Results 12,841-12,860 of 13,220 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (16 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I understand that Wexford County Council has this year been carrying out extensive strengthening works at Ballycarney Bridge on the River Slaney. These works were scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2004, but at that time the county council advised the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that additional emergency works were required to prevent further...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (2 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Department has an ongoing safety programme involving an appropriate combination of statutory regulation, enforcement and safety awareness promotion with the aim of achieving the highest level of safety at sea, particularly on fishing vessels. There is a requirement under the Sea Fisheries Amendment Act 2003 that all fishing vessels are in a safe and seaworthy condition before a sea...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (2 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The feasibility of deploying emergency towing vessels, or ETVs, in Irish waters is still under consideration. In 1998 the then Department of the Marine and Natural Resources commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of deploying ETVs around the coast. Following an assessment of the study, which was published in 1999, it was decided that Ireland should have access to ETV capacity to...

Written Answers — Heritage Projects: Heritage Projects (2 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Department's primary role concerning this vessel was to oversee the allocation of the Government's grant funding to ensure construction was completed to the highest possible safety standards and that the vessel undertook its planned trans-Atlantic voyage to north America. At the start of 2003, a consortium comprising Kerry County Council, Tralee Town Council, Shannon Development and Kerry...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Molaim don Teach na leasuithe a rinne Dáil Éireann sa Bhille seo le déanaí. The Bill was amended and passed by Seanad Éireann in October 2000. It is an important Bill which copperfastens practices for heritage protection and public consultation in the context of the dumping at sea permits. As a consequence of recommendations made in this House it requires the publication of application...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Amendments Nos. 1, 6, 9 and 25 are merely stylistic, drafting amendments, substituting references to the principal Act for references to the Dumping at Sea Act 1996. Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 31 are consequential to amendments Nos. 1, 6, 9 and 25. These stylistic amendments do not affect the Bill in any way. Amendments Nos. 4, 7 and 23 merely reflect changes since the Bill was passed by this...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Senator's initial point is no longer part of my remit but we dealt with this matter on numerous occasions when I served in the then Department of the Environment and Local Government. Illegal cross-Border dumping appears to be big business. Waste to be disposed of in this way is not just coming from Border counties; it is emanating from counties situated much further south. As regards his...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I wish to clarify an issue. The Department does not permit the dumping of rubbish or other material at sea. The provision strictly applies to permits to dispose at sea suitable dredged material. We would much prefer if the material could be taken ashore for land reclamation. Permits will not apply to rubbish.

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senators McHugh and Quinn for their kind comments and look forward to working with them during my period in office. Senator Quinn's contributions are always taken seriously. It is gratifying to note that his proposals have found their way into the Bill. While this has not always been the case, it underlines the importance of this House. I also appreciate the Senator's comments...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I congratulate Senator McHugh on his appointment as marine spokesperson. I look forward to working with him. I also congratulate him on his personal good news. The people of north-east Donegal will be delighted to hear that it might be on his agenda to move to another part of the country. If that is the case, it is even better news politically. On a serious note, I wish the Senator well.

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: There are no vacancies. In response to Senator Quinn, I accept that the Bill has been around since 2000. It was a question of finding a slot. It might not be a great defence but perhaps if the Bill had been enacted then, we might have had to wait a much longer period to improve it. While this is the only defence, I thank all speakers for their contributions. In exercising the Dumping at Sea...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (19 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Irish Coastguard of my Department operates a station house building programme for coastal units around the coast. The Office of Public Works, OPW, manages this programme for the coastguard. The coastguard and the OPW are together giving top priority to the project for a search and rescue station house at Doolin, County Clare. The position regarding the project is that, while financial...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (19 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: In March 2002, Dungarvan Town Council submitted an application under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan for funding towards a feasibility study for dredging and reclamation works. However, the grant scheme was suspended in December 2002 due to lack of funding and each of the applicants was so notified. No funding was available for the grant scheme in 2003 or in...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (19 Oct 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Following the granting of two aquaculture licences for the bottom cultivation of mussels in Lough Swilly, local oyster fishermen claimed that parts of the licensed areas overlapped with wild oyster beds in the lough. On foot of these complaints, the aquaculture initiative was asked to undertake a survey of the lough. This survey examined the location and size of the oyster beds and sought to...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the House for facilitating the passage of this extremely important and urgent Bill. Once the legislation is enacted, work can continue on the south-eastern motorway. Those who opposed this Bill were saying very clearly that they did not want the two ends of the motorway to be connected or an improvement in our infrastructure. The Bill is required due to the economic atmosphere created...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I will be looking to Senator Bannon for advice.

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: If the amendment was accepted, section 5 would be deleted. However, the section is at the heart of the legislation, as it contains detailed procedures to be followed in respect of consents and directions, and there is no question of the amendment being accepted. The Bill does not confer new powers on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under section 14(3) of the...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: If we accepted this amendment it would remove section 6 completely. I will give the background to this situation. Section 6 amends the provision in section 22 of the principal Act relating to the discovery of archaeological objects by removing the requirement to report such objects found by a person in pursuance of a consent granted or directions issued by the Minister under section 14 or in...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: It is generally accepted that we need to improve our method of designating national monuments. While in principle I am not opposed to this proposal, it is best covered by the consolidation of the National Monuments Acts which is already under way in my Department. I am confident we will deal with the issue by this means and Senator Bannon might await the publication of the consolidation Act....

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: There is no question of procrastination as far as the consolidation of the National Monuments Acts is concerned. The Government will strive for the publication of the Bill in the autumn with a view to having it debated in the House next year, not a number of years down the road. I appreciate the work and input of the executive on the local authorities which have responsibility for heritage....