538 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial support provided by the State to a non-governmental organisation, Educate Together; if she will continue or increase such levels of support; and her views on whether its proposal that the development of multicultural education here should become an objective of the national development plan.
[30275/05]
514 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial support provided by the State to a non-governmental organisation Educate Together; if she will continue or increase such levels of support; and her views on whether its proposal that the development of multicultural education here should become an objective of the national development plan.
[30274/05]
484 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the decision by the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland to issue a notice to persons applying to the Residential Institutions Redress Board referencing the society’s complaints procedure is an adequate response to allegations of wrongdoing in connection with solicitors’ fees for work before the redress board in terms of ensuring compensation of victims and deterrence of such future practices.
[30276/05]
125 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a national waiver system for refuse collection will be established in view of claims by the office of environmental enforcement that a significant proportion of the population are illegally dumping or burning waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30368/05]
115 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take at national level to tackle the illegal dumping of construction waste, which was cited by the Office of Environmental Enforcement’s report, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30369/05]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for asylum received in each year since 2000; the number of applications approved by the refugee applications tribunal; the number of appeals submitted to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, and the number of such appeals upheld; the number of applications for leave to remain, and the number of such applications granted; the number of deportation orders made; the number of such deportations carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29765/05]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government’s plans with regard to the United Nations Convention against Corruption as to its ratification; the proposals for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27213/05]
150 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the progress to date on reaching a bilateral agreement with the UK authorities on mutual recognition of penalty points.
[29077/05]
127 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the data on the national development plan roads and transport spending in the Border, midlands and western region with a breakdown of the amounts originally proposed and those which have been spent.
[29076/05]
566 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when provincial-based civil servants who have applied for transfer to the proposed Department of Transport offices in Loughrea, County Galway, will receive an offer for transfer; if provincial-based civil and public service staff will have to relocate and transfer to Dublin for training prior to the move to Loughrea; if provincial-based civil and public service staff will receive expenses for travelling and living in Dublin during the training period; and, in view of the potential disruption for provincial-based staff seeking to transfer to the decentralised road haulage section, he will consider an interim office in County Galway pending the construction of the new Government offices in Loughrea.
[29178/05]
456 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the Labour Court recommendation of 29 January 2001, which expressed concern that a small category of employees of the State employed at Irish embassies abroad have no mechanism for pursuing grievances as they are excluded from the terms of the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme and are not regarded as workers within the meaning of section 23 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990; if his attention has been drawn to his predecessor’s statement on 22 March 2001 that his Department was anxious to give effect to the court’s recommendation and was actively examining, in consultation with his colleagues in the Department of Finance, methods by which an appropriate mechanism could be put in place, and a similar statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs on 11 February 2004 in reply to Question No. 178 that the mechanism was expected to be in place well before the end of that year; if this promised mechanism will be put in place before the end of 2005.
[29193/05]
198 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the expected completion date of the inquiry, to be chaired by Judge Maureen Harding-Clarke, into the activities of the former Drogheda obstetrician, Dr. Michael Neary; if her attention has been drawn to the call made by a number of victims for the establishment of a redress board; if she will act on this suggestion; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28794/05]
141 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposal that St. Bricin’s Military Hospital will be used to help relieve pressure on the Mater Hospital; if this proposal will be feasible in view of the estimated cost of up to €25 million for the refurbishment of St. Bricin’s; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28793/05]
105 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Ireland’s continuing recognition of the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic as the state of the Saharoui persons; when he envisages the United Nations proposal for a referendum to be advanced; the talks or consultations to which he has been party in recent times; his views and those of the European Union in relation to the legality of granting concessionary rights as to fisheries inter alia on territories that are occupied and form part of the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic; and if he will make a statement on the issue of the refugee situation in the area.
[28510/05]
30 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in view of the decline in visitors from Britain over recent years, his views on whether this represents a significant threat to the tourist industry here in view of the traditional reliance on British visitors; his further views on the reason for this decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28318/05]
186 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details on the terms of the contract to operate the metropolitan area network; the methods in place to invigilate the performance of the operating company; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27873/05]
178 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if measures will be brought forward to reform the licensing and exploration system for regulating the exploitation of natural resources here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27896/05]
223 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in the investigation of the death of a person (details supplied) in Saudi Arabia in August 2004; the requests the Government has made to the Saudi Arabian authorities for an investigation in relation to this matter, the progress that has been made with such request; and his views on whether the reasonable request, made formally, by persons in January 2005 for information deserves a better and fuller response than that which they have received to date.
[27385/05]
47 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will review her Department’s entire approach to the teaching and examining of Irish in light of worrying reports on falling standards in both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27652/05]
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will publish her detailed proposals on addressing educational disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27654/05]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he favours an arms sale treaty in this jurisdiction and in the European Union, such as would end the sale of armaments to conflict zones in the poorest regions of the world by member states of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27214/05]
261 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if provincial based civil servants who have applied under the decentralisation applications process to transfer to Loughrea will have to travel to the Department of Transport offices in Dublin for training purposes; and if so, the duration of the training and if cost of living expenses will be provided.
[27062/05]
231 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the present unstable situation in Haiti; the proposals which have been made to enable the country to make a full return to democracy; and in particular, the role which the United Nations forces might have in this regard.
[27125/05]
86 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on his Department’s recently published economic review and outlook for 2005.
[26628/05]
133 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to recent figures published by the Central Statistics Office showing that agricultural land prices rose by more than 25% in the last quarter of 2004; her views on the rapid rate of increase in the price of land; her views on the implications of this increase for farmers hoping to expand or those who wish to enter farming for the first time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26450/05]
125 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the outcome of her meeting on 23 June 2005 with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fisher Boel, regarding the EU sugar regime, the overshoot of the special beef premium and the management of the dairy market; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26451/05]
12 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline his concerns regarding the proposed developments at Weston Airport, near Lucan, County Dublin; if he will elaborate on his fears concerning the safety risks for military aircraft flying into the Air Corps base at Baldonnel; if he has received any response to his letter to the Irish Aviation Authority regarding these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25927/05]
179 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued to date under the new arrangements to give access to employment to the spouses of non-EEA nationals working in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25427/05]
162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals for the implementation of the report of the review group on the employment rights bodies; if the chair of the Employment Appeals Tribunal has expressed concern regarding the impact of proposed changes in the role of that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25425/05]
698 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the operation scheme for the nitrates directive will be announced (details supplied); the details of the agreement with the European Union on this directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24026/05]
685 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the Oughterard sewerage scheme; the progress made on this scheme to date; the date by which he expects and anticipates this work to have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23876/05]
482 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the operation scheme for the nitrates directive will be announced (details supplied); the details of the agreement with the European Union with relation to this directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24025/05]
313 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date by which he expects the Government to be in a position to deliver on its commitment to provide 0.7% of gross national product for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23893/05]
69 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will give a commitment to develop, finance and put in place a national strategy for carers and thereby give full recognition to their role as an integral part of the health services; if he will provide adequate supports for the 150,000 family carers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23020/05]
665 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application by a school (details supplied) in County Galway for funding for much needed extension work; when the necessary funding will be provided; when the construction work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22018/05]
664 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide such support for multi-denominational primary education here as will meet the human rights entitlements as understood by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva; if she will confirm such a principle; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22017/05]
630 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will accord such rights as will meet the terms of United Nations Commission for Human Rights understanding in relation to the provision of multidenominational primary education here; if she will confirm the Government’s intention to have such rights vindicated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22058/05]
629 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if the provision of core funding for the development of multi-denominational primary education here is a right that arises as understood by the UNHCR; his views on such a right; and if he will confirm that such a right exists for the Minister for Education and Science.
[22039/05]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the timeframe envisaged for the completion of the new round of tests planned for the electronic voting machines; the intended date for the publication of the resulting report; the estimated cost of this round of tests; the tests which will be used; the nature of the tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22205/05]
111 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will identify all the local authorities which accept inorganic farming waste for recycling; the types and volumes of inorganic farming waste collected and recycled by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22206/05]
254 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he proposes to take to implement the nitrates directive particularly in the catchment areas of such water bodies as Lough Corrib and Lough Carra in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21650/05]
168 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on recent reports that it is a burden to have to implement the UNHCR’s procedures for dealing with immigrants arriving on Irish shores; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18480/05]
167 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has been briefed on the ongoing processes of recruitment and acquisition of weapons referred to in a report of the International Monitoring Commission, on the part of republican and loyalist paramilitary groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18492/05]
155 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she proposes to take to implement the nitrates directive, particularly in the catchment areas of such water bodies as Lough Corrib and Lough Carra in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21654/05]
154 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the changes she proposes to make in forestry policy in order to address such issues as have been raised with her by spokespersons on behalf of the communities in the catchment areas of both Lough Corrib and Lough Carra in County Galway, as to the environmental impact of existing forestry policy and practice to these lakes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21652/05]
105 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to respond to the threat to a number of Ireland’s native fish species that a recent report (details supplied) has suggested that certain freshwater fish are under serious pressure as their habitats have been damaged.
[21661/05]
104 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to deal with the urgent environmental issues that arise from the infestation of western waterways with African weed, Lagarosiphon Major.
[21659/05]
103 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposals and practical implantation strategies which have been adopted as a result of interdepartmental consultations and meetings with local interests, in relation to the ongoing threat of an environmental kind to Lough Corrib and Lough Mask in County Galway; his views on these matters regarding the concerned groups in the locality of these lakes who have sought such information from him and his Department.
[21660/05]
62 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made in the Garda investigation into two robberies of security vans in Dublin during March 2005 in which more than €4 million was taken; the amount taken in raids on security vans during 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the number of such cases in which charges have been laid; if he is satisfied that the gardaí have sufficient resources to deal with this plague of robberies and to bring those responsible to justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21453/05]