48 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress made in negotiations on an EU constitution, in particular the 20 outstanding issues that he recently cited for the negotiations on the EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5891/04]
414 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a legislative provision requiring operators of parked vehicles to turn off their engines as required under Swedish law and which in Ontario, Canada, is notified by signs at bus stops which read: “Please turn your engine off when parked”.
[9727/04]
198 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is possible to end the three for two rule for transporting school children before 2008; and if not, the factors which prevent this.
[9769/04]
32 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence his views on the recent release from the National Archives of a confidential document prepared by the Army intelligence section for the Chief of Staff in October 1973, entitled Military Implications of Ireland’s Entry into EEC.
[9312/04]
24 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the agenda for the EU Defence Ministers’ meeting in April 2004; the plans to discuss a German, French and UK proposal to create a rapid deployment force and the way in which this new force relates to the already established European rapid reaction force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9313/04]
27 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the British Government’s decision to proceed with limited commercial production of Chardon LL GM maize for commercial growing in the UK, he has sought assurances from the British Government that no commercial growing of GM crops will take place in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7788/04]
7 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to compensate persons in the early retirement scheme who lose their quotas from the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if the value of suckler and sheep quotas of farmers in the early retirement scheme can be converted into entitlements or special payment entitlements.
[9193/04]
3 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will initiate a debate on public views concerning genetically modified food and, in so doing, articulate Government actions and policy to date on this issue, including the requirement and size of buffer zones, in view of the Government belief in co-existence between genetically modified and conventional crops.
[9377/04]
160 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance when the planning and management study for Oldbridge Estate by a company (details supplied) of May 2001 will be made available to the public.
[8480/04]
21 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if late payments by State agencies to companies are taken into account in relation to payments sought from such companies from Revenue Commissioners.
[8981/04]
46 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance his views on discussions between the European Commission and other EU member states on the possibility of harmonising corporate tax rates.
[8982/04]
2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if the CSO has considered asking questions on the census form on unremunerated work, as requested by the Women in the Home Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1289/04]
160 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the changes to electoral boundaries that have been made under the Local Government Act 1994; if reasons are given for each change; and if so, if he will give the reasons.
[8170/04]
29 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if deregulation will take place in the process of the GATT agreement in view of the fact that the WTO does not in practice regard public services as exempt from international trade and that the GATT process involves progressive deregulation in order to facilitate trade.
[8121/04]
119 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of refusals to date for supplementary welfare allowance for failure to meet criteria introduced by her Department with regard to accommodation needs.
[7931/04]
102 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of invalidity claims in the most recently available year that have been overturned after recommendations of her Department’s own doctors against the original advice of general practitioners.
[7930/04]
16 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if the drafting of legislation has been subcontracted out by the Attorney General’s office to outside bodies or commercial firms; the amount of legislation subcontracted during the term of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5885/04]
9 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the number of files requested from his Department by the Mahon tribunal; the number of those requests which were acceded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5884/04]
1 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach his Department’s legislative priorities up to the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1284/04]
426 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he expects the introduction of electronic voting to have an impact on delays and queues during peak voting times.
[7913/04]
425 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps which were taken in the procurement process for the electronic voting systems to comply with the applicable guidelines regarding accessibility for the visually impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7912/04]
407 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give advance notice of the date of the making of the polling day order for the local elections in view of the importance of this date for the recording of candidates’ election expenses.
[7494/04]
234 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had discussions with the British Government or with the Northern Ireland Office Minister at the Department for Regional Development, Mr John Speller, on the issue of prioritising investment in what is known as the non core railway infrastructure north of Ballymena and stretching to Derry; if he has conveyed any concern to Mr. Speller that the systematic under-investment is resulting once again in a marginalisation of the north west and compromising future opportunities for the restoration of a cross-Border western rail corridor that could stretch to Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7783/04]
205 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if all necessary resources will be available in the Health and Safety Authority to ensure that the major civil engineering landfill construction site at Knockhartly, Kentstown, County Meath is complying with all relevant health and safety requirements, in particular that all perimeter fencing is in place for the entire site in order to prevent local children and school children from the nearby Kentstown National School from gaining access to this very dangerous site.
[7565/04]
174
D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta céard é líon na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a bhí ag freastal ar na coláistí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht i 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 agus 2000 agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.[7638/04]
178
D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad a bhí i gceist aige nuair a dúirt sé ar RTÉ 1 an 29 Feabhra nach ceart don Rialtas leas na hÉireann a bhaint amach ó thaobh stádais don Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil san AE le linn na hUachtaránachta agus nach n-aontaíonn sé nach bhfuil i gceist le stádas ach cothrom na Féinne d’Éireannaigh.[7639/04]
5 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on any recent meetings of the high-level group established under his Department to monitor developments following the terrorist attacks of September 2001; whether there has been any increase in the number of meetings of this group held or planned to be held during the Irish EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1283/04]
2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if amendments are planned to the code of conduct for office holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5660/04]
133 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Local Government Commission, provided for in the Local Government Act 2001, will be set up in advance of the June 2004 local elections; and if it will be possible for changes in boundaries to be made before these elections.
[7311/04]
132 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on correspondence or meetings held with the delegation from UNESCO which visited the Boyne Valley area in regard to plans by a company (details supplied) to locate an incinerator at Carranstown, Duleek, County Meath.
[7310/04]
131 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the research project called Linnet.
[7309/04]
130 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a conservation ranger for north County Dublin has yet been recruited through the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners as referred to in correspondence to this Deputy on 10 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7307/04]
86 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on progress on the Oldbridge Estate and Battle of the Boyne site project, and plans for its future development and usage, including landscape changes and facilities; and the organisations or groups involved following the commitment to consult closely with representatives of the Unionist tradition, local authorities and community groups.
[7312/04]
85 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to introduce a scheme whereby local authority tenants can claim tax relief on rent they are paying when such tenants are paying rents to the equivalent of a mortgage; and if he will make a statement on this proposal which was approved by a vote of Fingal County Council on 10 November 2003.
[7308/04]
56 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which Ireland is involved in research into nuclear fusion and thermo-nuclear physics; the implications for such research on the proliferation of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7216/04]
271 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the number of dog pounds and their location here; if his attention has been drawn to the need in County Clare for a properly resourced dog pound; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5056/04]
270 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the licensing of stag hunting will cease in view of the fact that the quarry in this activity is in fact domesticated.
[5062/04]
152 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress he has made is assisting the survivors of symphysiotomy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7089/04]
117 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to encourage home births; his views on whether there are now fewer opportunities for women to avail of a home birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7090/04]
11 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the appointments made by him since June 2002 to State boards and other agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5659/04]
8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the Nally report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5658/04]
6 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the number of the National Archives files in respect of 1973 which have been withheld by his Department; the subject matter of the files withheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5657/04]
404 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the public consultation that he stated was part of the preparatory process that preceded the Government decision determining the allocation of emission allowances between the trading and non-trading sectors, for purposes of the emissions trading scheme under Directive 2003/87/EC; and the details of public advertisements and of the stakeholders who were directly contacted.
[6569/04]
21 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on progress made in the implementation of An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5656/04]
65 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the obligations on an employer in respect of persons with disabilities in the Equality Bill 2004 meets the requirements under the UN Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6373/04]
14 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason persons providing personal services in domestic settings are excluded from the definition of employee in the Equality Bill 2004 and therefore from the protections afforded under the Bill in relation to harassment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6372/04]
105 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the objectives set out in his Department’s mission statement are being achieved in relation to the continued development of an environmentally sustainable and spatially balanced tourism sector, through formulating, monitoring and reviewing a range of supporting policies and programmes; the units of measurement to gauge progress being used; if these targets will be tangibly met by the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6116/04]
115 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress being made in the national audit of local sports facilities as outlined in his Department’s mission statement, including the timeframe for completion of this audit and the expected impact this audit will have on the provision of sport and recreation facilities nation-wide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6117/04]
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships will be held; the agenda of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1281/04]
429 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport the changes to speed limits which are planned; if he has information on the change in levels of emissions of greenhouse gases which would result from the planned changes; and if so, if he will provide such information.
[6101/04]