15 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has satisfied himself with the operation of the social welfare appeals office; if he intends to implement any changes in the light of the experience so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
28 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he intends to bring forward proposals for the establishment of a national news agency; if he will outline (1) his plans in this regard; and (2) the role he sees for such an agency; whether such an agency would be privately or publicly owned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to comments made in the newsletter of PDFORRA (details supplied) which suggest that those who run and administer the Defence Forces show a lack of willingness to comply not so much with the letter of agreements reached, but the spirit in which they were reached; if he intends to take any steps to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
64 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline, in respect of the drinking water samples tested throughout the State in 1989 (1) the number of which exceeded the maximum allowable EC concentrations of aluminium (2) the highest level by which any sample exceeded the EC level and (3) the steps which are being taken to reduce the level of aluminum in drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
64 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline, in respect of the drinking water samples tested throughout the State in 1989 (1) the number of which exceeded the maximum allowable EC concentrations of aluminium (2) the highest level by which any sample exceeded the EC level and (3) the steps which are being taken to reduce the level of aluminum in drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if the Government intend to introduce any amendments to extradition legislation in the light of judgment given in the Supreme Court on 15 November 1991, and other difficulties which have emerged recently in regard to the extradition process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending payment in respect of dependent children in full time education up to the age of 21 to all categories of social welfare recipients such as those on unemployment assistance or supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will request national entertainment institutions, especially those in receipt of Government financial support, to draw up plans to facilitate the attendance of working class and unemployed people at their performances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the average industrial wage for (a) men and (b) women at the latest date for which figures are available; if he has any plans to reduce the differential; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour if he has yet received the report of the working party on child care; if he will outline the main recommendations of the report; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he plans to take any steps to control advertising of children's toys, especially in the run up to Christmas, in view of the intense pressure that this can place on low income families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's attitude to the plight of civilians in Iraq; if any steps are being taken to help alleviate suffering and hunger, especially among children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether any assessment has been undertaken of the impact of the advertising capping contained in the Broadcasting Act, 1990; if it is intended to amend the Act in the light of the experience to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether any assessment has been undertaken of the impact of the advertising capping contained in the Broadcasting Act, 1990; if it is intended to amend the Act in the light of the experience to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
18 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if she has any proposals to ensure that only qualified teachers will be allowed to teach in schools; if her Department have, in recent years, sanctioned the employment of untrained personnel in any teaching positions other than that of substitute; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
36 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health whether his Department have received a report on the way Dublin hospitals are coping with the new accident and emergency rota service introduced at the beginning of September 1991; if he will publish the report; the number of hospitals and occasions they have to divert ambulances taking patients from their own catchment areas; the impact the changes have had for patients awaiting treatment at casualty units; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
36 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health whether his Department have received a report on the way Dublin hospitals are coping with the new accident and emergency rota service introduced at the beginning of September 1991; if he will publish the report; the number of hospitals and occasions they have to divert ambulances taking patients from their own catchment areas; the impact the changes have had for patients awaiting treatment at casualty units; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
6 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the present funding and staffing of the National Library, with specific reference to the desirability, of restoring public access to all the collections therein from 10.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. five days per week and on Saturday morning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he has yet received information from the trustees of the Chester Beatty Library regarding the circumstances of the break-in at the library at the end of June; if he can now give full details of the items stolen and their estimated value; if he will outline the steps which have been taken to improve security as a result of this break-in; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
4 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to any reduction, whether by sale, exchange, loss or other means, in the holdings of the Chester Beatty Gallery of Oriental Art during the last six years; if he will confirm the integrity of all collections in the institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in respect of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 4, the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the O'Donnell report; when the position of Director will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour if it is intended to introduce any changes in the area of youth training and employment schemes in the light of the findings of the recent ESRI study Education, Employment and Training inthe Youth Training Market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the serious public concern regarding recent suggestions that policy decisions of Government may have been influenced by contributions made by commercial concerns to political parties, he will consider introducing a measure which would require the public disclosure of all such donations above a certain minimum level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to (a) the recent report on food supplies in the catering sector produced by the Teagasc Food Centre which states that some Irish caterers are sourcing food supplies outside the State for reasons of quality and continuity of supply and (b) the particular criticism expressed about the poor quality of potatoes; the steps, if any, his Department are taking to deal with these shortcomings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to (a) the recent report on food supplies in the catering sector produced by the Teagasc Food Centre which states that some Irish caterers are sourcing food supplies outside the State for reasons of quality and continuity of supply and (b) the particular criticism expressed about the poor quality of potatoes; the steps, if any, his Department are taking to deal with these shortcomings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Marine the total value and tonnage of fish dumped during 1989 and 1990; if he has considered any less wasteful way of disposing of this fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if it is intended to implement new EC regulations which would require television stations to devote 10 per cent of their transmission times to independently produced programmes and 50 per cent of transmission time to European productions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he is planning any amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 1990; if he is planning, to lift the capping of RTE's advertising; whether he is planning to divert any of RTE's licence revenue to privately owned stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if she has any plans to increase the level of maintenance grants paid to those on ESF courses to bring them into line with the minimum levels of income for a single person, as recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
4 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if he will give the average waiting time for appointments with a solicitor for first time clients for each of the Dublin civil legal aid centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the recent study on urban poverty in Ireland published by the Combat Poverty Agency at a conference on 20 May 1991 which showed that poverty in Ireland was one of the worst in Europe and was growing; if, in view of these findings the Government intend to take any new measures to combat poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the recent study on urban poverty in Ireland published by the Combat Poverty Agency at a conference on 20 May 1991 which showed that poverty in Ireland was one of the worst in Europe and was growing; if, in view of these findings the Government intend to take any new measures to combat poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Energy if he has any plans for an expanded role for the Irish National Petroleum Corporation either in relation to direct involvement in exploration or in retailing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour if he has considered the introduction of (1) longer maternity leave and (2) paternity leave as urged by many groups in their submissions to the Commission on the Status of Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the recent call made by the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade that "hello money" in the supermarket trade should be banned by legislation; if he intends to respond to the director's call and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the proposals he has to give active and financial support to attracting foreign film makers to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the proposed pilot schemes to encourage environmentally sensitive farming will be established; the areas to be covered by the schemes; if it is intended to establish further pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the progress made to date on the restoration and refurbishment of the National Art Gallery; if any timetable has been set for the completion of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that adequate steps are taken by the Office of Public Works to safeguard the archaeological and historical importance and remains of the proposed development site at Howth House, Howth, Dublin 13 and including, in part, the ancient site of St. Mary's Abbey; the proposals he has to supervise development at the site; whether the Office of Public Works will be carrying on direct archaeological digs at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Marine when he last received an application from the Dublin Port and Docks Board to increase their harbour rates; if he will outline his response to the board's request; and the plans he has to facilitate an increase in the rates.
27 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence the number of volumes of Defence Forces regulations which currently apply; the number of pages in each volume; the progress which has been made with regard to the updating of the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the present position regarding negotiations with representatives of PDFORRA on the regulations to cover the activities of the representative association; when it is expected that the negotiations will be concluded and the regulations put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
32 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the concern which arose among many officers about recent promotions, he will consider taking steps to ensure that all interview panels would include a representative of RACO; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the extent to which his Department will grant-aid and fund the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 4 for 1991; the conditions, if any, which will be attached to these allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach when a director will be appointed to the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 4; if his Department will be advised or consulted on the terms or method of appointment of the new director; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the progress which has been made on implementing the proposals of the report on the reorganisation of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a case in the juvenile court on 12 February 1991 in which four youths, who were convicted of taking seven cars, were released by the district justice because there was no secure centre to hold the offenders; if she will outline the steps she is taking to deal with this unsatisfactory situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
18 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the statements made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, at a recent symposium in Dublin, in which he said that Irish law was clearly inadequate to cope with commercial fraud and that urgent measures were necessary to prevent the financial sector from becoming a happy hunting ground for sophisticated white collar criminals; his views on the suggestions, made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, that examining magistrates with extensive powers of investigation should be appointed and the Garda be given extended powers to search and investigate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the recent ESRI report, Unemployment, Poverty and Psychological Distress which showed that unemployed people are five times more likely to suffer high levels of psychological distress than those at work; if, in view of the findings of the report that among the most effective ways to increase individuals' self esteem and feelings of personal control and improve mental health is to remove people from poverty, he intends to take any steps to raise the incomes of unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
39 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the discussions which he has had with the Irish Veterinary Union regarding the proposed new disease eradication scheme to be backed by EC funds; if he intends to have further meetings; when he expects the scheme to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.