Results 3,041-3,060 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Register of Electors. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: In law the preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. The compilation of the register and the carrying out of a census are different processes with different statutory requirements. In addition, there are...
- Register of Electors. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Deputy Lynch raised a number of interesting points. He is correct in stating that there is real inconsistency between many of the local authorities. I myself discovered that. Even in the compilation of the register, in whether it is available electronically and in how it is conducted, there is little consistency. I agree there is work for my Department in that regard. I hope many of these...
- Register of Electors. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Yes, I will produce terms of reference. Because this is such an important issue I would like an all-party approach to be taken, in the same way as I sought an all-party approach to the Green Paper on local government. Many of Deputy Ciarán Lynch's colleagues sit on the consultative committee and do very good work. When drawing up the terms of reference I intend to consult broadly with...
- Planning Issues. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Development plans prepared by local authorities under Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide the over-arching strategic framework for development within their areas. It is mandatory for development plans to provide objectives, inter alia, for the integration of the planning and sustainable development of an area with the social, community and cultural requirements of the...
- Planning Issues. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: We are already taking action. I highlighted previously to the Deputy in regard to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 that what we wanted to achieve was proper integration not segregation. The problems Deputy Naughten referred to were identified as far back as the year 2000. We do not need to be alarmist about this issue. We have seen good integration take place. I do not know...
- Planning Issues. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Economic segregation is already evident in many cases.
- Planning Issues. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: In many cases economic segregation has very little to do with planning, it relates to the fact that many immigrants are willing to do work which Irish people no longer want to do. If one goes to a filling stationââ
- Planning Issues. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I am not. That is the situation. The Deputy is confusing a number of issues. In terms of planning, the real issue is that we provide good planning â planning has to be paramount â that services are properly provided and that the proper densities are put in place. That is the way to go. There is no way one can put up a "whites only" sign as part of the planning process. That will not...
- Local Authority Auditing. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Expenditure by local authorities is projected to reach â¬9.5 billion in 2007 and it is vital that the oversight of financial management and control systems in these bodies reflects best practice. Section 5 of the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006, which replaced the provisions in the Local Government Act 2001, provides a framework for the establishment by local...
- Local Authority Auditing. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: If we are to hold local government to account financially, they are necessary. The Deputy referred to the significant role played by and the considerable expenditure involved in local government. From the budgetary process on which I have embarked, I know how important it is to have a proper local government fund. We require efficiency at local government level. When I was a councillor, I...
- Local Authority Auditing. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: It will depend on what they are examining. The crucial difference is that the committees will include external members. Sometimes, if councillors were involved in decisions with expenditure implications, they could not adjudicate on their performance properly. I hope the committees will meet as often as necessary. When people are only in receipt of expenses and work is not properly...
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 54 and 73 together. The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1993 under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the range and complexity of the functions it discharges have increased significantly since then. The staffing, financial and other organisational resources available to the agency have expanded commensurate with its...
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I intend to provide extra staff for frontline duties. One cannot artificially divide capital investment from current spending. Once one invests in, say, a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant, which we require to comply with our EU commitments, one needs staff to run it. Ireland is ranked No. 1 in Europe for implementation of the water framework directive and I made that a priority. It...
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Deputy Sheehan knows I have been a frequent visitor to west Cork and Goleen, but it is a matter for the local authority.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I hope to visit again some time and I am sure Deputy Sheehan will welcome me. It is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. I am happy to see what can be done. Under the water investment programme over â¬4.5 billion has been committed and we must continue with that job because we require good quality water by 2015.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I did not say I will lift any embargo, but there is a commitment to providing frontline staff where required. We are working towards this for the EPA, my Department, NPWS and some of the local authorities.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: Given the extent of the problems, 2015 is not far away. Our record on the implementation of the water framework directive is second to none. I have established a contingency fund under the water services investment programme so that local authorities can draw down funding if they have a problem with cryptosporidium or any other aspect of water quality. I agree with the Deputy and I have...
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: My Department is currently in negotiations with the Department of Finance on this issue. I have highlighted the need for extra staff in the critical areas of compliance and enforcement. These are my priorities for the upcoming budget. There is a necessity for extra staff in certain areas, such as the EPA, the national parks and wildlife section of my Department, as well as compliance and...
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: The answer is that negotiations are taking place and I am confident that we will get people, but I am not yet sure of the exact numbers. I will be happy to get back to the Deputy when I have the final figures.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)
John Gormley: I do not want to get into specific local authority areas. Members quite rightly have local concerns, but on a national level we are working towards achieving good quality water throughout the country by 2015. It was mentioned that such a date is a long way away, but I would be happy if we could get full compliance by that date. The water services investment programme that I outlined shows...