238 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts made by the Government to assist efforts to secure the release of a person (details supplied) in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25298/04]
206 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the wish of the people of West Papua to have the undemocratic decision presided over by the UN rescinded, and their aspiration to independence respected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25296/04]
38 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the main features of his proposals for further public service pension reform announced on 14 September; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24650/04]
29 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the huge decrease in the number of applications received under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and in the number of cases in which decisions made by Departments are processed to internal appeal, he will review the restrictions imposed by his predecessor on the operation of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24651/04]
65 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has assessed the impact of imports on mushroom producers here; and the amount of mushroom imports annually.
[24489/04]
51 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans in the short and medium term for the food industry; the aspects of food policy which come under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24488/04]
13 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the number of claims for damages for deafness determined in court or settled out of court at the latest date for which figures are available; the amount paid out to date in terms of damages or legal costs; the number of such claims outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24188/04]
70 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by the Director of Corporate Enforcement with regard to the action he has taken under section 19 of the Companies Act 1990 in regard to certain companies in a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23655/04]
13 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the report of the independent review of Ireland’s export licensing system, in regard to military and dual use goods; if he intends to act on the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23654/04]
238
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta an dtabharfaidh sí le fios, mar chuid den athbhreithniú ilbhliantúil i dtaca le tionscnaimh chaipitil a bhfuiltear ag súil leis ag deireadh mhí Dheireadh Fómhair, an ndéanfar measúnú ar thacaíocht caipitil le scoil nua a thógáil, ar shuíomh atá aimsithe agus ceadaithe, do na páistí atá ag freastal ar Scoil Náisiúnta na hAirde Móire, Carna, Contae na Gaillimhe, Uimhir Rolla 105911, ós rud é gur cás práinne atá anseo agus go bhfuil a n-imní léirithe, leis, ag na tuismitheoirí, ag an mbainistíocht agus ag na múinteoirí, agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina leith.
[23859/04]
220 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if as a result of the multi-annual review in relation to capital projects which is expected to be published in late October 2004, capital provision will be considered for a new school on a site identified and approved for the children attending a school (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the urgency which attends this matter and the concerns that have been stated to him by parents, management and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23653/04]
207 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the most recent letter from Amnesty International regarding weapons brokering to Sudan, his views on the matter, and when legislation on brokering in Ireland is to be put forward.
[23741/04]
171 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the decision to terminate the payment of the crèche supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23319/04]
166 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has plans to raise the weekly household income limit for the retention of secondary benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23320/04]
202
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil staidéar déanta aige ar an gcuid de Dhaonáireamh 2002 a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge.
[22787/04]
141
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cé mhéid taighde atá déanta i leith usáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ag an Roinn Gnothaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta nó ar son na Roinne Gnothaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta.
[22788/04]
45 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average cost of a new house in Dublin, a second-hand house in Dublin, a new house outside of Dublin, and a second-hand house outside of Dublin, in respect of 1997 and the latest year for which figures are available; the plans he has to ensure availability of affordable housing in view of recent figures (details supplied) showing that house price inflation here was seventh highest of 20 countries surveyed; his estimate of the likely increase in house prices during 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22566/04]
29 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take arising from his Department’s annual housing statistics bulletin which showed that the price for new and second-hand houses was rising at approximately eight times the rate of inflation and that house buyers were forced to borrow €17 billion in 2003 to finance the purchase of housing; the steps he intends to take to ensure that families can have access to affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22567/04]
325 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the issue of collective punishment against families and neighbours of wanted Palestinians with the Israeli authorities, in particular the controlled explosion of a number of flats in Bethlehem’s Makhlouf apartment building in which a person (details supplied) who has been detained in Israeli jails is resident, in the early morning of 25 June 2004.
[21263/04]
60 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made in implementing the report of the working group on the coroner service published in December 2000
[20695/04]
50 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in the review of the witness security programme; and if he is considering additional measures to support witnesses who may be giving evidence in court cases involving serious charges, but who may not wish to enter the protection programme.
[20694/04]
91 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when the full penalty points system will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20411/04]
100 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the action he intends to take arising from new figures showing that the number of road deaths to date in 2004 showed a 10% increase over the same period in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20410/04]
300 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the unacceptable state of affairs as it currently pertains regarding the need for, and lack of, assistants for children with special needs in the primary education sector throughout the country; the steps he intends to take to ameliorate this state of affairs, which is resulting in vital years being lost to those children in dire need of such assistance.
[20463/04]
89 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on providing the most effective possible treatments to combat multiple sclerosis, specifically on the effectiveness of a drug (details supplied) and the likelihood of this treatment being made widely available for sufferers of auto-immune disease here.
[19877/04]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the Irish Festival of Arts and Culture held in China; the details of the Chinese festival to be held here; the purpose and aims of each festival; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19725/04]
187 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention was drawn to the Palestinian Human Rights Centre’s report this week; and if he contacted the Israeli Embassy about Israeli troops continuing to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the Gaza Strip and that Israeli occupying forces conducted five military incursions into Palestinian areas and destroyed two houses in Rafah and razed 14 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-Balah.
[19663/04]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the policy whereby a person with a higher level academic qualification, such as a Ph.D, cannot qualify for free fees to study for a higher diploma in education in order to teach at second level; his views on the fact that this deters many potentially excellent teachers, especially in the science area, from joining the teaching profession at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19474/04]
85 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when he proposes to reach the target of 90% pre-school participation by 2010 contained in the Barcelona agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19473/04]
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to encouraging competition in the mobile phone market here; if he has plans to request ComReg to implement new policies calling for lower prices for mobile and fixed line telephone bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19202/04]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the long-standing campaign by organisations representing citizens with a hearing disability for 100% subtitling of television programmes by 2010; the steps he intends to take to ensure equality of viewing rights for all citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19195/04]
74 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response he received to his call for a ceasefire in the Middle East which he raised when attending a recent meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrialised nations in Washington; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18837/04]
20 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of discussions he held with the US President during the recent meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Group of Eight industrialised nations in Washington; if he raised the US mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq; and the response given by the US President.
[18838/04]
55 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the total moneys expended to date as part of the Government’s decentralisation programme announced in the Budget Statement in December 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18591/04]
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if a survey has been carried out generally to establish the number of public servants willing to transfer to new locations in regard to his decentralisation proposals, or if any such survey is planned; his views on whether the move will be voluntary and that no public servant will suffer in regard to career options or promotional opportunities if he or she does not wish to move to a new location; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern that has been expressed by various trade unions representing virtually all grades in the public service at the implication of the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18590/04]
84 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the national cancer registry which shows that cancer treatment and survival rates depend on the region a person lives in; the steps he is taking to ensure that there is a consistent level of treatment all over the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18369/04]
41 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when he expects that the national cancer strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18368/04]
31 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main features of the new consumer initiative agreed among member states on 18 May.
[18049/04]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is intended to review the level of the national minimum wage during the current negotiations between the social partners; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18051/04]
101 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the progress made by the board of military officers examining the submission made by a former officer concerning events in Jadotville in the Congo in September 1961; when he expects the board to produce a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17825/04]
87 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the current work of the task force office on emergency planning, which he chairs; when the last meeting was held; when the next meeting is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17826/04]
416 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will receive orthodontic treatment.
[17677/04]
389 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when he proposes to issue such approval of contracts as will enable an orthopaedic service to be provided at Castlebar Hospital; the access which exists for public patients in County Mayo orthopaedic surgery; if his attention has been drawn to the distress being created and the urgency which attaches to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17432/04]
264 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to mainstream the young mothers in education project that operated under the auspices of Galway city partnership.
[17430/04]
84 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she plans to announce a pension scheme for children that would see the Exchequer contribute a fixed amount annually to pension accounts for the 1.1 million children here; if she has examined the viability of such a scheme in view of the fact that less than half of the population is saving for their retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17703/04]
48
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mó post nua a cuireadh ar bun ó thús na bliana le cabhair Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an mó post a cailleadh.
[16806/04]
33
D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i leith chur i bhfeidhm an chláir dílárnaithe sa Roinn.
[16805/04]
62 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons on local authority housing lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the way this figure compares with the corresponding figure for the equivalent dates in each of the previous five years; the total number of local authority dwellings completed or acquired in 2002 and 2003, and the anticipated number for 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16502/04]
18 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take arising from his Department’s annual housing statistics bulletin which showed that the price for new and second hand houses was rising at about eight times the rate of inflation and that house buyers were forced to borrow €17 billion in 2003 to finance the purchase of housing; the steps he intends to take to ensure that families can have access to affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16499/04]
81 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his view on the recent call made by the SDLP for the establishment of an all-Ireland body to counter organised crime by criminal and paramilitary gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16283/04]