Results 1,561-1,580 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: He knows something about the developed world.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Happy birthday.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: There was agreement on that matter at last week's European Council meeting.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Deputy should not believe everything he reads in The Irish Times. I was a strong supporter of the move at the Council meeting. I did not read or write the article in The Irish Times.

Carbon Fund Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: It used to be.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the fitting out and provision of maintenance services, including light fittings, to Government Departments and certain other State Agencies. In accordance with its Environmental Policy Statement, my Department is fully committed to the effective management of our consumption of energy resources. This is a critical element of our ongoing...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 167 together. Thermal performance and insulation standards under Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992. I am committed to updating these standards on a continuous and regular basis in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Commission on Electronic Voting, in its Second Report on the Secrecy, Accuracy and Testing of the Chosen Electronic Voting System, (published on 4 July 2006), concluded that it can recommend the voting and counting equipment for use at elections in Ireland, subject to further work it has recommended. The Commission made it clear that many of its recommendations involve only relatively...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 109 and 190 together. The Review of Local Government Financing by Indecon Economic Consultants estimated, on the basis of different methods of projecting expenditure, that by 2010 local authority expenditure would increase by €1 billion to €2 billion in nominal terms over 2004 levels. Funding this expenditure will be met by a combination of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Management: Local Authority Management (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Local authorities are independent, democratically elected bodies that are recognised by the Constitution and in law. They operate in accordance with local government and other legislation, as well as national policy, directions and guidelines as provided for in such legislation. In their day-to-day activities, local authorities are accountable on an on-going basis to their elected members,...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 123 together. The Green Paper on European Energy Policy, published in March 2006 by the European Commission, recognised that the use of nuclear power was a matter for decision by each Member State. While it is a matter for the UK to decide on its energy mix, the issues for Ireland arising from decisions made by the UK on nuclear policy are well known...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Mixed Oxide (MOX) Plant at Sellafield utilises plutonium, separated during reprocessing of spent fuel for foreign customers at Sellafield, and returns it, predominantly by sea, to those customers in the form of MOX fuel for use in their nuclear reactors. Such shipments of radioactive material are subject to international maritime regulations including the right of innocent passage and to...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 147 and 183 together. At the EU Environment Council on 20 February 2007, my European colleagues and I considered the future development of the international climate regime in light of recent scientific and economic analyses and Europe's stated objective of limiting the increase in global mean temperature to 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 120, 132, 157 and 213 together. The Government has designated €270 million for the purchase of carbon allowances over the period 2007-2013. This sum is in addition to €20 million provided in my Department's Vote in 2006. According to Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2006, published by the European Environment Agency, ten EU...

Written Answers — Population Density: Population Density (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 140, 159 and 178 together. A broad range of policies and measures is being implemented to address pressures in the urban environs of Dublin and promote balanced regional development across the country. A key policy response has been the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), which was published in November 2002. The NSS acknowledges that it is not sustainable...

Written Answers — Social Inclusion: Social Inclusion (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 176, 181 and 202 together. The Combat Poverty Agency report on Poverty and Social Inclusion, Linking Local and National Structures, is currently being examined in my Department. The promotion of social inclusion is a key policy objective for my Department and is prioritised in our Statement of Strategy 2005-2007. Local authorities have a key role in...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: Agreement was reached at the end of December last year with the Irish Banking Federation (IBF), acting on behalf of retail banking groups with ATM networks, on a protocol to tackle the problem of litter caused by ATM advice slips. The protocol provides for a review of the impact of the agreed measures in July. Local authorities around the country have been asked to monitor and report on the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 152 and 185 together. The Government has approved the drafting of a Designated Land (Housing Development) Bill. The primary purpose of the proposed legislation is to provide for a "use it or lose it" scheme which could be deployed by planning authorities on a selective basis to accelerate the development of appropriate land that is already zoned for...

Written Answers — Library Service: Library Service (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: The Government has provided some €90.2 million, through my Department towards the local authority public library service over the years 1997 to 2006. On foot of this expenditure, supplemented by local authorities from their own resources, 57 new library buildings were opened by the end of 2006. In addition, the investment has also contributed to the provision and development of ICT...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Feb 2007)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 168 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 602 of 13 February 2007. A review of the National Climate Change Strategy was published in July 2006. Following a public consultation on this review, I am preparing a revised National Climate Change Strategy which will take account, inter alia, of commitments in Budget 2007, the National Development...