Results 3,521-3,540 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The process to transpose Directive 2003/35/EC is well advanced with legislation completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems pertaining to that Directive within the Irish legislative framework. While work is continuing on the outstanding issues, and will be finalised by the Departments concerned at the earliest possible date, the European Commission has initiated Article...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: My Department replied to the Letter of Formal Notice on 19 November 2007 and a bilateral meeting will be held with the European Commission in early 2008 to address any remaining concerns which the Commission may have in relation to the case.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (19 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: There is ongoing liaison between my Department and authorities, bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department, during the course of normal day to day business. Advice received in this context is not costed. In regard to advice obtained though consultants, the information requested is set out in the table. The first two items in the table would relate to capital expenditure. In...

Written Answers — Policy on Local Government: Policy on Local Government (19 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: It is a matter for each local authority to deal with requests for access to information by a parliamentary representative as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with a proper level of customer service. In this regard local authorities are required to put in place arrangements to ensure that systems, procedures and time frames equivalent to those used by them in relation to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Under the decentralisation programme, all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and a small co-ordination section which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. A total of 682 Dublin based posts will be transferred to four locations in...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: affirms its confidence in the Mahon tribunal and believes it will fulfil the tribunal's mandate pursuant to the amended terms of reference established by the Oireachtas; notes that the tribunal was established to inquire urgently into certain planning matters and report to the Clerk of the Dáil...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: Legislation was introduced on several occasions to underpin and facilitate the operation of this and other tribunals. I remind the House of the facts. The planning tribunal was established in 1997 by the Government and the Oireachtas as a response to suspicions of corrupt acts in the planning process, particularly in the Dublin area. I should also remind the House of the pivotal role that...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The tribunal was mandated to examine certain specific activities and also to investigate any other matters that came to its attention that could amount to corrupt acts in the period since June 1985. Two Acts from 1998 allowed for the changing of a tribunal's terms of reference, at the request of the tribunal or following consultation between the tribunal and the Attorney General on behalf of...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: At that time, the Government also approved the provision of additional resources to the tribunal and a significant increase in the size of its internal legal team. Earlier, in July 2004, the Government decided on a new reduced scale of fees for new and existing tribunals' legal teams. Following discussion between the Attorney General and the planning tribunal, it was agreed that, with the...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: Conscious, on the advice of the chairman, that the imposition of a reduced fee structure for the tribunal's legal team might cause delay and interfere with its capacity to complete its work within the time schedule outlined by the chairman, the Government agreed in March 2007 that the existing rates for the tribunal's legal team would continue to apply pro tem. That remains the position. I...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001 strengthened the law on corruption as it relates to persons in public office, with a view to making prosecution in respect of corrupt payments easier. The types of decision covered by this legislation specifically include decisions on planning matters. The Standards in Public Office Act 2001 provided for the establishment of the Standards in...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: ——and more generally to enhance the interests of justice, probity, ethics and public accountability throughout the public service and political system. There are legitimate concerns about the duration and cost of tribunals generally — Deputy Varadkar referred to this — and of the planning tribunal in particular, which has now entered its tenth year.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: In October last, the chairman, in a communication to the Clerk of the Dáil, indicated that subject to unforeseen circumstances or delays, the tribunal anticipated that its public hearings would be completed by late summer 2008. Thereafter, it would commence the preparation of its report or reports, and such recommendations, as it deems appropriate. This will be a major undertaking, which...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: With the prospect of a reasonably imminent conclusion of the tribunal's public hearings, and conscious that the bulk of its ultimate costs have already been incurred, the focus of the House should be to recognise and respond to the lessons that may be adduced from the experience with this and other recent tribunals. For that reason, the Government's amendment urges the early consideration...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Bill does no more than make explicit the existing implicit entitlement of the Oireachtas by resolution to dissolve a tribunal that it had established. The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill is based to a significant extent on the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission, which carried out a comprehensive examination of tribunal legislation and in May 2005 published its report on public...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: ——tribunal reports will be admissible in civil cases — the findings of facts in a report or the opinions expressed therein are prima facie evidence unless the contrary is shown; the position with regard to award of costs by a tribunal is clarified and co-operation with the tribunal remains the key determinant for an award of costs; and regulations, to be made by the Minister for...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: Furthermore, a tribunal would be precluded from inquiring into a relevant matter unless it is satisfied the cost and duration of that inquiry are likely to be justified by the importance of the facts that are likely to be established in consequence of the inquiry.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I am happy to proceed. Overall, the proposed Bill will contribute positively to a more effective future operation of public inquiries. It provides for a comprehensive statutory framework governing all aspects of a tribunal, from the time of its establishment to the publication of its final report, and its enactment will further the public interest and public accountability, and underpin the...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: ——and this Government will continue so to do. We look forward with anticipation to the publication of the tribunal's final report at the earliest possible date and to its subsequent consideration by the Oireachtas. In the meantime, as it is generally acknowledged that there is a need to comprehensively update and modernise the law on public inquiries, we should proceed to a constructive...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: We have always had higher ethical standards than Fine Gael.