Results 2,861-2,880 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Regional Orthopaedic Unit Closure. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: At the end of September the total number of elective procedures performed was 1,603, of which 331 were major joint replacements and 1,272 were other orthopaedic procedures. The overall context for public hospital services in the country is that for each of the past three months of this year, we can still expect about 100,000 patient discharges, on a day case and inpatient basis. This...

Hunting Licences. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I thank Deputy Gregory for raising this matter. Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack during such period as specified in the licence. I know there are different views as...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I thank Deputy Chris Andrews for raising this matter. I am not precluded from discussing the issue. As the Deputy will be aware, as residents of Ringsend my family and I are personally affected by the smell emanating from the waste water treatment plant in the area. It is completely unacceptable that residents must endure this odour nuisance. On taking office, I asked for a full report on...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: It is clear that the council of which the Deputy was a member is responsible. Unlike the Deputy, I live in the area in question and am affected by this issue.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I am making people accountable.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: An independent examination of the plant has been undertaken by international consultants. They have identified the problems, remedial measures have been devised and a programme of works to resolve the situation permanently is in progress. It will be approximately one year before all remedial measures are completed, but both the council and the contractor on site are committed to doing...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: New wastewater treatments plants for Baltimore and Skibbereen have been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as part of a grouped project that also includes Dunmanway and Schull. My Department is examining Cork County Council's contract documents for the four treatment plants and they are being dealt with as quickly as possible. My...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Article 9.1 of the EU Water Framework Directive requires Member States to take account of the principle of water services cost recovery, including environmental and resource costs, in accordance with the polluter pays principle. The Directive is being implemented in Ireland in relation to the non-domestic sector, which includes those engaged in the provision of educational services, on the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Carysfort — Maretimo Improvement Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a Scheme to start construction in 2008. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme is under examination in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: My Department administers a Civic Structures Conservation scheme of grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally. The deadline for completed applications for the 2007 scheme was 29 March 2007. Details of the 2007 scheme are on the Department's website www.environ.ie. This...

Written Answers — Local Government Policy: Local Government Policy (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department will be publishing a Green Paper on local government reform in the coming months. The Green Paper will examine a number of issues with the objective of making local government more transparent and responsive, and will set out options for reform in advance of a subsequent White Paper. Issues to be considered in the Green Paper...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (18 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Under the Building Control Act 1990, responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations is a matter for the owner or builder of a building. Responsibility for enforcement of the Building Regulations is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities. Under the Act, authorities are empowered to carry out inspections of buildings and to take such samples of materials used in the...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Unlike previous speakers I did not know John Wilson. Nevertheless, on my behalf and on behalf of the Green Party I express sympathy to his family and to the Fianna Fáil Party. John Wilson was a man of many talents. He was a linguist, a classical scholar, an able politician, a tireless worker, an actor, a republican and a teacher. Of course, he will be remembered most in Cavan for the...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Primary responsibility for the protection and improvement of water quality is assigned statutorily to local authorities, which in the case of Meath's rivers and lakes is the responsibility of Meath County Council. In this regard local authorities act under the supervision of the EPA. Measures for the protection and improvement of water quality are being progressed on a systematic basis, in...

Written Answers — Aarhus Convention: Aarhus Convention (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I have no statutory remit in relation to the approval, or otherwise, of a road development, such as the M3. That is a matter for An Bord Pleanála, whose decisions in this regard are subject to challenge only by way of judicial review. Following the approval of a road development by An Bord Pleanála, section 14A of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended, provides for two situations in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 621 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 121 of 10 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Department's Annual Output Statement for 2007 has not been published on the Department's website but copies have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and have been made available on request. I have now asked that the Annual Output Statement be put on the Department's website.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 509 and 510 of 2 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide that a planning authority may attach a condition to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a development, and, if the development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, may apply the security to that satisfactory completion. The determination of...