100 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of section 140 motions under the Local Government Act 2001 which have been tabled and passed by local authorities in each county since the passing of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30418/05]
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the appointments which he has made to State boards or other agencies since January 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25192/05]
2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the progress of his Department’s quality customer service working group under the strategic management initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30207/05]
53 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to open an inquiry into the Garda investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings surrounding the murder of a person (details supplied) in Tallaght in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29740/05]
24 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the nature of his investigation into the case of a person (details supplied); if he has satisfied himself with the Garda investigation carried out at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29741/05]
275 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if consideration is being given by the Government to introducing or amending legislation (details supplied) for the purpose of making the Garda Síochána subject to sections 15 and 16 only of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 as amended.
[29599/05]
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the OECD Report on Regulatory Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25212/05]
632 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to resolve the situation where farmers, having paid a levy on bale wrap plastic, have had no service where proper waste management of plastics is a condition of REPS payments; and the measures she will take to restore the service.
[29442/05]
620 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of the forthcoming legislation her Department started in 2002 to provide for a statutory basis for the appeals against decisions to permit afforestation.
[29191/05]
619 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, as stated by An Taisce, her Department is not conforming to paragraph 13, Part V of SI 538 of 2001(details supplied) in view of the fact that to inform an objector may result in the loss of their statutory right to appeal within the legal timeframe available or to review such a decision through the courts within their strict timeframes.
[29190/05]
618 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the staffing details of the forestry appeals unit set up in January 2002 to process appeals against decisions of her Department to approve afforestation projects; the number and circumstances of the cases it has considered; and the results of these appeals, together with their reasons.
[29189/05]
552 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the profit generated by National Toll Roads for operating the East Link and West Link facilities rose by 24% to €26.1 million for the first half of 2005.
[29552/05]
537 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the implementation of Regulation 647/2005 and the implications for his Department of the European Court of Justice case 215/99 Jauch and ECJ case C — 160/96 Molenaar; if he will identify the social welfare benefits here which are regarded in EU law as being family benefits; the consequences of that classification for claimants; if he will identify the social welfare benefits which are classified in EU law as being other than family benefits; the consequences of that classification for claimants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29104/05]
536 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the implementation by his Department of the habitual residence condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29103/05]
512 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timetable for the introduction and issuing of the consequent regulations and compliance standards in view of the recently introduced Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 updating the legislation of 1989; if he foresees the replacement of many of the current regulations or compliance standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[29187/05]
428 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will consider the need for funding being stressed by Fingal County Council following the handover of harbours under the Harbours Act 1996 in Balbriggan and Skerries and the subsequent need for extensive repairs to be carried out including the rebuilding of the harbour wall which has partly collapsed into the harbour in Balbriggan; and if he will further consider the willingness of Fingal County Council to provide matching funding in the spirit of partnership with his Department.
[29090/05]
207 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when negotiations on the new consultants’ contracts will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28959/05]
212 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of the primary health care strategy which has been implemented; the projected cost of implementing this strategy; when it will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[28966/05]
11 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the interdepartmental team on infrastructure and public-private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25208/05]
8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the special political advisers appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28640/05]
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the costs to date in 2005 of the communications unit in his Department; the projected costs for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28639/05]
153 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the likely level of excess carbon emissions from the electricity generating sector above the amount allocated under the European emissions trading system for 2005; and if the trading price for such emissions will have an effect on the future cost of electricity to the Irish public.
[27842/05]
143 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the postponement of the broadcasting Bill to 2006; and the reason there has been such a long delay in introducing this legislation.
[27841/05]
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach his proposals to amend the Constitution during this session of Dáil Éireann; when a referendum on such proposals may be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25202/05]
222 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the ESRI’s recommendation that the ESB sell three or four of its power stations over the next five years in order to promote competition in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25016/05]
45 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the nominal interest earned in 2004 for special savings accounts and special savings investment accounts is being calculated for mature students when assessing eligibility for top-up grants when this method is not being applied by the Revenue Commissioners in assessing income for the previous tax year as it has not yet been earned; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such a calculation affects a number of borderline cases that cannot access this income for purchasing educational materials or feeding their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[27706/05]
231 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his planned timetable for the adoption of Directive 2002/3/EC dealing with ozone in ambient air; the results of tests for the past number of years; his views on the trend, frequency, distribution of tests and readings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27256/05]
185 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate a cost benefit analysis prior to further consideration of an additional runway at Dublin Airport as required by the Department of Finance guidelines for projects costing over €50 million and considering that Fingal County Council has indicated that without a metro service between Dublin and Swords via Dublin Airport the future viability of the airport in its present form is in serious doubt; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27190/05]
116 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contact with the UN Commission on Human Rights regarding its investigation into the Government’s policy of allowing US military and CIA aircraft to use Irish airports and the possible connection of these flights with human rights abuses of prisoners detailed as part of the war on terror; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27059/05]
109 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the question of the security wall with his Israeli counterparts and also the question of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank; the Irish position on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27060/05]
244 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the implications of the French and Dutch referendum results for the EU constitution; the impact on Ireland’s planned referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27162/05]
243 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his pledge to the UN Summit that Ireland will contribute 0.7% of GNP to development aid by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27161/05]
127 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if, in his analysis, oil prices will continue to rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26555/05]
92 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the level of VAT receipts received this year to date; the way in which this compares to the same period in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26556/05]
11 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach when the autumn talks will convene for a successor agreement to Sustaining Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25198/05]
9 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the final plenary meeting of the Sustaining Progress agreement in Dublin in July 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25196/05]
8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent contacts with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25195/05]
7 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if the agenda for Sustaining Progress includes a contingency for the current oil price hikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25015/05]
544 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is an updated version of the “Green Government Guide — Promoting Environmental Management and Practice in Government”, published by a previous Government; the steps taken to promote, and the progress made towards, environmental management and practice in Government at national and local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26383/05]
543 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which all areas of county and local development plan objectives are monitored, assessed and acted on in the interests of proper planning and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26382/05]
542 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress that has been made or planned in his and other Departments, local authorities, public entities and services towards the aim of implementing an environmentally progressive purchasing policy; the estimate of the total Government purchasing budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26381/05]
541 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the implementation of agenda 21; the plans available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26380/05]
540 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government’s current sustainable development strategy; and the way in which it is monitored, reviewed and revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26379/05]
539 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures which are in place or planned to monitor and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, at national, regional and international levels; the number of convictions in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26378/05]
538 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions No. 51 of 4 November 2004 and No. 811 of 28 June 2005 when the finalisation of the draft guidelines for planning authorities on wind energy will be published; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this delay is causing considerable uncertainty in the planning system; the guidelines for local authorities on other topics which are in course of preparation; and the progress made in finalising any other draft guidelines for planning authorities.
[26354/05]
483 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans to continue, expand and mainstream the modern languages initiative that is being piloted in some areas of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26385/05]
345 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the trade links between Ireland and Cuba; the general type of goods exported and imported; their value over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26384/05]