81 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made by the interdepartmental group on implementing the report of the minimum wage commission; if the Government will introduce legislation providing for the introduction of a minimum wage of the level and within the timeframe recommended by the commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21633/98]
81 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made by the interdepartmental group on implementing the report of the minimum wage commission; if the Government will introduce legislation providing for the introduction of a minimum wage of the level and within the timeframe recommended by the commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21633/98]
58 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the mid-term review of the URBAN operational programme has been completed; if so, if the report will be published; the progress made regarding the drawdown of funds approved by the previous Government for areas under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20442/98]
58 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the mid-term review of the URBAN operational programme has been completed; if so, if the report will be published; the progress made regarding the drawdown of funds approved by the previous Government for areas under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20442/98]
5 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands when the National Library last had a permanent director; when it is proposed to make an appointment to this position having regard to the importance of the library and its contents; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[19723/98]
25 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress, if any, made to date in regard to discussions between the Irish Marine Emergency Service and local authorities with a view to improving co-operation between the Irish Marine Emergency Service and lifeguards, particularly in view of recent drowning tragedies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16075/98]
25 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress, if any, made to date in regard to discussions between the Irish Marine Emergency Service and local authorities with a view to improving co-operation between the Irish Marine Emergency Service and lifeguards, particularly in view of recent drowning tragedies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16075/98]
22 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the mid-term review of the URBAN Operational Programme has been completed; if the report will be published; the steps, if any, he is taking to expedite the draw-down of funds approved by the previous Government for areas under the URBAN programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15141/98]
10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on whether, when the RTE licence relating to the use of the long wave 252 frequency which expires in March 1999, a different use could be made of it in the national interest, for example, to broadcast a mix of the best of all Irish radio to people in Britain of Irish birth or descent; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14568/98]
15 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will establish the promised independent agency to administer FEOGA and other payments to farmers.
[13378/98]
8 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if the report has been received from the court of inquiry established to investigate an incident in Kilworth Camp in December 1997 in which a soldier lost a hand and four others were less seriously injured while training with a mortar; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12979/98]
13 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the progress made to date in terms of securing corporate support for the drugs initiative as envisaged in the second report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce Demand for Drugs; and if the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs has promulgated guidelines to the corporate sector in relation to soliciting financial contributions for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11329/98]
9 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the work to date of the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9274/98]
49 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel serving with the Air Corps and the number of qualified and available pilots; the plans, if any, to recruit civilian pilots to fly the Government jet; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9251/98]
49 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel serving with the Air Corps and the number of qualified and available pilots; the plans, if any, to recruit civilian pilots to fly the Government jet; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9251/98]
13 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs has considered the procedures for the disbursement of funds to approved projects in the task force areas; if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed in relation to the delays in payments to approved projects; if the committee will consider measures to streamline payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8141/98]
3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if the guidelines for accessing the young people's facilities and services fund, established under the terms of the second report of the Ministerial Task Force on the Reduction of Demand for Drugs, have yet been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5681/98]
6 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by anti-drugs groups regarding the failure of the Government to allocate funding for the youth services development fund agreed by the previous Government arising from the second report of the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs; the plans, if any, he has to discuss the matter with the chairpersons of the 13 local drugs task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1727/98]
6 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the position on the violence in Algeria; the initiative, if any, the Government plans to try to end the violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4287/98]
26 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures, if any, he is considering to allow lone parents to work outside the home and support their families themselves as much as possible in view of his interview (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2552/98]
4 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, there are to review the monitoring procedures of Partnership 2000, following the publication of the NESF report, "A Framework for Partnership"; if so, the form the review will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1726/98]
3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach when the annual meeting of all parties to Partnership 2000 convened by the Taoiseach, as provided for in the agreement, was last held; the matters discussed; when the next meeting will be held; the likely agenda; if the question of trade union recognition will be discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1725/98]
2 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the progress, if any, there has been in the establishment of a youth services development fund in relation to the recommendation in the second report of the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs; and the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to attracting funds from the private corporate sector.
[19408/97]
1 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs prior to the budget; if the commitment to a £20 million youth services fund in the second report of the ministerial task force will be confirmed by his Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19281/97]
8 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will make a statement on the outcome of her meeting with the Players' Council of the Abbey Theatre; the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to the council's request for a voluntary severance package; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20649/97.
5 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the number of parliamentary draftstsmen currently employed in the Office of the Attorney General; his views on whether the number is adequate in relation to the apparent delay in producing promised legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19407/97]
119 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the Government's policy on the provision of a 50 metre swimming pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17180/97]
60 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason he intervened with Bord Fáilte to have the new logo for the joint tourism marketing project, Tourism Brand Ireland, changed; his views on whether it is appropriate that a Minister should be involved in such a matter; the consultation, if any, he had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland before intervening; if his attention has been drawn to the strong criticism of his action expressed in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17183/97]
60 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason he intervened with Bord Fáilte to have the new logo for the joint tourism marketing project, Tourism Brand Ireland, changed; his views on whether it is appropriate that a Minister should be involved in such a matter; the consultation, if any, he had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland before intervening; if his attention has been drawn to the strong criticism of his action expressed in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17183/97]
119 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the Government's policy on the provision of a 50 metre swimming pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17180/97]
2 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee to be chaired by the Taoiseach to oversee the implementation of the Government's comprehensive drugs strategy has been established; if so, its membership and its terms of reference and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14858/97]
13 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the complete review of the planning laws will be completed; if, pending the completion of the review, he intends to issue any advice to local authority members as to the way in which they should deal with issues such as rezonings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when it is intended to implement the promised sale of 15 per cent of the shares in Telecom Éireann to its employees; the price at which the shares will be sold; if it is intended to extend similar share purchasing schemes to other companies in the semi-State sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15064/97]
13 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) in which it was reported that he received a letter from a person (details supplied) offering to give sworn evidence and provide independent corroboration to a tribunal of inquiry on matters which were the subject of a personal statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 10 September 1997; whether he received the letter; if so, when he received any such letter; the action, if any, he has taken or proposes to take arising from the letter; if he has had or if he has sought a meeting with the person concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14677/97]
12 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach when it is intended to appoint the person or persons to the tribunal of inquiry arising from the resolution agreed by Dáil Éireann on 11 September 1997; when the tribunal will commence its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14676/97]
39 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment her policies on the control of drink prices; the steps, if any, she intends to take to control the price of the pint; if she intends to maintain the price control orders introduced by the previous Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton; the representations, if any, she has received to lift the price control orders; her response to any such representations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13754/97]
39 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment her policies on the control of drink prices; the steps, if any, she intends to take to control the price of the pint; if she intends to maintain the price control orders introduced by the previous Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton; the representations, if any, she has received to lift the price control orders; her response to any such representations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13754/97]
6 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the new arrangements for the implementation of policy in respect of science, technology and innovation; whether the office of science and technology is to be broken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13718/97]
5 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by some economists concerning the accuracy of trade figures produced by the Central Statistics Office and, in particular suggestions that they may exaggerate the level of exports; the steps, if any, that are taken to ensure that the figures are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[698/94]
3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to revise or update the instructions issued to Ministers on taking office; if he has satisfied himself that compliance with the instructions is adequately monitored in view of the possible involvement of Ministers in private business or commercial activities; if he will arrange for a copy of the instructions to be placed in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2643/94]
17 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment the criteria used by his Department in designating areas for urban renewal; the level at which such decisions are made within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2302/94]
101 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for naturalisation received so far this year under the business migration scheme; the number granted; if she has received the report of the interdepartmental committee which was charged with examining the scheme; the changes, if any, she plans to make in regard to the operation of the business migration scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1943/94]
94 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the Government's proposals, if any, for the lifting of the state of emergency and the review of the operation of the Special Criminal Court and the Offences Against the State Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1942/94]
101 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for naturalisation received so far this year under the business migration scheme; the number granted; if she has received the report of the interdepartmental committee which was charged with examining the scheme; the changes, if any, she plans to make in regard to the operation of the business migration scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1943/94]
94 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the Government's proposals, if any, for the lifting of the state of emergency and the review of the operation of the Special Criminal Court and the Offences Against the State Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1942/94]
5 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to ensure equity of treatment of cohabiting couples in the social welfare and tax systems in regard to the statement of the Minister of State at his Department of 8 September, 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1620/94]
4 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of each visit he has made outside this country since 12 January 1993; the purpose of each visit; the duration and the cost of each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[733/94]
53 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the changes, if any, he intends to make in regard to the operation of the export credit insurance scheme arising from the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry; if he will give details of the other recommendations of the report that fall to his Department for implementation; if he will give the proposed timescale for these; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[691/94]
53 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the changes, if any, he intends to make in regard to the operation of the export credit insurance scheme arising from the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry; if he will give details of the other recommendations of the report that fall to his Department for implementation; if he will give the proposed timescale for these; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[691/94]
21 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent ESRI study showing that Irish women earn 20 per cent less than men and particularly the views of the authors that equal pay legislation on its own was unlikely to bridge the gap and that what was needed was a shift towards providing child care services to encourage more women to work; his response to the report; the action, if any, he intends to take based on the report's findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.