Results 3,541-3,560 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: We have never had a member of the party before a tribunal. We have never accepted a penny from a bank or a builder——

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: ——unlike that party. Fine Gael should withdraw some of the stupid remarks its Members made tonight.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1299 to 1301, inclusive, together. The Government has announced the provision of €270 million for the purchase of carbon allowances over the period 2007-13. This sum is in addition to €20 million provided in my Department's Vote in 2006. No additional funding was required or provided in Budget 2008. Following the enactment of the Carbon Fund Act in March...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The European Commission published a package of energy and climate change proposals on 23 January 2008. The proposals are intended to meet the commitments made by EU Heads of State and Government at the 2007 Spring meeting of the European Council that EU greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by at least 20% on 1990 levels by 2020 and that renewable energy contribute 20% of the EU's energy...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1305, 1364 and 1401 together. On 8 January 2008 I announced that I had established two committees to review local electoral areas. One committee will report on the areas of Dublin City, Cork City, Galway City, Limerick City, Waterford City, and Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils. The other committee will report on the electoral...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1306 and 1387 together. It is assumed that the questions refer to the efficiency review of all administrative spending currently being conducted arising from the Budget Day announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. The review is under way in my Department and the results will be communicated to the Department of Finance, as required, by March....

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307, 1308, 1319, 1326, 1342, 1343, 1351 and 1371 together. Budget 2007 announced proposals for new motor tax and vehicle registration tax (VRT) systems to reward low CO2 emitting and penalise high CO2 emitting, cars. It was made clear at the time that the new system would apply to new cars and pre-owned imported cars. A public consultation process was held...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: A list of the principal measures intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the projected average annual level of reduction for each measure in the period 2008-2012 is set out in tables 2.1 and 2.2 of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012. Annex 1 of the Strategy indicates that the combined effect of these measures is projected to result in net emissions of 66.216 million...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were published by my Department on 29 June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Broadford Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as part of the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative. My Department approved Clare County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme in December 2006. In accordance with devolved procedures for schemes costing less than €5m, it is a matter for the Council...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: A successful producer responsibility initiative has been in operation since mid 1997 in relation to farm film silage bale wrap. My Department has been working with industry with a view to replicating this success for other waste materials arising on farms. These discussions are ongoing. The provision of environmentally sound recovery outlets for these materials, such as fertiliser bags and...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1314, 1331 and 1345 together. The Programme for Government commits to phasing out the use of incandescent light bulbs in favour of more energy efficient alternatives. More recently, in my Carbon Budget Statement of 6 December last, I announced that a minimum energy efficiency standard for lighting will be introduced from 2009 and advised that this measure...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I assume that the Question refers to the ruling by the European Court of Justice in case C-117/00 against Ireland's implementation of the Birds Directive, the thrust of which was recently reaffirmed in case C-418/04. In order to comply with Ireland's obligations under the Birds Directive, identified in that ruling, my Department has been working with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: Responsibility for storage of manual voting equipment has always been a matter for the local returning officers and so similar responsibility was assigned to them in regard to the electronic voting equipment. In the majority of cases, leases were entered into by them for the storage of the machines, which have a 20-year lifespan. The Government decision to centralise storage of the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1317, 1413, 1417 and 1418 together. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1318, 1332 and 1333 together. An Bord Pleanála (the Board) was established in 1977, under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976, primarily to allow independent consideration of planning authorities' decisions on planning applications in the event that such decisions are appealed. The procedures for the appointment of ordinary members of...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1320, 1363 and 1407 together. In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department will be publishing the Green Paper on local government reform shortly. 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...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1321 and 1356 together. Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the...

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1322 and 1323 together. The information sought in relation to all judicial reviews over the period in question is not readily available. However, details of judicial reviews for which information is readily available are set out in the following table. The costs of defending cases are met by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. This Department would be...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1324 and 1325 together. While my Department has received no specific proposals relating to the works in question, I understand that they may form part of the Blanchardstown Sewerage Scheme (Network) which is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to advance through planning. I also understand that Fingal County...