Results 2,041-2,060 of 3,707 for speaker:Brian O'Shea

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (1 Mar 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 149: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if estuary drift net salmon fishermen on the Suir fishery will be granted licences to fish when the salmon stock exceed the conservation limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8149/07]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (1 Mar 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to allow those persons whose income before their 56th birthday was below the threshold for liability to pay class S contributions and could not make voluntary contributions prior to their 56th birthdays due to the fact that they did not fulfil the requirements, make voluntary contributions retrospectively in order...

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Regarding the Local Government Act 2000, Waterford city has a great need to extend its borough boundary. Does the Government intend to enact the sections dealing with the setting up of a local government commission to deal with this issue or has the enactment of these sections been abandoned by the Government?

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Brian O'Shea: No.

Countryside Recreation Strategy. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: There will be more than six minutes allocated to these questions.

Countryside Recreation Strategy. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I am impressed by the progress made on this issue by the Minister and compliment him on the work that is being done. The Minister indicated that the ten walk managers will be located where there are clusters of walkways. What are the functions of these walk managers? The issue of access to land was mentioned and I am concerned about access to sand dunes because I can see in my town,...

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: My understanding is that this centre was intended to develop áiseanna, teaching aids, books and so on for Gaeltacht schools, scoileanna Gaeilge and any schools within the system that wish to use such material. Am I correct in this recollection?

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I receive a significant number of representations on this matter. The sod was turned for this project by the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, before the last general election. Is there any realistic chance the Government will proceed with it?

Rural Development. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: The question in Deputy Rabbitte's name arises from the submission made by Irish Rural Link to the Coiste um Gnóthaí Ealaíon, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta on the national development plan. One of the points the delegation made was that 59% of the population lives in the areas targeted by the plan. The delegates raised issues such as the narrow economic base of...

Rural Development. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Údarás na Gaeltachta does not.

Rural Transport. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I refer to transport for senior citizens in the more remote rural areas. Bus Éireann may commence a service on a trial basis on a particular route and discover that it does not work. There is the rural transport initiative. Some issues are becoming much more urgent in rural areas, particularly regarding the closure of post offices, for example. Wider social aspects are involved. For...

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 71: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when work will commence on the development of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language to increase the use and knowledge of the language nationally; and the length of time it is estimated that this work will take. [7879/07]

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: The Minister's answer is like the statement on the Irish language made in December — nothing really new or much in it. The Minister has a litany of projects that were started but not finished. For instance, Fóram na Gaeilge was to develop a 20-year strategy but very little has emanated from it. The Minister initiated an analysis of the Gaeltacht boundaries but again the work is not...

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: How will the Minister develop the strategy in the remaining lifetime of the Government? Essentially, the statement was a sop, with no thought given to a structure to develop a proper strategy.

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: The Minister is perfectly right.

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Obviously, the boundaries of the Gaeltacht will not be changed in the remaining lifetime of the Government. The Minister referred to the Acht teanga and the stádas oifigúil in Europe, his two main achievements. Has this enticed people to become committed to the Irish language? The strategy must be all-inclusive for Gaeltacht and Galltacht. Its most important aim must be to enlarge the...

Irish Language. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Will the Minister provide me with the empirical information to back up this assertion?

National Drugs Strategy. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 74: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the proposals he has to encourage and promote extensive research into the extent of illegal drug-taking in the State; and the reasons there is an apparent increase in illegal drug-taking across the whole community. [7880/07]

National Drugs Strategy. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. In the context of research, it is more pertinent nowadays to examine some issues with a view to developing solid data on them. For instance, why are people taking up this habit in ever growing numbers? According to recent statistics, drug seizures in Ireland last year amount to €40 million. If one takes the lower international seizure rate...

National Drugs Strategy. (28 Feb 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Yes, but I am trying to provide some background. Essentially, one of the recommendations was to examine more closely the damage that cannabis does, particularly to pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Why do people take up the habit and what are the inherent dangers of using specific drugs? Such dangers may not yet be fully recognised, so we need to investigate that situation...