John Gormley

 136. Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of physiotherapists who qualify here each year; the number of sanctioned posts here for qualified physiotherapists; when this number was set; when this number is due to be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25192/06]
   Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): Four universities provide BSc degrees in physiotherapy.  University College Dublin have 56 places on their undergraduate degree course and have 54 students graduating this year.  University of Limerick have 30 places on their undergraduate degree course and have 27 students graduating this year.  The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have 25/26 places on their undergraduate degree course and have 25 students graduating this year.  Finally, Trinity College Dublin have 40 on their undergraduate degree course and have 47 students graduating this year. (more…)

135. Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) who has a European health insurance card can be given kidney dialysis treatment here if they come home here for a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25191/06]
   Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): Regulation (EC) 1408/71 provides for the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare, among EU member states.  Under the Regulation, those who are insured with or covered by the healthcare system of one member state but who are residing or staying in another member state receive healthcare in the state of residence or stay on behalf of the member state with which they are insured or covered.  The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides evidence of this entitlement. (more…)

 103. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the persons to whom information regarding political party policy costing requests are made available; the persons to whom they should not be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/06]
   Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen): As the Deputy will be aware, for many years and with the agreement of successive Ministers for Finance, the Department has made available a facility for costing proposals of political parties on a confidential basis. The arrangements were reviewed following the last General Election and a report on the matter is now on my Department’s website.  The recommendations contained in the Report are being implemented. (more…)

 209. Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the information she has received from the Health Service Executive on its investigation into awarding of contracts in its Dublin north east division; if her attention has been drawn to the scope of the investigation, the personnel responsible for conducting it, and when the investigation will be complete; if her Department will be conducting its own investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24648/06] (more…)

Mr. Gormley: The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2005 represents the most significant departure from our traditional defence policy and undoes the triple lock mechanism.  Will all Stages of this Bill be taken in one day next week.  If that is the case, it is disgraceful.  It is disgraceful to spend one day on all Stages of this major legislation. 
   The Taoiseach: The answer is “Yes”.
   Mr. Gormley: That is absolutely disgraceful.  Many traditional Fianna Fáil supporters will be shocked at the Taoiseach’s blasé attitude. 
   An Ceann Comhairle: I ask Deputy Gormley to allow Deputy Durkan to speak.  If he does not do so, we will move on the next item.

68. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties for potato growers; and the improvements by way of grant assistance and so on she will make for this sector. [24633/06]
   Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan): My Department has provided substantial grants for both the ware potato and seed potato sectors in recent years.  In 2005 grant aid amounting to €0.56m was paid to the industry of which €458,000 was paid to ware growers and €98,000 to the seed growers. 
  The funding available for the seed potato sector in 2006 is  €1.5m.  These funds are made available through the National Development Plan and are aimed at developing a modern seed potato industry.  Applicants can apply for grant aid up to a maximum eligible investment of €400,000 for each phase of the scheme.  To date 14 approvals for investment have been issued under phase 1 and a further 16 applications are being considered under phase 2 of the scheme.

 Mr. Gormley: I refer to two Bills promised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, whom the Tánaiste threatened to sack this week - the defamation Bill and the fines Bill.  They were on the A list last session and this session but we are approaching the end of this session.  Is the Tánaiste planning emergency legislation to deal with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform’s ego, which is clearly out of control?
   The Tánaiste: Both Bills will be published this session.  The Minister is working hard on both.
   Mr. McCormack: Are they on the accident and emergency list?
   Mr. Gormley: Is the Minister working hard on becoming leader?
   Mr. Boyle: Is the Tánaiste trying to keep him occupied?
   The Tánaiste: He is working hard to deal with the Deputy in Dublin South-East.
   Mr. Gormley: He will need to work very hard.
   Mr. F. McGrath: He cannot stop crime on the north side.
   Mr. Gormley: He was not present for the division last night on the Poolbeg peninsula incinerator.
   Mr. Boyle: He was around the House and he was not paired.

Mr. Gormley: The Taoiseach previously told the House the alcohol products Bill would be put on hold while we tried a voluntary code.  Can he tell us how long this trial period will last and when the alcohol products Bill will be introduced?
   The Taoiseach: The voluntary agreements have been reached with the industry.  The Department wishes to hold off on the introduction of the Bill pending the outcome of those voluntary agreements.  I am not aware of the length of time they have been given to do that.  The Deputy might raise that with the Minister by way of parliamentary question.  The heads of the Bill have been approved by Government and the work on the Bill is going ahead.  They are waiting to see the effect of these voluntary agreements.

10. Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his speech to the UN high level conference on AIDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23161/06]
   The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions 1 to 16 together.
  I received a personal invitation from the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to attend the United Nations Special Summit on AIDS, in New York in early June.  The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for the important advocacy role that Ireland has played with our European partners and for the significant resources that we have provided to reverse the trends of the epidemic. (more…)

116. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he has taken to monitor and respond to the reasons for job losses in view of the 12 per cent increase in redundancies in the first quarter of 2006; and if he intends to formulate employment solutions for vulnerable industries. [23952/06]
   Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin): My Department operates an internal Early Warning System of potential job losses and firms in difficulty, based on material provided on a confidential basis by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development.  This information includes details as to why each particular situation has developed.  While the number of redundancies was higher in the first three months of 2006 than the corresponding months in 2005 this trend has ceased and the number of redundancies in April and May were less than in the same months in 2005. (more…)