27 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to transpose the European Union Public Participation Directive to give rights to the public to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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86 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he will clarify the roles of the seven Irish soldiers currently reported to be in Afghanistan.
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61 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the total value of goods or equipment purchased by the Defence Forces from Israeli companies; the steps taken before such contracts are awarded to ensure that such companies are not involved in unethical conduct or in activities that might be illegal under international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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694 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15041/10]
669 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Affairs if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
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616 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the €100 million to be spent by his Department in 2010 in tackling HIV and Aids and give a breakdown of the bilateral aid programme spending on AIDS/HIV by country; the intended purpose of the €13.9 million estimate in his Department’s earmarked fund; the amount of expenditure targeted at AIDS/HIV comprised in funding of non governmental organisations including multi annual programme scheme funding; and the contributions to multi lateral institutions.
[15105/10]
482 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number visas held by domestic workers employed in the private homes of foreign diplomats here (details supplied); the conditions attached to such visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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457 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the final destination of the flights carrying arms; the procedures in place to ensure they are not destined for embargoed destinations or destined for end-users likely to commit war crimes or human rights violations.
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456 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the criteria used to decide if an exemption from the provisions of Article 6 of the Air Navigation is granted; the reason applications in recent years have not been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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455 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the process of granting exemptions from Articles 6 and 7 in the Air Navigation Order 1973; if a separate exemption must be sought for every flight by an exempted aircraft; the total number of aircraft permitted to carry munitions of war over Ireland exempt from Articles 6 and 7 as of 1 January 2010.
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262 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that earlier this month five children lay on trolleys while at the same time eight beds were ordered closed in the paediatric unit at a hospital (details supplied) in County Galway; her views on this matter; and if she will make a commitment that such will not be repeated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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173 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permits held by domestic workers employed in private homes here (details supplied).
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22 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider a house alarm as part of the community support for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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45 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and name of agencies now under the remit of his Department; the way in which responsibility for each agency is broken down; the number and name of agencies previously under the remit of the Department that have been reallocated to other Departments due to recent changes; the change in policy of sections of his Department and the Minister or Ministers of State responsible for each of the new policy sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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170 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied).
[14029/10]
147 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who received notification of their passport renewal application being received on 16 February 2010; if this will be dealt with in view of the fact that this person is due to travel shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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133 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of visas held by domestic workers employed in the private homes of foreign diplomats here such as housekeepers, child minders or carers of an elderly person; the conditions that are attached to such visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14031/10]
96 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permits that are currently held by domestic workers employed in private homes here, such as housekeepers, child minders or carers of an elderly person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14030/10]
83 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism her strategy to attract high profile international events, particularly sports events to the country, similar to the Volvo Ocean Race, which will return to Ireland in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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102 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of marriages conducted at foreign embassies in Dublin which are not recognised by Irish law; the representations he has received from foreign missions accredited to Ireland regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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70 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he plans to recommend to his colleague ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council following his visit to Gaza; and the timescale for such actions in view of the urgency of the humanitarian issues involved.
[13401/10]
40 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded cases of tiger robberies in which staff or relations of staff of financial institutions were taken hostage in each year from 2005 to date in 2010; the amount of money taken in such robberies; the discussions he has had with the financial institutions about these robberies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the main findings of the recent report on training and development in the Garda Síochána; the steps that are being taken to deal with the skill training gaps identified in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12993/10]
105 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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88 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on the development of light rail systems in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford; if he has been in contact with Galway City Council on the publication of a feasibility study for the Galway Luas; if the Gluas would be developed through a public private partnership; if his Department will conduct feasibility studies in respect of Luas systems for Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12801/10]
Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will undertake necessary actions to end the impasse at the passport office; if he and high ranking officials in both the Department of Foreign Affairs generally and those with responsibility for the Passport Office itself will engage in direct dialogue with union spokespersons; if management at the Passport Office will also address issues within its area of responsibility, including the availability of passport printing machines and management of queues at the office; and if this will be treated as a matter of extreme urgency for the many people who are in need of having their passports renewed for planned trips over the coming days, as well as seeking a fair resolution to the matter for all workers in the passport office.
34 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers that will achieve €5,000 maximum payment under new agri-environment options scheme.
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29 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason that putting in clover is not part of the agri-environment options scheme in view of the fact that it mitigates greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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107 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will comment on reports that Anglo Irish Bank is set to post record losses in the region of €10 billion to €12 billion for the 15 month period to the end of 2009; if he would expect further asset write-downs at Anglo Irish Bank during the 2010 accounting period; if there are implications for the balance sheets of two banks (details supplied) arising from the Anglo Irish Bank write-downs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he has been approached by any interested parties with respect to taking shareholdings in the National Asset Management Agency special purpose vehicle; when he expects these investments to be concluded and the terms; his views on whether such shareholdings were to be held by the investment arms of credit institutions participating in NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11659/10]
92 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the announcement of the loss of 175 jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Galway; the steps that are being taken to secure alternative employment, especially having regard to the high level of other job losses in the area.
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66 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she is considering any changes to the structure, role or organisation of FÁS; if FÁS will remain within the area of responsibility of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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102 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an appeal for domiciliary benefit in respect of persons (details supplied).
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111 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will protect the funding of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association from cutbacks in view of the vital services the association provides for those who suffer from motor neurone disease and their carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10439/10]
64 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the task force on obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10440/10]
373 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an appeal for domiciliary benefit in respect of a person (details supplied).
[10386/10]
107 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the Grid 25 project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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69 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the issue of windfall profits being made by electricity generators; the position regarding the types of legislative mechanisms that may be put in place to recover carbon windfall gains from electricity generation companies; the most recent amount of windfall profits generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10140/10]
32 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to address the problems experienced in County Galway with cryptosporadium in the public water supply; the measures outstanding; when these measures will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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103 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the progress that will be made in 2010 regarding the Reserve Defence Force serving with the Permanent Defence Forces on overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9182/10]
72 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding a report by Amnesty International on violence against refugee women in eastern Chad; the actions that have emanated from those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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313 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions which have taken place between this country and Dubai since the recent apprehension of three persons suspected of murder, all of whom were found in possession of Irish passports.
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312 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action that is being taken to prevent the forgery of Irish passports; and the obstacles that are in place to prevent the forgery of Irish passports.
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311 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason three suspects in the execution of a person, a Hamas commander in Dubai, were in possession of Irish passports; if they were real, or forged, passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8856/10]
310 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding the possibility of seeking to assist those unemployed, such as builders, to continue to benefit from State welfare payment schemes if they were to volunteer for charity rebuilding programmes in Haiti or other countries suffering from natural disasters; his views on the fact that such a scheme would be beneficial in seeking to minimise and address unemployment and in addressing issues of isolation, loss of status and the purposelessness that the unemployed often face when they lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8704/10]
309 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding difficulties concerning the obtaining of visas to permit internationals to work and volunteer in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories; if this matter has been raised with relevant Governments and authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8703/10]
308 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any Irish embassies and-or diplomatic residences are in the process of being upgraded; if so, the list of same; and the expected cost for same.
[8702/10]
307 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports suggesting that a large amount of money is being spent on upgrading the Irish Ambassador to Canada’s residence; if this amount was sanctioned by his Department in its entirety; and if the amount spent represents an average for such upgrading.
[8701/10]
271 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Property Registration Authority’s move towards the e-conveyancing of land certificates; the documents that have been saved; the locations at which they are being kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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