133 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, the provisions of domestic law under which a Minister would have power to consent to the transit in military custody through Irish territory of a person being transferred from military detention by the armed forces of another State based in one country to military detention by the same armed forces based in their home State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24202/06]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on Commissioner Mandelson’s concerns in regard to intellectual property issues in trade with China; the action he advocates at both national and European levels; if the matter has been discussed at European Council of Ministers meetings; if his Department has discussed the issue at the World Trade Organisation; if so, the manner in which they were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23504/06]
105 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.
[23490/06]
110 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will clarify comments made in May 2006 in which he appeared to confirm that the Government has effectively abandoned efforts to extend free travel to Irish pensioners living abroad when they return here; the Government’s position on free travel for the Irish abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19718/06]
50 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the announcement that the country’s largest pension scheme, the construction federation operatives pensions scheme, is to be closed from 1 July 2006 with members transferred to a new scheme; if he has sought assurances regarding the effectiveness of the replacement scheme, in view of the fact that one in six male workers here will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22982/06]
67
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an gceapann sé go bhfuil plean gníomhaíochta náisiúnta don Ghaeilge ag teastáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith.
[22761/06]
438 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the figures submitted to him by Galway City Council, in accordance with the Housing Action Plan 2004, as a realistic assessment of existing and projected housing needs in Galway city; and the progress which has been made on submission to date.
[22801/06]
437 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposals his Department has received from Galway City Council in the past three years; the number in the Department; the number sanctioned; the number awaiting sanction with their projected dates for sanction; and the number of social housing units likely to be provided in 2006, and in 2007.
[22800/06]
300 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the number of cycle lanes which will be provided in the next 12 months in Galway City and their location.
[22714/06]
299 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the number of quality bus corridors which will be provided in the next 12 months in Galway City and their location.
[22713/06]
298 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will release such funding to Galway City Council as would enable the carrying out of a feasibility study on the provision of light rail commuter services for Galway City.
[22712/06]
297 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the position in relation to a commuter rail link from Galway City to Athenry and Ballinasloe, including a new rail station in Oranmore as submitted by Galway City Council.
[22711/06]
296 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on proposals from Galway City Council for increased runway capacity and passenger facilities at Galway airport.
[22710/06]
295 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on submitted proposals by Galway City Council in relation to investment in Galway harbour to provide significant increased capacity and completion of the Galway docklands regeneration project.
[22709/06]
264 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the present location and proposals for the future location of the national art collection (details supplied) which has been on display at the Great Southern Hotels for 50 years and which has been removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22708/06]
141 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the recommendations of the Working Group on the Review of the Management of Dog Breeding Establishments which he intends to implement; and the timeframe in relation to the implementation of the various recommendations.
[22493/06]
90 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage and volume of recycled cardboard and plastic waste that is shipped from Ireland to China on an annual basis; his plans on whether a closer or indigenous solution to the recycling of these materials would be preferable; and the efforts he is making to explore this option.
[22494/06]
239 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science further to a meeting with persons (details supplied) in County Galway regarding the removal of the school bus service to a school the progress made in this regard; if the bus service will be resumed; if so, when this will be and if not, the reasons for this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22260/06]
213 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the only non-Governmental organisations (details supplied) operating here with the mandate of helping persons being trafficked for purposes of prostitution only receives €25,000 from the Government to carry out its work; his views on whether this sums indicates that the Government is not giving this matter sufficient attention; his further views, as has been suggested by representatives of the organisation, on the fact that there is a lack of awareness among Gardaí on the way in which to deal with victims of trafficking; and if there are plans to increase funding for these services.
[22273/06]
212 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason Ireland, while it has signed the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000) has not been transposed into Irish law, with the result that such trafficking is not illegal here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22272/06]
211 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason Ireland has not yet signed the 2004 EU Council Directive on residence permits, or the 2005 Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, both of which would allow for residence permits for victims while they receive counselling and consider whether they are able to give evidence on foot of their ordeal.
[22271/06]
209 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the implications for such decisions as he has made, or is likely to make, in relation to Afghan refugee asylum applicants in view of the fact that Afghanistan is not a party to the United Nations Conventions relating to the status of the refugees 1951 or the 1967 protocol.
[22269/06]
106 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of public nursing home spaces which have been made available and the sites at which they have been made available in Galway City in each of the past ten years; if she will provide the same information with regard to places made available in County Galway over the same period; the number of spaces that it is projected are to be provided in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22178/06]
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the Garda indoor firing range at Garda headquarters has been closed due to safety concerns; when it is expected that it will be reopened; the temporary arrangements which are in place to allow Gardaí to continue firearms training; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22130/06]
210 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures which the Government are taking to implement undertakings given under the Amsterdam Treaty Title IV, Article 63; if the Government will meet the deadline of 10 October 2006 for the transposition of the qualification directive 2004/83/EC; and the Government’s intentions in relation to implementation of this directive.
[22270/06]
214 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the levels of human trafficking, primarily of women into Ireland for prostitution from countries including but not limited to Moldova, Lithuania, Romania, Mongolia, Nigeria and Brazil, who are tricked into coming here on false pretences of work and who upon arrival are forced into prostitution; the number of such persons as is known or estimated; and the vigilance which is being exercised in trying to stop these practices.
[22274/06]
51 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of homicides and serious assaults in each year from 2000 in which knives were used; his views on the introduction of a knives amnesty similar to that underway in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22129/06]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he will integrate new Metro, DART, rail and LUAS lines in view of the distances between many of the stops of different modes as proposed; the person who has overall charge of integrating these new projects with existing transport services and proposed ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21974/06]
25 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the call from the Royal College of Surgeons for an improvement in services for breast cancer patients across the State; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that six years on from the publication of a report on the development of services for symptomatic breast disease here that inequalities of access to high quality, modern standards of care still exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21324/06]
36 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the planning which has been done in her Department to give effect to the commitment to deliver 3,000 additional acute hospital beds as outlined in the National Health Strategy, apart from those already provided; the progress which has been made in identifying the regions and specialties where further beds will be located; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21323/06]
373 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the deepening poverty levels among the Palestinian population, the Government will commit to providing the aid that had been earmarked to the Palestinian Authority, and the Government will call for a full resumption of European Union assistance.
[20896/06]
372 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role the Government is playing in mobilising the Quartet to give meaning to the vision of two viable states of both Israel and Palestine; his views on whether a lack of international impartiality will ensure that peace will remain elusive in view of the fact that actions on both sides have contributed to the situation of insecurity and poverty.
[20895/06]
371 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland, and the EU, will take to ensure Israel’s compliance with international law in view of the Israeli Government’s ongoing ignoring of calls made by the Quartet to freeze settlement expansion and the construction of the separation barrier.
[20894/06]
163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the consultants Deloitte and Touche and William Fry Solicitors will report on an implementation plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent statutory body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20640/06]
157 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will bring forward measures for the regulation of the content of mobile phone products and services; his views on ending the self-regulation of this sector and incorporating the functions of RegTel into ComReg; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20641/06]
63 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of Educate Together schools here; the number that are in temporary accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19890/06]
38 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of Gaelscoileanna here; the number that are in temporary accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19889/06]
221 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a request under section 11 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, from a person or body connected with decision making on asylum applications to make inquiries or to furnish information as to the situation in Afghanistan in terms of security, stability of governance and respect for human rights, both generally and with regard to particular parts of the country and sections of the population; and if so, the information furnished in response.
[19995/06]
217 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to the expansion of settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank; the threat of unilateral action in this regard outside of the framework of the roadmap for peace; the statements which have been made in recent times by either the Government or the European Union in relation to such illegality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19804/06]
56 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position Ireland proposes to take as a member of the nuclear suppliers group in relation to the implementation of the recent proposed US agreement with India on nuclear capacity; and his views on the implications of this proposal for the future of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the perceived inconsistency between this proposal and the US and European Union response to recent events in Iran.
[19803/06]
426 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a visa application lodged by a person (details supplied) who is the foreign national spouse of an Irish citizen.
[19336/06]
312 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on marking the memory of a Norwegian politician and statesman (details supplied), in recognition of his support of Irish independence during his career and life; if he has received requests that such be provided at Muckross House in County Kerry, a location to which he was most attached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19750/06]
163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive.
[20043/06]
162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a policy decision has been made to introduce newborn hearing screening.
[20042/06]
73 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied regarding the level of supervision exercised by the Revenue Commissioners at points of entry, especially in regard to continued concern in relation to the drugs problem and particularly the smuggling of cocaine; if his attention has been drawn to the number of flights that arrive at both Cork and Shannon Airports at times when there are no customs officers on duty; if he will ask the Revenue Commissioners to ensure cover at all times that flights arrive at these airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19293/06]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the implications from a tax avoidance point of view, particularly in regard to stamp duty, of the practice in the construction industry of the use of licences to build as opposed to the traditional transfer of development land; if he has an estimate of the amount of construction activity organised using this mechanism; if he has an estimate of tax losses as a consequence of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19291/06]
41 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her proposals to encourage young people to enter or remain in farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18866/06]
40 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of Doha Round World Trade Organisation negotiations in so far as they relate to agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18876/06]
100 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposed company mergers that his Department is currently aware of under its responsibility for the regulation of mergers; the number of mergers dealt with by his Department in each year from 2002 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18197/06]