216 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his role in discussions taking place at EU level, and at Copenhagen, for funding to developing countries affected by climate change; the position being promoted by him at EU level for separation of funding for overseas development aid and climate change funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47406/09]
215 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use the overseas aid budget to pay for climate debt to poor countries; if he supports the position that 100% of the funds promised to support climate adaptation in developing countries, as part of the current UN climate negotiations, should be additional to official development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47405/09]
214 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional actions he proposes to take regarding the renewed programme for Government in view of budget 2010.
[47340/09]
48
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Michael D. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh toghchán ann d’Údaras na Gaeltachta in 2010; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.
[47052/09]
38 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount spent on the Christmas lights as Gaeilge initiative each year since its inception; the amount allocated in 2009; the recipients and the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47045/09]
276 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and Colombia; his views on whether negotiations should be suspended in view of attacks on human, and trade union, rights and if such a view has been communicated to the European Commission.
[47183/09]
275 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on ongoing tensions between Colombia and Venezuela.
[47182/09]
274 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent discussions at the meeting of European Union foreign Ministers regarding the future status of Jerusalem.
[47181/09]
267 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs how he proposes to make savings of more than €25 million in 2010 on Vote 29b relating to bilateral aid.
[47174/09]
266 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has set interim targets for achievement of the United Nations target for spending on overseas development in accordance with the programme for Government; and if he will he set out those targets.
[47173/09]
268 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the talks he has had with the Vatican and its representatives regarding the Murphy report on child sex abuse in the diocese of Dublin.
[47175/09]
236 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which persons who are seeking regularisation of their status are allocated to hostels for the duration of this assessment; the method of tendering for such hostels; the selection process; the criteria; the guideline costings; and details of such allocations as have been made from the beginning of the scheme.
[46919/09]
270 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the political, civil society and humanitarian position in Somalia.
[47177/09]
271 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the humanitarian position and progress being made on eliminating the conflicts that are taking a toll on civilian life in Darfur.
[47178/09]
50 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Papal Nuncio being the dean of the diplomatic corps while it is the case elsewhere that the longest serving ambassador fills such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46850/09]
273 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding loss of life in Afghanistan; his views on the suggestion that the second surge of troops is the correct course of action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[47180/09]
272 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views, following one of the conclusions of the Goldstone report, on whether there is an immediate and urgent environmental threat to the citizens of Gaza and their Israeli neighbours from the contamination of water, pollution, and release of raw sewage into the adjoining sea; the action that the European Union and he will take to address this issue.
[47179/09]
269 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding discussions between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iranian Government.
[47176/09]
29 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the appropriateness of the position of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps being filled, not on a rotational basis as prevails in most countries; the appropriateness of the prevailing arrangements; the details of the recent meetings with the representatives of the Holy See; the details of the meeting sought by the Papal Nuncio with the Secretary General of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions he has reached.
[46989/09]
38 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in which grenades, bombs or improvised explosive devices have been used; the number of occasions in each year when the gardaí called on the assistance of the Army ordinance unit to deal with such devices; the number of prosecutions initiated as a result of the discovery or such devices; his views on the increased use of such devices by criminal elements; the steps that are being taken to curb the use of such devices, particularly having regard to the danger they pose the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46185/09]
60 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda Reserve recruited to date; the stations to which they have been allocated; the number of applicants for the reserve currently in training; if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment; when he expects that the full complement of 1,500 will be in place; if restrictions have been placed on recruitment to the reserve arising from budgetary restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[46186/09]
178 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cuts to date in funding to each of the multilateral agencies supported by Irish Aid and to each sector of our bilateral aid to our priority partner countries.
[46146/09]
28 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the action he has taken following the publication of the CIE commissioned Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report on alleged irregularities in the procurement process at Irish Rail; if he has received reports he requested on major procurements at Irish Rail; his views on further measures to invigilate auditing practices at commercial semi-State transport bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45862/09]
272 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which persons who have come here and are seeking regularisation of their status are allocated to various hostels for the duration of this assessment; the approach that is being taken in terms of seeking to keep families, or couples, in the same hostel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45398/09]
86 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if agreement has been reached with nursing home owners to ensure that they do not pass on the inspection fee to their clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45544/09]
77 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if legal issues have arisen in relation to the property elements of the fair deal legislation in the context of carrying out assessments for ancillary State support; the way in which families can acquire information regarding such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45543/09]
245 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the need for recommencement of the plans to proceed with the development of the new building of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if he is in receipt of appeals from the local community to advance plans for a new fit for purpose school for Connemara; his views on whether the need for this work is made all the more urgent in view of the fact that there are thirteen feeder national schools linked with this secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[45173/09]
175 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent arrest by Israeli authorities of a person (details supplied) at the border terminal between Jordan and the occupied West Bank; his further views on reports that this person has not been charged with a crime, which has led their lawyers to believe that the person is being held due to advocacy work; if this matter has been raised with the Israeli Government and its representatives here; and the steps being taken to seek the immediate and unconditional release of this person.
[45175/09]
140 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if she will support this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[45174/09]
60 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 Assets Management Agency’s special purchase vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44892/09]
46 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce legislation which would allow credit institutions to go after-self administered pension funds in order to fulfil borrowing requirements or personal guarantees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[44891/09]
64 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the State agencies under her remit to which the new code of practice for the governance of State bodies applies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[44595/09]
53 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if all the boards of State agencies under her remit which are required to implement the new code of practice for the governance of State bodies have done so; if they have formally adopted the code at a board meeting; if they have undertaken training to ensure proper implementation of the code; if they have put in place monitoring procedures to ensure proper compliance with the code; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[44596/09]
57 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when farmers who are locked out of the farm improvement scheme will have their applications processed.
[43629/09]
29 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the date of payment for the 2010 instalment of the farm waste management scheme.
[43630/09]
77 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his target for ocean energy technology; when the licence for the grid application was made; when the licence was granted; the number of applications received; the amount of the €26 million announced for ocean energy that will be spent in total for 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43361/09]
88 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish the findings of the fuel poverty action research project; when this was first due for publication and the reason for its delay; the numbers living in fuel poverty; the number of persons who benefited from the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[43360/09]
94 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made towards the establishment of an independent electoral commission as proposed in the programme for Government and the revised programme for Government; if it is his intention that the electoral commission will produce a new national rolling electoral register which is not specifically mentioned in the revised programme for Government; if the 12 month target set for the electoral commission to propose reforms will run from 10 October 2009 or a date following the establishment of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42936/09]
74 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1053 of 16 September 2009, if the legislative error in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 in regard to existing affordable homes purchasers has been corrected; the number of purchasers affected by this error; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42935/09]
49 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if the views and opinions of the staff of the Irish Red Cross were sought in relation to the internal governance reform review of the Irish Red Cross; if the views and opinions of all central council members and all other relevant stake holders were sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42194/09]
17 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the drop in Defence Forces numbers from 12,750 in 1996 to 10,081 in 2009 leaves little scope for further cuts if he wishes to maintain a credible organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[42193/09]
277 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the prospects for progress on the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.
[41914/09]
276 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has been in contact with the British Government following recent disclosures that it is planned to open ten new nuclear facilities there, predominantly on the west coast; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41930/09]
206 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there have been developments regarding the proposed transfer of certain Guantanamo detainees to here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41941/09]
50 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he acknowledges that the most appropriate way of marking the 20th anniversary of the murder of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador by anti-democratic forces, is for him to respond generously to the loss of life and homes of some of the poorest people in El Salvador as a result of Hurricane Ida.
[42163/09]
48 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the 25% reduction in overseas development aid spending over the past 12 months and the consequences from this which have flown to the poorest of the poor, he is in a position to confirm that there will be no further cuts and that Ireland will honour its commitment to reach the UN target of 0.7% of GDP by 2012.
[42162/09]
84 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost to date of the proposed decentralisation programme for his Department; the position regarding staffing levels that have decentralised; the efficiency of these changes to the workings of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41625/09]
98 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the rural transport project funded by his Department; if he has made a decision on continued funding of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[41624/09]
77 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a report from the Labour Court regarding a possible change in the national minimum wage; if not, when she expects to receive its report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[41060/09]