John Gormley

 304. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if a Ministerial Order requires to be issued to remedy the situation concerning VAT being charged to registered charities, thus avoiding the necessity of changing the tax laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14784/06] (more…)

550. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the recent decision of the European Food Safety Authority to allow the use of formaldehyde, a human carcinogen, as a growth enhancer in chicken feed; the steps she will be taking to ensure consumers are informed on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14295/06]
 
   Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan): Feed additives are regulated at EU level under Regulation (EC) 1831/2004.  Formaldehyde is authorised for use as a preservative in skim milk for use in pig nutrition.  Following an application for authorisation, the European Food Safety Authority published an opinion in September 2004 concerning the use of formaldehyde in feed for fattening chickens.  Despite this opinion, which was mostly favourable, the Commission expressed concerns about the use of the additive and referred the matter for further scientific evaluation.  This new evaluation is ongoing, and in the meantime, formaldehyde is not currently authorised for use in chicken feed.

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78. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the roll-out of new buses and progress regarding the implementation of seat belts on school buses. [13447/06]
 
   Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Miss de Valera): In addition to the vehicles hired in by Bus Éireann from the private sector to address the capacity shortfall arising from the phasing out of the three for two seating arrangement on school buses, a programme for Bus Éireann to acquire a number of new and modern second-hand buses, also to address this issue, is well advanced.  Fifty-one modern second-hand buses have been purchased and contracts have been placed for a further twenty new school buses.
  An assessment is currently being carried out to determine the number of additional vehicles that may be required to address any further capacity shortfalls in the system.
  Work commenced in February 2006 on the retrofitting of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet with seat belts.  It is expected that this work will be completed later in the year.
  My Department recently met with the associations representing private bus owners, on contract to Bus Éireann, and briefed them on the procedures to be followed in retrofitting their buses with seat belts.

 49. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of the advice that has been presented by the National Salmon Commission’s standing scientific committee, he will give a commitment that all drift-netting of wild salmon in the open seas will discontinue at the end of this season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13748/06] (more…)

 301. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has been in contact with the governments of those countries whose citizens are working in Ireland below the recommended levels of pay, as reported here in the media; the nature and outcome of those discussions; if he will ensure that there will be no exploitation here of migrant workers from these countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13167/06] (more…)

 83. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if he will act on the recommendation of the GRECO group of the Council of Europe that the Government should reconsider its policy of charging fees for freedom of information requests. [12412/06]
 
   Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen): It is not my intention to reconsider the policy of charging fees for freedom of information requests on foot of the recommendation referred to by the Deputy.

 66. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department plans to review the way in which State agencies are managed on foot of the recent Institute of Public Administration report. [12413/06]
 
   Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen): I have asked officials in my Department to examine this report and assess the implications in consultation with other Departments.

 125. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the percentage of agricultural land and the acreage which is certified as organic in each EU member state in each of the past ten years; and her views on the way in which Ireland compares with the other States. [12180/06] (more…)