33 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals for a gun amnesty; when it is likely to begin; the duration of the amnesty; the type of weapons it will cover; if any conditions will be attached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21447/05]
314 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the training which has been introduced and implemented at the behest and under the authority of his Department in respect of obligations for city and county managers and their staff; and if any such training is regularly maintained and checked.
[21490/05]
315 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that local authority housing policies and practices comply with the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21491/05]
313 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the arrangements which have been put in place by his Department to ensure that local authorities, in the exercise of their housing functions, comply with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21488/05]
217 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to build an airport runway near Schull in west Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21537/05]
169 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the total spend here on arts and culture over the past year; the spend on a yearly basis over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21484/05]
68 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce any new regulations for children’s safety on school buses in view of the recent bus crash tragedy in Meath; if he has received the report from the Health and Safety Authority into the crash; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21213/05]
57 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on a new report calling for the reopening of the western rail corridor on a phased basis; the estimated cost of the reopening of the line; the proposed timetable for the reopening of the full line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21210/05]
115 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the IMO regarding the introduction of the promised doctor-only card; her plans for further discussions; the number of such cards issued to date; when the full complement will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20829/05]
112 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to withhold pay increases due to general practitioners as a result of their decision not to co-operate with the issuing of the general practitioner-only card; her views on whether this decision may lead to industrial action and consequent disruption of services to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20831/05]
31 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to a new site for the Abbey Theatre; if the OPW has finished exploring options for a potential site at George’s Dock; if he will provide a final date for a decision on a new site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20289/05]
84 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has made a final decision on the commissioning of the Corrib gas field onshore pipeline; if he has satisfied himself that the highest safety standards will be achieved in the construction of the pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19920/05]
59 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied) will build a shallow water offshore terminal for the Corrib gas field due to safety concerns surrounding the onshore pipeline; the details of the new review of the quantified risk assessment carried out by Enterprise Energy Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19919/05]
625 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on persistent reports and substantial circumstantial evidence (details supplied) that persons are being smuggled through Irish territory in circumstances that amount to unlawful detention in both Irish and international law; the checks which have been put in place at Shannon Airport by the Garda and security authorities to establish whether there is further evidence of such wrong-doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19416/05]
468 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether there is a difficulty and inconsistency with the citizens of a peace-loving and neutral country having to pay some of the costs of war, in view of recent revelations that taxpayers’ money is used to effectively subsidise the US military’s sending of armed troops and a wide range of munitions to war and to occupation of both Iraq and Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19415/05]
377 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government, through permitting the use of Shannon Airport for the refuelling and servicing of two aeroplanes used for the extraordinary renditions programme of the US intelligence services, which may have had on board prisoners being delivered for interrogation which involved the use of torture, has lent itself to a breach of the international convention outlawing torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19394/05]
115 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the call from the TUI for the extension of the leaving certificate timetable beyond the current 13 days and the better distribution of core subjects throughout the exam period; her views on the call made; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19662/05]
85 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the decision by the joint managerial body not to release teachers for oral, practical and in-service training from September 2005; the steps she intends to take arising from this decision in view of the possible disruption to exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19661/05]
48 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether and if the European Union will insist that the current withdrawal of occupation in Gaza will be effected and followed by withdrawal from the West Bank and the territory adjoining east Jerusalem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18476/05]
36 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position relating to the achievement of the millennium development goals by each member state of the European Union and by the Union in its entirety; the estimated date by which each member state and the EU as a whole will have achieved these goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18475/05]
5 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a reference is not included in the information pack and quick guide to the work of Development Co-operation Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18783/05]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the outcome of the referenda on the European constitution in France and the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18782/05]
173 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the practice of the US State Department in designating specific countries of particular concerns; and if he supports this process as it pertains to Turkmenistan.
[18716/05]
172 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the vindication of rights claimed and upheld by a person (details supplied) under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to that convention; if the Government has been contacted with reference to their issue; and if he will offer assistance in this matter.
[18715/05]
72 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in regard to his announcement of the recruitment of an additional 11 labour inspectors, the number that have been appointed to date; when the full number will be appointed; if they will be concentrated on any particular area of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18014/05]
60 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate and the number of prosecutions initiated by the inspectorate in respect of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18013/05]
25 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a report from the chief of staff on the findings of the board of officers established to examine events in Jadotville in the Congo in September 1961; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17614/05]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date with regard to the implementation of the reserve Defence Force review implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17615/05]
68 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the ownership of the Irish sugar quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17380/05]
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in her capacity as the holder of a golden share in a company (details supplied), she has received any indication from the company regarding its plans for the site of the Carlow plant which closed on 11 March 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17381/05]
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a recent survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showing that Irish pensions, on average, are among the lowest in the developed world at less than one third of final income; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this survey states that Ireland has the lowest pension rate at average earnings at 30.6%; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17121/05]
14 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the calculated level of job loss in Gaeltacht areas to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16683/05]
9
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh aon athrú ar theorainneacha na Gaeltachta in 2005, 2006 nó 2007; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[16641/05]
180 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the initiatives he has taken to advance the Sellafield issues; if he has taken steps at international level; if such steps include potential legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13548/05]
130 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has raised with the British Foreign Secretary the issue of the refusal of the authorities in Sellafield to make information which has been sought available for the Radiological Institute of Ireland; the steps he intends to take to make such information available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13547/05]
30 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to claims made by the president of the Garda Representative Association that insidious bullying is rife within the Garda Síochána; if steps are being taken to establish the extent of this problem within the Garda and to ensure that steps are taken to stamp it out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16121/05]
21 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent caution from the Court of Criminal Appeal to gardaí concerning the importance of electronic taping of interviews with suspects in serious criminal cases; the number of Garda stations now equipped with video and audio taping equipment; the proportion of interviews conducted by the gardaí which is taped; his plans for the extension of such facilities to all Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16120/05]
32 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the total amount paid by his Department to the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of charges due for foreign military aircraft passing through Irish airspace in respect of each of the past five years; the unit cost in respect of each such aircraft; the breakdown of the nationality of the aircraft in respect of which such charges were paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15581/05]
15 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when a decision will be made on the proposed western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15557/05]
148 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in regard to the package of measures announced on Estimates day to improve accident and emergency services, she will list those measures implemented to date; the timetable for the implementation of each other planned measures; if she has satisfied herself with the rate of progress having regard to the serious problems that continue to be experienced in many accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15317/05]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that it has now been decided not to proceed with the 850 community nursing units, announced in July 2002, and which were intended to provide step-down facilities for elderly patients and thus relieve pressure on acute hospital beds; the reason for such decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15318/05]
77 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when it is intended to re-enter the Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 on the Order Paper of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14383/05]
29 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will make a national submission to the EU consultation on the future maritime policy of the Union recently announced by President Barroso; his views on the fisheries policy in the United Kingdom, a number of whose political parties are planning to re-examine Britain’s membership of the Common Fisheries Policy; his further views on any possible impact of this debate on the future of Ireland’s fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14382/05]
133 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the serious concern expressed from many quarters at the inadequate nature of the proposed British inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane; the response he has received to these representations; the Government’s position regarding the inquiry; the Government’s views on the adequacy of this inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13733/05]
97 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which has been made to date by the constituent members of the European Union in their respective reviews of their commitments to the world millennium development goals; the progress the Government has made in honouring the commitment solemnly made in September 2000 in this regard, which was recently broken; if there is now a proposal to honour this promise made to the world’s poorest; the likely date of publication of the Irish review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13566/05]
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with the Director of the European Office for the Development of Democracy in Burma, Harn Yawnghwe.
[13565/05]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his discussions on reform of the United Nations, on behalf of the General Secretary, Mr. Kofi Annan, include dealing with the issue of the use and abuse of the veto by the permanent members of the Security Council; his views on the way in which to ameliorate this abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13732/05]
223 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if representatives from her Department have, in the past, placed snares or other traps in Coillte’s Kilcornaun Wood in Clarinbridge, County Galway, as part of the tuberculosis eradication scheme.
[13537/05]
119 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by the Revenue Commissioners in its investigation into the reported use of single premium insurance policies as a tax avoidance mechanism; if an estimate is available of the amount of tax that may have been evaded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13343/05]
99 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the terms of reference for the next round of work to be undertaken by the benchmarking body; when the process is likely to begin; when it is likely to be completed; if the members of the body have now been appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13344/05]