2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the schools which have represented to his Department that their buildings are below the required standard, substandard in any other sense or in need of replacement; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that no child will have to receive education in such a school by the beginning of the school year in September 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20191/99]
96 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if Ireland participated in a vote at an Article 21 committee meeting in March 1998 or at any other time to approve the release of a genetically modified variety of maize; if Ireland voted in favour of the proposal; if so, the reason Ireland voted in this way; if he instructed his Department officials in relation to the vote; if he was lobbied by representatives of other Governments or by any commercial interests in connection with the vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18728/99]
61 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he met the United States Secretary for Agriculture in early 1998; if so, the purpose of the meeting; at whose initiative the meeting was arranged; the matters discussed at the meeting; the discussions, if any, which took place concerning Ireland's or the EU's position on genetically modified foods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18727/99]
96 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if Ireland participated in a vote at an Article 21 committee meeting in March 1998 or at any other time to approve the release of a genetically modified variety of maize; if Ireland voted in favour of the proposal; if so, the reason Ireland voted in this way; if he instructed his Department officials in relation to the vote; if he was lobbied by representatives of other Governments or by any commercial interests in connection with the vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18728/99]
61 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he met the United States Secretary for Agriculture in early 1998; if so, the purpose of the meeting; at whose initiative the meeting was arranged; the matters discussed at the meeting; the discussions, if any, which took place concerning Ireland's or the EU's position on genetically modified foods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18727/99]
Bill entitled an Act to establish a body to be known as Coimisiún Náisiúnta UNESCO or, in the English language, the UNESCO National Commission, to make provision for its functions and to provide for related matters
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he is taking to reassure the US market for Irish pigmeat that the current Belgian food scare is not connected with Irish exports; the indications, if any, that the US market is resisting Irish pigmeat; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16939/99]
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the number of people or bodies which would otherwise be liable for tax who have claimed exemption by virtue of the provision exempting the proceeds of studs and stallions from tax; if he will give an estimate of this tax; the proposals, if any, he has to consider any amendment to the law in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16140/99]
15
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán an bhfuil aon scéim ar intinn aici chun cabhrú le daoine óga ón nGaeltacht píosa talún a fháil chun teach a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina leith.
[14655/99]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will publish the long awaited White Paper on health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13972/99]
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the research, if any, his Department has undertaken or commissioned on the implications for public health of the wider consumption of genetically modified foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13971/99]
19 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the conclusions of the report on Aer Rianta's future strategic direction; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12991/99]
25 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the files of the Kennedy committee into industrial and reformatory schools are reported as missing; the efforts, if any, he has made to locate and recover the files; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12837/99]
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to claims by the housing organisation, Threshold, concerning a fivefold increase in the number of tenants evicted from private rented dwellings in 1998; the plans, if any, he has to afford additional protection to private tenants, particularly, as many of these evictions seem to be to facilitate redevelopment or sale of property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6163/99]
8 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the new system of managing the State's mackerel quota is discriminatory and limits the earnings of mackerel fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3818/99]
43 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to respond to the issues raised in a submission concerning the establishment of a centre for dyslexic children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1400/99]
41 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to establish a special review group for learning disorders; the learning disorders recognised by his Department; if he will publish a definition of this and the number of children involved; the research, if any, being carried out by his Department in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3715/99]
43 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to respond to the issues raised in a submission concerning the establishment of a centre for dyslexic children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1400/99]
41 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to establish a special review group for learning disorders; the learning disorders recognised by his Department; if he will publish a definition of this and the number of children involved; the research, if any, being carried out by his Department in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3715/99]
58 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the further progress, if any, he has made in relation to his proposal to introduce a £3 tourist tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3484/99]
58 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the further progress, if any, he has made in relation to his proposal to introduce a £3 tourist tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3484/99]
17
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán an bhfuil sí sásta go mbeidh sé ar a gcumas ag Teilifís na Gaeltachta feidhmiú i gceart ó thaobh cláracha de agus an mbeidh siad ábalta athrú go dtí an córas digiteach leis na cistí reatha agus caipitil atá measta don bhliain seo chugainn.
[24897/98]
17
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán an bhfuil sí sásta go mbeidh sé ar a gcumas ag Teilifís na Gaeltachta feidhmiú i gceart ó thaobh cláracha de agus an mbeidh siad ábalta athrú go dtí an córas digiteach leis na cistí reatha agus caipitil atá measta don bhliain seo chugainn.
[24897/98]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will approve the agreement for the rationalisation of the various pension schemes in relation to salaried officers and clerks in CIE; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22657/98]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will approve the agreement for the rationalisation of the various pension schemes in relation to salaried officers and clerks in CIE; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22657/98]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her intentions in relation to the application from her Department for a centre at Mullaghmore, County Clare, which has recently been rejected by Clare County Council.
[19874/98]
5 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider the extension of community employment from three to five years where training courses for some individuals require a period greater than three years and where the net benefit to the trainee and local community is very positive.
[15920/98]
26
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán cé mhéad airgid, do gach bliain ó 1990 ar aghaidh, a cuireadh ar fáil chun feabhsúcháin a chur i gcrích ar Oileán Thoraí; agus an luafaidh sí an chaoi ar caitheadh an t-airgead agus na tograí eile ar aistríodh an t-airgead chucu.
[14473/98]
20 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she will make to Government to enable a company (details supplied) to become an asset of RTE in the event of an opportunity arising for its purchase and reintegration into the national broadcasting infrastructure.
[14538/98]
26
D'fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán cé mhéad airgid, do gach bliain ó 1990 ar aghaidh, a cuireadh ar fáil chun feabhsúcháin a chur i gcrích ar Oileán Thoraí; agus an luafaidh sí an chaoi ar caitheadh an t-airgead agus na tograí eile ar aistríodh an t-airgead chucu.
[14473/98]
20 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she will make to Government to enable a company (details supplied) to become an asset of RTE in the event of an opportunity arising for its purchase and reintegration into the national broadcasting infrastructure.
[14538/98]
4 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the legislation, if any, she will introduce to enable a broadcasting regulator to be appointed; when this appointment will be made; if an appointment will precede the publication of an action plan on the European Commission Green Paper on Convergence; and her views on the Green Paper.
[14683/98]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position in relation to the special areas of conservation; the degree to which compliance has been made with European Union directives; when a full list of sites was or will be submitted; the meetings, if any, she has with conservation and farming organisations; and the arrangements and timescale for payment of compensation she has put in place.
[14682/98]
Bill entitled an Act to provide for public rights of access to certain broadcast events of major importance to society and to give effect to Article 3a of Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the co-ordination of certain provisions to be laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities, as inserted by Article 4 of Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997; and to amend the Competition Act, 1991 to provide for diversity of ownership in broadcasting and other media, and to provide for related matters
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will give the broadcasting policy reasons for the Government's decision to instruct RTE to sell its 25 per cent share in Cablelink.
[10907/98]
44 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the submissions received from representatives of the workforce in ACC and ICC respectively; if he has had further contact or meetings with interested parties in relation to the prospective restructuring; and whether he has sought or received a response from TSB in relation to the proposal made by or on behalf of the workforce of ACC.
[9520/98]
44 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance his views on the submissions received from representatives of the workforce in ACC and ICC respectively; if he has had further contact or meetings with interested parties in relation to the prospective restructuring; and whether he has sought or received a response from TSB in relation to the proposal made by or on behalf of the workforce of ACC.
[9520/98]
6 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has sought the retention of section 35 tax relief for films for a period longer than three years; and whether she sought increasing the 80 per cent of investment allowable to 100 per cent.
[6728/98]
4 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will give details of the final and substitution projects for which she envisages receiving aid under the cultural development incentives scheme for venues; the position on the progress of these projects; and if she will provide details of any changes made.
[2979/98]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will provide a revised timetable for the legislation in her area which has been promised in the Government programmes; and the reasons for the revision in the timetable from that promised on the record in 1997.
[2929/98]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has to implement the proposals of the FORTÉ report on the future of the music industry in Ireland.
[20892/97]
32 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress, if any, she has made to prevent the proposed ending of duty free services at airports and in transit in view of the reduction in trade and the loss of jobs which would be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18963/97]
32 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress, if any, she has made to prevent the proposed ending of duty free services at airports and in transit in view of the reduction in trade and the loss of jobs which would be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[18963/97]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has secured an understanding from the Department of Finance to enable her make proposals to resolve the dispute at the National Museum.
[17481/97]
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to make a substantially increased allocation for adult and continuing education in order to facilitate a special initiative in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16739/97].
17 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the initiatives Ireland proposes to take in relation to the present position in Sarajevo.
16 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he proposes to introduce amending legislation to grant additional powers to Údarás na Gaeltachta.