Results 2,901-2,920 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

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

John Gormley: Following a review of financial supports available to councillors, a range of improvements was introduced with effect from 1 January, 2007. These improvements resulted from a careful and detailed review of the expenses allowances system and the retirement gratuity scheme for councillors and involved extensive consultation with the elected members' associations. The amendments to the...

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I welcome the opportunity to address the House in this debate on the pre-budget outlook. Before I deal with the spending profile of my Department, I wish to acknowledge the new and innovative approach of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in publishing, before budget day announcements, expenditure profiles based on existing levels of service. This provides greater...

Written Answers — National Heritage Issues: National Heritage Issues (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the replies to Questions No. 188 of 27 September 2007 and No. 488 of 2 October 2007. The position remains unchanged. The expert advice available to me is that the erection of a cover over the Stone would not be adequate to address the serious deterioration in its condition in the longer-term and that it is essential to move it to an environmentally controlled indoor location,...

Written Answers — Management Companies: Management Companies (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 95 and 142 of 10 October 2007. The introduction of legislation in relation to the governing of management companies is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to question No. 305 of the 10 October, 2007. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: On 17 September 2007, when publishing the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, I outlined the measures being taken by my Department, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to develop a systematic and accelerated response to the cryptosporidium risk, as well as to persistent E-Coli failures, in public water supplies. These measures include a new contingency...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy centred on the Government's continued support for the internationally recognised waste hierarchy which places major emphasis on the prevention, reuse and recycling of waste while minimising reliance on landfill and other disposal options. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added...

Written Answers — Travel Allowances: Travel Allowances (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I have directed that travel and subsistence allowances at standard rates are payable in relation to attendance by members of local authorities at meetings of a River Basin District (RBD) Advisory Council. Such allowances are payable with effect from the date of appointment of the member to the Advisory Council and are additional to the annual expenses allowances otherwise payable to elected...

Written Answers — Waste Recycling: Waste Recycling (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland has seen dramatic improvements in municipal waste recycling over the past decade. The most recent National Waste Report, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states that the recovery rate for municipal waste in 2005 was 34.6%. This was almost four times the equivalent figure for 1998, which was 9%. These increases in recycling rates were achieved through a range...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I made the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 on 27 September 2007 to provide for the authorisation by the Environmental Protection Agency of discharges to waters from local authority waste water treatment works and collection systems. These regulations implement Article 6(2) of Directive 2006/11/EC (which replaced Directive 76/464/EEC) on pollution caused by certain...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The position in this case is that a judgment against Ireland was made by the European Court of Justice on 14 November 2002 in relation to the quality of over 1600 public and group scheme drinking water supplies. Since then, my Department has put in place an extensive programme of remediation measures for both the public schemes and the group water schemes cited in the judgment and has...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Part 10 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended implements the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, 85/337/EEC, as amended. The prescribed classes of development that require EIS are listed in Schedule 5 of the Regulations. Schedule 6 of the Regulations sets out the information to be contained in an EIS and specifies that it must include "a description of the...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 89 of 10 October 2007. In early August concerns were raised with me about the potential for damage to the national monument known as Rath Lugh in the townland of Lismullin, Co. Meath. Having investigated the matter, and given its archaeological importance, I placed a temporary Preservation Order on the monument on 28 September 2007. Prior notification of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy including a commitment to undertake an international review of waste management plans, practices and procedures and to act on its conclusions. As I announced recently, I have already directed my Department to commission such a review, to commence as soon as possible and to conclude in the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) gives effect in Ireland to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Environmental Protection Agency is the national authority with overall responsibility for implementing the Regulations. Implementation at local level is a matter for local authorities concerned, Dublin...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. 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. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 542 together. The legislative framework for development consent is set out in the Planning and Development Acts 2000 — 2006. In general, planning permission must be sought for the erection of an antenna support structure or mast, and generators, subject to certain exemptions, as set out in the planning regulations under the above Acts. In addition...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The number of drivers without motor insurance is estimated by the insurance industry to be in the range of one hundred thousand drivers. This is calculated by taking the number of registered vehicles from the National Vehicle and Driver File maintained by the Vehicle Registration Unit and subtracting the number of exempted vehicles, e.g., State vehicles. The resulting figure is compared to...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I have been advised by the Chief State Solicitor's Office that a letter has re-issued to the Solicitor acting for the vendor on 23 October, seeking information originally requested on 8 August 2007. The contracts cannot be executed until a satisfactory response has been received.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Arising from previous research completed by the Institute of Public Administration on behalf of the Department in 2004, my Department commissioned further research by a Trinity College / Dublin City University joint team to establish a clear profile of formal systems for regulating lobbyists in public life in certain jurisdictions, thereby facilitating an assessment of their relevance to...