856 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has consulted with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Waterways Ireland on the development of immigration policy and the management of immigration controls in a manner that accommodates and supports an all-island tourism sector that attracts overseas visitors; his views on the application of such controls in relation to tourist and recreational traffic on cross-border waterways such as the Shannon-Erne Waterway, on cross-border waymarked ways such as the Sliabh Beagh Way and on sea loughs such as Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11593/08]
189 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if theatre licences are still granted by the customs service; the number of licences issued in each of the past three years, in Dublin and countrywide; if they are monitored; and if so, the person by whom they are monitored; if the Garda Síochána are consulted before a licence is granted or renewed; and if he is satisfied with the present system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11763/08]
132 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding each of the reviews of the Combat Poverty Agency; and the outcome and main conclusions of those that are now finalised.
[12197/08]
97 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date in respect of the commitment in the programme for Government to examine the possibility of introducing a paternity benefit; the number of cross-departmental meetings that have been held; and when he expects the payment will be introduced.
[12195/08]
37 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the high-level, independently chaired strategy committee established to consider the recommendations of the National Economic and Social Forum’s report on the arts, cultural inclusion and social cohesion has reported back to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10834/08]
167 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a 19-month wait for speech therapy and that infant check-ups are being scheduled due to staff shortage at a health centre (details supplied) in Dublin 24; the steps being taken to address these problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[10809/08]
126 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on providing a channel dedicated to the democratic discussions in Dáil Éireann and making it available on terrestrial television; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10567/08]
109 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the data on broadband coverage is adequate; his further views on a recent programme (details supplied) that found many areas that appear to have broadband in the Government’s coverage map do not have sufficient coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10566/08]
43 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport when he will implement the EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9640/08]
11 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport if he has reviewed the recent study by the European Transport Safety Council which indicated that deaths on motorways here increased by 11% between 2000 and 2006 and ranked Ireland in seventh place with 2.39 deaths per billion kilometres travelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9617/08]
305 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in relation to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 5 December 2007, there was correspondence from the Garda Commissioner to the Secretary General at the Department of Education and Science, the CEO of the Health Board and the then Director of the Children’s Centre, Finglas regarding co-operation in investigations into concerns regarding possible child abuse during the second half of 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9557/08]
142 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people with learning disabilities who have committed criminal offences and are being accommodated outside Ireland for specialised forensic services; the estimated cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9312/08]
117 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will address serious deficits in the provision of forensic mental health services outside of the Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[9311/08]
518 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to raise compulsory retirement age for senior Garda officers from its level of 60; if he is satisfied that the compulsory retirement age is consistent with obligations under equality law and anti-discrimination measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9195/08]
510 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda National Immigration Bureau keeps statistics on the number of non-EEA nationals to whom it granted a stamp 4 based on marriage to an Irish citizen; the relevant numbers for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9141/08]
507 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the applications for citizenship by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9123/08]
506 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of a fatal accident (details supplied), where charges against the other party for leaving the scene of the crime have been dropped without explanation to the deceased person’s family, he is satisfied that this refusal to explain is consistent with the victims charter; the rationale for this refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9122/08]
505 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is intended to increase the Garda search powers, promised in the Programme for Government, in relation to drug crime along the lines of the new random breath-testing model for drink driving to allow random searches at particular places, times and events where senior Gardaí believe there is a risk of drugs being present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9121/08]
504 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to introduce the Garda charter, promised in the Programme for Government, setting out targeted Garda response times and levels of service which the public can expect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9120/08]
361 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the processes and guidelines the Registration Offices use to ensure the bona fides of couples wishing to get married; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9140/08]
164 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, having regard to the conclusions of the inter-Departmental Review Group on the Gaming and Lotteries Acts in 2000 to the effect that the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 effectively prohibits the operation of casinos here and that the ban on casino type gaming included in that Act should be retained in any new legislation, he will confirm policy in this area; if he has been advised that the 1956 Act has no application to casino type gaming carried on in members’ clubs; if so, the official status of that advice; if specific defects in the legislation have been identified; if the issue has been tested in the Courts or if it is planned to have it so tested; his proposals in relation to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8962/08]
143 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received the report of the Hartnett inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); the reason the report has not been published; if it is intended to publish the report in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8961/08]
86 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the headline crime statistics for 2007, published by the Central Statistic Office on 28 January 2008, which showed an increase of 2% in the level of serious crime over the previous year and an increase of 6% in the final quarter and, in particular, the increase in the number of murders; the steps he will take to deal with the increase in crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8997/08]
50 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of redundancies notified to his Department during 2007; the way this compares with the same period in each year from 2002 to 2006; the numbers notified to date in 2008; his views on the reported increase in the number of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8335/08]
48 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number, in respect of EU Directives for which his Department has responsibility, remaining to be implemented; the directives that are overdue; the number of reasoned opinions received from the EU Commission since 2002 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8336/08]
79 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a claim under the health repayments scheme by persons (details supplied) in Dublin 24 where irreplaceable documents have been mislaid; the action that can be taken in this regard; if the claim will still be processed; the status of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8243/08]
154 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will sanction the payment of a gratuity allowance under Article 109 of the local government superannuation scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7627/08]
72 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of random audits carried out by the Revenue Commissioners in each of the years 2003 to 2007 and to date in 2008; the number of such audits expected to be undertaken during 2008 as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7732/08]
33 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated number of individuals holding non-domiciled status for tax purposes for each of the past three tax years; if the Revenue Commissioners have undertaken additional steps to clarify the number of visits made to the country by such non-residents; if he has plans to review legislation relating to the treatment of those individuals holding non-domiciled status for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7731/08]
16 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason in view of her public endorsement of plans for a bio-refinery in County Wexford, she did not support a similar proposal put forward by farmers in County Cork for a bio-fuel refinery on the grounds of the former sugar factory; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7101/08]
310 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for leave to remain for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6989/08]
301 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in regard to the recommendation made in the report of the Working Group on Domestic Partnership (details supplied) there is a need for protection for some people in these arrangements but that these might be better served through regular review of legislation and reform where necessary; if he has initiated any review of legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6907/08]
300 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in regard to the report of the Working Group on Domestic Partnership (details supplied) he has initiated research into who exactly makes up the cohort of non-conjugal relationships and what their needs are, as recommended in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6906/08]
166 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans, to increase the combined family income threshold of €38,675 having regard to the cost of living increase and the extra cost burdens being imposed on students whose families marginally exceed the threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6063/08]
111 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will reduce the threshold age of 23 for single parents who wish to continue their studies in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[6062/08]
655 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for citizenship for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6529/08]
654 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for citizenship for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6528/08]
653 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-EEA nationals registered with GNIB as being resident in the State; the number of these people who have student visas; the number who are recognised refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6527/08]
634 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amounts paid in terms of fees and expenses to each person who served as a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal for 2006 and 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6109/08]
633 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases, initiated in the High Court and naming himself as a respondent, relating to judicial reviews of immigration and asylum application decisions, that were settled by the respondent in 2007 before a judgment was delivered by the court; and the total amount of settlement costs to be met by the respondent as a result of these settlements.
[6108/08]
361 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that were routed through members of Dáil Éireann in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6526/08]
121 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence his proposals in 2008 to increase the size of the Navy flotilla and develop the Air Corps airlift capabilities.
[6345/08]
116 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence his proposals in regard to the 2008 annual programme of major stimulated exercises and to use these structured exercises to support sustained public awareness and reassurance.
[6344/08]
150 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in relation to recovery of unpaid maintenance to recipients of one-parent family payment by absent parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5240/08]
117 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he has taken in respect of the commitment in the programme for Government to examine the possibility of introducing a paternity benefit.
[5239/08]
212 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is no provision for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 to receive speech therapy; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this child with special needs never received speech therapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[4649/08]
57 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the announcement by a company (details supplied) of the loss of 220 jobs at its Tallaght, Dublin 24 plant; if he will ask the industrial development agencies to ensure that the area receives special attention in regard to a replacement industry; his views on the continued loss of manufacturing jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4048/08]
28 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports that workers on a €50 million ferry due to begin sailings between Ireland and France will be paid as little as €4 per hour or around half the national minimum wage; his views on these reports; the action he will take in regard to this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4051/08]
120 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he and his Department have had with Chinese counterparts as well as representatives of the Chinese Government in Ireland with regard to continued mistreatment of practitioners and adherents of Falun Gong.
[3690/08]
146 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Irish participation in a United Nations mandated EU force being deployed to Chad.
[3689/08]