their application for a visa; the status of this application; and the further information they are required to provide.
[27935/06]
538 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to previous parliamentary questions the position in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Galway; if the evaluation report into the project has been published; if he has an indication of the report’s findings; if the scheme is to be re-launched; and if not, if a replacement scheme is envisaged.
[27346/06]
418 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider extending the third level grant scheme to enable students who have used the back to education scheme where they qualify to proceed to post graduate work other than the H.Dip; if he will recognise the considerable achievement by such students and their potential contribution to society; and their particular experience and their valuable contribution to society.
[28063/06]
326 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received representations from a person (details supplied) with regard to their application for a visa; the status of this application; and the further information they are required to provide.
[27917/06]
219 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the additional funding available to shorten the length of time parents are waiting for provision under the community school age services in relation to speech and language services.
[28057/06]
13 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the estimated value of paintings hanging in the Great Southern Hotels chain; what will happen to these paintings following the decision to sell-off the hotel group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26926/06]
5 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in the public interest, he will seek and publish information from the Arts Council giving the full list of pictures jointly purchased by the Arts Council and CIE under the art partnership scheme; if he will further indicate and publish the names of such pictures from this collection which were subsequently given to the CIE group of hotels; the location of all of these items of art which constitute an important part of Ireland’s cultural heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27235/06]
417 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science further to her letter of 28 June 2006, the position with regard to the eligibility of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for a higher education grant,; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26789/06]
409 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the views expressed by a senior official in his Department during submissions to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee on 22 June 2006, that the majority of asylum seekers are economic migrants and that in pursuance of their claims such persons invariably lie through their teeth and that the judicial process at his Department is ambushed right up to the point of deportation; if such statements express a Departmental assessment which guides his policy and decision making on asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27217/06]
314 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the paintings purchased by CIE under the 50 per cent scheme operated by the Comhairle Ealaíon — The Arts Council; the paintings from the CIE collection which were allocated by CIE to the Great Southern Hotels; the position in relation to this part of the Irish heritage; and the proposals he will make for their future.
[27186/06]
306 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of recent UN reports on the situation in Afghanistan, he will comment on the security trajectory in that country; and on the general conditions experienced by those refugees who have been returning home under the Afghan return program.
[27216/06]
298 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the United Kingdom Government the potential breech of common obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which arises on foot of the detention of Irish citizens in UK prisons who have served their sentences and who are being detained in prison while deportation is considered.
[26848/06]
297 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the deep concern of their relatives and others, and the human rights and European law implications, he has ascertained the number of Irish citizens who continue to be detained in the United Kingdom further to service of criminal sentences while suitability for deportation is considered or who have been served with notice of intention to deport; if he has raised these matters with the British authorities; and if he will indicate such action as he proposes to take.
[26845/06]
296 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the British Prime Minister the perceived breech of European Directive 2004-38 in relation to Irish citizens resident in the UK who are being threatened with deportation.
[26849/06]
295 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has initiated or such replies as he has received on foot of representations made to him or his Department in relation to the position of Irish citizens held in UK prisons under consideration for, or awaiting deportation.
[26847/06]
294 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the content of such discussions as he has had recently with his counterpart in the United Kingdom in relation to the prolongation of the detention of Irish citizens held in UK prisons while their suitability for deportation is considered, and in relation to the service of notices of deportation on such persons.
[26846/06]
190 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that changes in required qualification by such bodies as the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London will not be implemented in such a way as to undermine the protection afforded to existing employees in Irish hospitals under the protection of the Fixed Term Employees Act 2002.
[27220/06]
189 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the implementation of regulations, changes to same, and their implementation by health boards or the appropriate section of the Health Service Executive, will not deprive those who have been taken in to training schemes as consultant psychiatrists within the Irish health system or will not have the circumstances for their qualification arbitrarily changed in such a way as to endanger their employment, temporary or permanent; if she will further ensure that those affected by such changes will be treated on a basis of equality, with equal opportunities for meeting such additional conditions being available to European and non-European applicants, and those at all stages of the qualification process.
[27219/06]
188 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that changed regulations by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Britain in relation to registration of psychiatrists has resulted in such changed circumstances as would breach the regional expectations for qualification and employment of a person (details supplied) from abroad working in the Irish system; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27218/06]
119 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on statements made by a European Commission official at the recent ComReg and OECD conference on spectrum management that the EU believes digital switch-over should be well advanced by 2010 in all Member States with a final deadline of early 2012; if he has made a decision on when the analogue signal should be switched off; if the analogue transmission network will survive beyond 2012 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26649/06]
85 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of households which have a television; the number of households with two or more television sets; the breakdown of the main television platforms in households including satellite, Irish terrestrial, cable or MMDS and multi-terrestrial; if each individual television set in a household will need to be converted to digital; the percentage of digital households here; if the remaining households with a television set will be affected by the turning off of the analogue signal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26648/06]
717 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 8 June 2006, and a meeting with parents on 3 May 2006, the position relating to the need for a bus service for children attending a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the steps taken to ensure that such a service is provided; the likelihood of such being in place for the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26136/06]
650 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the action she proposes to take with regard to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; her views on whether the provision of four portacabins for this school in the past six years is sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25626/06]
573 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the legislation or Ministerial Order, or section thereof, which conferred authority on Gardaí to prohibit the release of balloons at a public, peaceful gathering in Galway (details supplied); and the source of authority for such Gardaí leaning into a private car and puncturing said balloons.
[25817/06]
567 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason Ireland voted for inclusion on the European Union’s list of safe countries of origin countries (details supplied) despite the fact that some of these countries have significant human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25780/06]
566 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures the Government has taken to celebrate world refugee day; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25779/06]
560 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application for a three month visa for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if the visa will be granted; when it will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25644/06]
482 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on funding a feasibility study for light rail in Galway, its regions and other such regions as appropriate.
[26486/06]
483 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he favours the bringing forward of proposals for phase one and phase two of the west-on-track proposals for the line from Claremorris to Ennis with regard to the rail proposals within Transport 21; and if he will release funds to Iarnród Éireann to enable them to commence the necessary works for the provision of a new railway station at Oranmore, County Galway.
[26487/06]
333 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the position of the renovation and refurbishment of the old courthouse in Oughterard, County Galway; if the moneys promised for this project remain available; the status regarding the renovation of this building; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26611/06]
313 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the governors of the Central Bank had been informed, or had agreed, to a CIA monitoring system on Bank transfers here; his views on whether such transfer of information, as was involved, has a legal basis; and the discussions which took place between his Department, the Central Bank, the European Central Bank or the European Commission in this regard.
[26138/06]
52 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures which are proposed for supporting and encouraging learning of science subjects in both primary and second-level schools in the context of the recent Government announcement of major spending on research and development; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25913/06]
129 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will introduce a greater incentive to schools to participate in the book rental scheme to help alleviate the burden on parents of the cost of school books; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25912/06]
180 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the acreage of sites held by CIE in Dublin; the figures as regards the sizes of Connolly, Heuston and Pearse Stations and Busaras; the number of bus depots in Dublin; and the sizes of same.
[25452/06]
67 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison camp, which was called for at a recent meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25234/06]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he or his colleague Ministers of the General and External Affairs Council of the European Union have received or commissioned a report on the consequences for the Palestinian people of the Union’s isolation of the Hamas Government; if such a report will be commissioned; and, if commissioned, if its results will be published.
[25331/06]
238 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if in relation to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 13 June 2006, he will submit the information requested to be compiled.
[25283/06]
79 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Government Departments or State agencies who are concerned at the reported potential loss of up to 20 per cent of the 1,700 specialists whose positions have been earmarked for decentralisation as a result of the Government’s decentralisation programme; the steps being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24950/06]
266 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the renovation and refurbishment of Oughterard Garda Station in County Galway, a project towards which moneys had been allocated following public calls for the provision of such funds, but which were not subsequently spent; if the moneys promised for this project remain available; the status regarding the renovation of this building; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24450/06]
136 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to ensure a greater level of farm consolidation is encouraged; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24621/06]
95 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to protect agriculture here in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation talks; if the EU Commissioner for Trade is visiting Ireland in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24613/06]
134 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his statement in Dáil Éireann on 13 June 2006 to the effect that the transfer of a prisoner in United States military custody through Shannon Airport would be lawful with the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, if he has withdrawn, amended, or qualified his reply to the secretary general of the Council of Europe dated 20 February 2006, in which he stated there were only two circumstances in which Irish law permits the authorities of another State to detain a prisoner on Irish territory and that it is not lawful for a Minister or the State to consent to the transit of a prisoner otherwise than in those two circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24203/06]