Results 3,921-3,940 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The European Communities (Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 were made in response to a case taken against Ireland by the European Commission, (Case C-183/05), which related to the Commission's concerns that Ireland's transposition of the Habitats Directive was in some respects inadequate. Ireland also presented to the European Court of Justice the wide range of monitoring schemes...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has granted licences for certain archaeological investigations at Thornton. Three licences for geophysical testing have been issued: to archaeologists working on behalf of a local group and to archaeologists working for the Irish Prison Service. One test excavation licence has also been granted to facilitate work to be undertaken on behalf of Irish Prison Service. The reports on...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The provision and funding of the public library service is a function of the individual library authorities. Grant aid is provided by my Department to local authorities and An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in respect of the development of the library and archive service including on-line services in libraries. In 2006, the provision in my Department's Vote for this programme is €12.32 million.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 79, 129, 139, 153 and 454 together. A programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system is underway to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately. As part of this programme, my Department engaged consultants in...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The decision by the United Kingdom Government to approve the sale of British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd. (BNG) was made in the context of the Strategy document published on 30 March 2006 by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). This Strategy outlines how the NDA proposes to tackle the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 nuclear sites, including Sellafield, over which they...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 101 together. Participation by Irish installations in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, as required under Directive 2003/87/EC, is a key element of Ireland's overall approach to meeting its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol. The other elements are a programme of measures to achieve emission reductions throughout the economy (as set out in the...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 107 together. Together with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I met with the Northern Secretary, Mr. Peter Hain at a meeting of the British — Irish Council on 2 June. We took the opportunity to emphasise that the Irish Government would be strongly opposed to the building of any nuclear plants on the island of Ireland. The Northern...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 98 together. Government efforts and resources, together with those of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), focus on highlighting public awareness of radon and on improving information to householders so as to enable and encourage them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically. Increasing the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Regulations: Local Authority Regulations (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The provisions governing local authority membership and local authority employment are set out in sections 13 and 161 of the Local Government Act 2001. Under section 13 of the Act, a person employed by a local authority who is not the holder of a class, description or grade of employment designated by order under section 161 is disqualified from being elected or co-opted to, or from being a...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 128 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 53 and 55 on today's order paper.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 558 of 3 May 2006 in relation to the local government reform programme. A number of new structures have been introduced in recent years as part of the programme to provide an enhanced role for elected members in policy formulation and review and in developing and implementing an integrated strategy for the economic, social and cultural development of their...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The 15 cent levy on plastic bags, as provided for in the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Regulations 2001, applies to all plastic bags supplied to customers at the point of sale to them for the conveyance of goods or products. Prior to the introduction of this levy in March 2002, an estimated 1.2 billion plastic bags were given away free by retailers. The levy has led to a...

Written Answers — Housing Provision: Housing Provision (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Responsibility for the provision of water supplies to service existing requirements and new development needs rests with the local authorities. Local authorities are required to undertake regular assessments of their water services capital requirements and to inform my Department of the resulting priorities. My Department funds those schemes that are approved under the Water Services...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Many domestic renewable energy developments, including the placing of solar panels to the rear of houses, would be exempted development. Section 4(1)(h) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, provides that development consisting of the carrying out of works for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any structure is exempted development if the works affect only the interior of...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: National waste statistics for all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent National Waste Report being in respect of 2004. As outlined in successive National Waste Reports, the general situation in Ireland is that we rely significantly on foreign based materials recycling infrastructure, which dealt with 73.8% of...

Written Answers — Environmental Management: Environmental Management (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is undertaking an extensive programme of work aimed at meeting the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Ireland's strategy for conserving and, where possible, enhancing our biodiversity is set out in the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-2006. An important feature of the Plan is the shared responsibility across all sectors, including Government Departments, State...

Written Answers — Water Meters: Water Meters (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive, the national water services pricing policy framework provides for the recovery by sanitary authorities of the full cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. This policy of cost recovery from the non-domestic sector extends to the provision of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 122 and 125 together. Ireland's national Nitrates Action Programme has been given statutory effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2005 which came in to effect generally on 1 February 2006. Some aspects of the Regulations are at present under review on the basis of scientific advice received...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The transport sector is not included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as it is not one of the activities included in the scope of the Emissions Trading Directive. While it is possible for Member States to voluntarily include additional gases or categories of activities in the scope of the Scheme, this is constrained in practice by considerations such as the feasibility of emissions...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is a 20-year strategic planning framework which was published in November 2002 and aims at achieving more balanced regional development throughout the country. Dublin plays a key role in the ongoing implementation of the National Spatial Strategy. The Strategy calls for a more balanced spread of economic activity in Ireland, but recognises that we must...