Results 2,581-2,600 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (5 Jul 2007)

John Gormley: Agreement has been reached in this case to purchase 1.375 acres at a cost of €9,931.25. Payment can only be made once all the conditions of the scheme are met and a satisfactory legal agreement has been reached and executed. When the agreement has been fully executed payment will be made.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Jul 2007)

John Gormley: Article 9 and Annex II of Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste provides that packaging may not be placed on the market within the EU unless it complies with specified "Essential Requirements". Firstly, packaging must be prevented so that only the minimum amount necessary is used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods. Secondly, packaging...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 554 of 3 July 2007. The overall approved staffing complement of my Department is 1,298 staff. Following the establishment of an advanced office in Wexford comprising 39 staff on 25 June 2007, there has been a corresponding reduction by 39 staff in my Department's Dublin offices. This has no effect on the approved staffing compliment.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Jul 2007)

John Gormley: Responsibility for the sustainable planning and delivery of development in the North Fringe area is a matter for the relevant local authorities, namely Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. The North Fringe Framework Development Plan was prepared by Dublin City Council in 2000 and sets out the objectives for the area, the site context and the urban design framework. In recognition...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Jul 2007)

John Gormley: My Department has no role in the determination of the number, size or location of waste management facilities. Such decisions are taken by local authorities, in the context of the regional waste management plans for which they have statutory responsibility, and by commercial enterprises in relation to private sector facilities, and are subject to the statutory planning and waste licence...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the motion.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: The Green Party will support the motion and will express full confidence in the work of the tribunal. When the Green Party made the decision to enter Government last June, its members knew a process was in train and that the Taoiseach was due to give evidence to the Mahon tribunal. It has been our consistent line that we will await the outcome of that tribunal. It is important that the...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Not a penny, unlike the Deputy. I will discuss that shortly. This Taoiseach has supported the Green Party on climate change. The new Cabinet committee has already met and I attended the UN heads of state meeting in New York at the Taoiseach's behest.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: At that meeting, Mr. Al Gore told a small gathering that the latest scientific evidence indicates that the ice cap at the North Pole will be gone in 23 years if we do not stabilise our CO2 emissions. The members of the Opposition can laugh. They obviously believe that climate change is a joke.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: It is not a joke. That is a reality check for the Opposition parties. It is the reason the Green Party is in Government. The Green Party also believes that public life should have the highest ethical standards. We are not the moral custodians of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Labour Party. We look after ourselves. Unlike other parties, including the Opposition parties, we do not accept...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: The Planning and Development Regulations 2007, which provide exemptions from planning permission requirements in respect of certain classes of micro-renewable technologies for use in the home, came into effect from 28 February 2007. The exemptions apply to solar panels and other micro-renewable technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps and biomass, subject to certain conditions in each...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government provides for a Revision of the Building Regulations to "introduce new national building standards in 2007 to ensure that new housing has 40% lower heat energy demand than existing buildings standards and revise them again in 2010 to achieve a 60% target in further years". In keeping with that commitment, I published draft Building Regulations under Part L of the...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1076 to 1078, inclusive, 1131 and 1170 together. On 26 April 2007, a Constituency Commission was established under the Electoral Act 1997 to review and report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies. The Commission is required to report to the Ceann Comhairle as soon as may be and, in any event, not later than 6 months from its establishment. Unlike...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Statistics on local authority enforcement action, including the number of on-the-spot litter fines issued, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months. These figures are collated on a local authority functional area basis and are available in the Oireachtas Library. A more detailed geographic breakdown of the data is not collected by my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1081 and 1145 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 283 of 5 July 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1083 and 1163 together. My Department is awaiting submission by Kildare County Council of Contract Documents for the expansion/upgrading of the Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant as part of the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme. The Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to start construction next year at an...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Under section 202 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 a planning authority can make a Special Amenity Area Order or be directed by the Minister to make such an order. The legislation does not specify that an area proposed as a Special Amenity Area Order should be zoned for a particular purpose prior to its designation. The making of a Special Amenity Area Order by a planning authority...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: All beverage containers are packaging. Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste is based on the concept of producer responsibility, which effectively requires producers to contribute to the waste management costs of products which they have placed on the market at end-of-life. Under the Directive, Ireland was required to achieve a 25%...

Written Answers — Water Supply Contamination: Water Supply Contamination (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Asbestos cement piping formerly used in local authority watermains was required to meet the specifications defined in Irish Standard 188 and, in common with international practice, to include bitumen lining and coating. The main health risk associated with asbestos products relates to inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. The potential exposure to such risk has led to a decline in the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (26 Sep 2007)

John Gormley: Specific state support for the accommodation needs of older people or people with special housing needs ranges from grant schemes which allow people to remain in their homes to the provision of specific sheltered housing options. Both the local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sectors are providing an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of...