7 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare the level of real increases in social welfare payments; the increase in non-contributory old age and widows' pensions and long-term unemployment assistance over the lifetime of the current administration for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9914/97]
5 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare the revised estimate by his Department for the number of unemployed people for the year 1997; the revised cost of unemployment payments; his views on whether this is a realistic projection; the new measures, if any, he is taking to ensure this figure is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9913/97]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total cost, since his assuming office in December 1994, of non-Civil Service staff in his private and ministerial offices, including all administrative, advisory, research, personal assistant and public relations staff and staff working on his behalf in the Government Information Service; and if he will give details of the work which has been undertaken by these staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9912/97]
31 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on whether off-peak and shoulder season tourism are among the most undeveloped areas of the Irish tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9238/97]
31 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on whether off-peak and shoulder season tourism are among the most undeveloped areas of the Irish tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9238/97]
10 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the results of the recently published labour force survey which shows that unemployment came down by only 1,000 in 1996 and long-term unemployment by only 300; the plans, if any, he has to assist long-term unemployed people in achieving employment or an adequate income; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5723/97]
8 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make special provisions to allow women who work full-time in the home and who wish to re-enter the workforce the opportunity to avail of social welfare options in their own right and without the current means test restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5722/97]
7 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Social Welfare the arrangements, if any, which have been made for the reduction of the butter voucher scheme; the changes, if any, he has made in the value or number of vouchers which entitle people to subsidised butter; the number of people who will be affected; the plans, if any, to make up the shortfall for those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5721/97]
Bill entitled an Act to exemp marriages solemnised between the 1st day of August, 1996 and the 31st day of March, 1997 from the provisions of section 32 of the Family Law Act, 1995, to the intent that such marriages would not be void by reason on non-compliance with section 32 of the said Act.
Bill entitled an Act to provide for the abolition of ground rents and to provide compensation to those whose interests are affected as aforesaid, to provide for the apportionment of certain rents, to make provision in relation to the waiver and relaxation of certain restrictive covenants in leases, to provide for the arbitration of disputes arising out of the titles of persons whose interests are hereby enlarged to the fee simple, to provide for the registration of titles enlarged to the fee simple, to amend in other respects the law of landlord and tenant, and to provide for other matters connected to the matters aforesaid
7 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he intends to establish a national disability authority to monitor policy, standards and the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24809/96]
5 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will support the establishment in 1997 of a domestic violence resource unit to provide and co-ordinate a long-term response to tackling violence against women in our society; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24663/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to increase the resources available for counselling and mediation in cases of marriage breakdown, separation and divorce, in view of the Government's stated commitment to encourage the use of these devices and in view of the introduction of divorce and the urgent recommendations of the Commission on the Family for an increase in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24661/96]
15 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the mediation and counselling services currently available will be sufficient to meet the needs of the Family Law (Divorce) Bill, 1996; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that an adequate and professionally based service will be provided in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20579/96]
15 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the mediation and counselling services currently available will be sufficient to meet the needs of the Family Law (Divorce) Bill, 1996; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that an adequate and professionally based service will be provided in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20579/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether an agreement has been reached by the Government to trade-off the attainment of equality for women in employment against the need to provide employment for young males or any other socially disadvantaged groups.
[20705/96]
2 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he has found a solution which will reconcile the legitimate interests of licensed vintners, hoteliers, shopowners and restaurateurs and the essential objective in the Equal Status Bill of outlawing discrimination on grounds of race, religion, class or ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20702/96]
1 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform in relation to the EU Parental Leave Directive adopted in March 1996, which requires the Government to make provision for a minimum of three months parental leave on the birth or adoption of a child, the factors which are causing the Government to delay the implementation of this important measure designed to help both men and women to reconcile work and family life; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20701/96]
5 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he is taking to ensure that the Social and Structural Funds of the EU actively contribute towards women's equality, the promotion of people with disabilities and of members of the travelling community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17307/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he has examined the joint report of Dublin Corporation, IMPACT trade union and the Employment Equality Agency, published on 24 September 1996, which found that there are too many men on interview boards, that only three of ten Local Appointments Commission interview panels in 1995 had women on them and that there was a direct correlation between the gender of interviewers and successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on this matter and on its implications for interviews in the public service.
[17304/96]
2 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when he intends to publish the proposed Equal Status Bill; whether he has completed his consultations with interested parties and bodies in this regard; if so, the outcome of these consultations; and if he will consider removing without further delay the age discrimination which currently exists for entry in the public service.
[17303/96]
1 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to make provision for a commissioner to protect children in cases of marital breakdown and divorce in view of commitments given by him in Dáil Éireann prior to the Divorce Referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17302/96]
13 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he has taken to implement that part of the Maintenance Act, 1994, which provides for the recovery of maintenance due from abroad; the assistance, if any, provided for a person seeking maintenance from a person in another state; the amount that has been recovered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11928/96]
7 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when he will publish the regulations which will give effect to the Powers of Attorney Bill; and when the new legislation will become available to the families of persons who suffer from Alzheimers or other incapacitating diseases.
[11926/96]
6 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he supports the proposal for the establishment in Ireland of a centralised European Union Convention cause book and judgment registry data base; and if he will ensure that the establishment of this important EU facility, to be located in Ireland, will be on the agenda during Ireland's forthcoming presidency of the European Union.
[11925/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the EU Directive on parental leave for mothers and fathers; the length of leave that will be provided; when the Directive will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on this important EU development.
[11923/96]
3 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce amending legislation to remove the doubt concerning the validity in law of marriages celebrated in the months of August, September and October 1996.
[11922/96]
Bill entitled an Act to make provision for the removal of prize limits on lotteries and to amend the requirement to make returns to the Garda Síochána of winners of prizes in lotteries and for that purpose to amend the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 and the National Lottery Act, 1986
12 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has decided on his approach to the achievement of equality for people with a disability; and whether he will pursue this goal through mandatory legislation rather than through voluntary incentives.
[8727/96]
12 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has decided on his approach to the achievement of equality for people with a disability; and whether he will pursue this goal through mandatory legislation rather than through voluntary incentives.
[8727/96]
4 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in devising and putting in place a programme of measures to support the family in view of his promise in Dáil Éireann to do so prior to the divorce referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8731/96]
2 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he intends to introduce legislation to provide for adoptive leave for both parents on the basis of equality between both parents; if so, when this legislation will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8729/96]
1 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the greatest impediment to women achieving their potential in the workplace is the absence of a family-friendly environment in workplaces; and the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendations of the Employment Equality Agency in its recent report in this regard.
[8728/96]
27 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to raise the consciousness of the positive contribution of women in the home; the practical measures, if any, that are planned to facilitate women returning to the workforce and in achieving equality with their male counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6331/96]
26 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the equality objectives he has for women; his priorities regarding these objectives; the time-frame for achieving these; the monitoring mechanisms he has in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6330/96]
24 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to tackle the discriminatory practice of excluding suitable employees from interviews, jobs or promotion on the grounds of the applicant's age; and if he will ensure that experienced older job applicants will be entitled to achieve their rightful place in the workforce.
[6329/96]
23 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in the preparation of the employment equality and equal status legislation; when he will present these Bills to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6328/96]
Bill entitled an Act to make provision for the validity in law and the entry in the Register of Foreign Adoptions of adoptions of children made in the People's Republic of China and for that purpose to amend and extend the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1991
19 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the Employment Equality Agency has adequate power to deal with the growing problem of bullying, abuse of power/dominant position by men against women in the private and public work areas.
[3068/96]
17 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the views, if any, he has regarding the manner in which the travelling community was portrayed in newspaper coverage of recent criminal incidents.
[3067/96]
16 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the ruling of the European Court of Justice in a case (details supplied) is relevant on the basis of equality of treatment, to the current claim by nurses to an improved career structure, with due recognition and appropriate rewards; and if he will make a statement on the ruling.
[3066/96]
15 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities through legislation as has been done in the United States of America; and his views on this matter.
[18242/95]
13 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to exempt holders of liquor licences and other traders in sensitive positions from the provisions of the Equal Status Bill.
[18241/95]
20 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the way in which the integrity of a farm or business can be maintained in the event of a divorce; the extent to which this can be achieved in practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18237/95]
12 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, he has made in developing proposals to implement the measures set out in Fianna Fáil's five year strategic action plan of which he generally approved in view of the fact that the plan was proposed to address and provide solutions for the downside aspects of marriage breakdown, legal separation or divorce.
[18239/95]
23 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking to redress the discrimination in the existing adoption law against a birth mother which requires her to adopt her own child upon marriage so that the birth certificate reflects the fact that she is the natural mother of the child.
[15594/95]
23 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking to redress the discrimination in the existing adoption law against a birth mother which requires her to adopt her own child upon marriage so that the birth certificate reflects the fact that she is the natural mother of the child.
[15594/95]
9 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to overcome the situation as outlined in the 1994 annual report of the National Rehabilitation Board, in which people with disabilities find that they are excluded, set apart, stigmatised and undervalued.
[15599/95]
11 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he intends to make any commitment regarding the establishment of a Commissioner for children in advance of the forthcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15600/95]