Results 21-40 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (23 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposed new headquarters fire station at Clonard in Wexford town is one of the projects included in the fire services capital programme, announced on 24 May 2004, to be advanced to construction stage on a phased basis in the period up to the end of 2005. The submission of design drawings and a detailed cost plan for approval is awaited. The new fire station is to be built as part of a...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to clarify these issues. Providing modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been a major focus of Government spending over recent years. My Department has made unprecedented investment under the national development plan on water and sewerage schemes and this has contributed significantly to the economic growth...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister would have no difficulty in meeting the delegation but it would be more productive for the council to first submit any proposals it might have, to which we could give a considered response and have a follow-up meeting. The sooner the council can do that, the better.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: No, there are still many proposals to be submitted.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Wireless technology is likely to become revolutionary in the unfolding of the information society. It has the capacity to offer access to all of the on-line information services required by an individual without being restricted by wires, connections and sockets. As technology develops these services will become faster, more powerful and truly...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Seanad: Search and Rescue Service. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator McHugh for making a strong and sensible case. I assure the House that the training he mentioned is well under way and has almost been completed. The Mulroy coastal unit is one of 54 such units at strategic locations around the coast. The units are operated by male and female volunteers who make themselves available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist in marine...

Seanad: Search and Rescue Service. (25 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is a very important matter and I guarantee that I will do so.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (26 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Each local authority determines its level of expenditure on individual local services, including its anti-litter operations, as part of its annual estimates process. Such expenditure is funded from a variety of sources, including the local government fund, rates, fees and charges. In addition, since 1997 my Department has allocated a total of more than €4.35 million in grants to local...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (26 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Air quality assessment is the responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and air quality management a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. The EPA's air quality monitoring annual report 2002 indicates that the limit values for pollutants under the EU air quality directives on ambient air quality were not being exceeded in 2002 and from the...

Written Answers — Schemes of Letting: Schemes of Letting (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The revised scheme of letting priorities submitted by Dublin City Council is subject to ongoing discussions between my Department and the city council. A decision will be made on the matter as soon as possible.

Seanad: Hazardous Waste. (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The subject of the proposed plan for the rehabilitation of old mine sites in Silvermines, County Tipperary, was covered in some detail in a previous Adjournment debate on 24 November 2004. Since that date, a summons for failure to deliver on its clause K liabilities was served on Mogul of Ireland in early December 2004. However, by...

Seanad: Hazardous Waste. (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: All I can say is that the local community group will be given every opportunity at the meeting next week with the officials of the Department to have an input into this report. There will be other strands to the report. We will communicate what the Senator is saying on behalf of the community here today. The Minister will take what is a logical, well defined decision, based on all the...

Seanad: Waste Management. (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Cummins for raising this issue. Waste management issues have assumed increasing importance, both locally and nationally. From being the Cinderella of the environmental service, integrated and coherent waste management policy and infrastructure are now seen as critical to environmental sustainability. Improving our waste management infrastructure is vital in achieving ambitious...

Seanad: Waste Management. (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have checked with my Department and my understanding is that no such request has been received from Waterford County Council. When that request is received in the Department it will be given due consideration by the Minister.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (2 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 3 December 2004 Donegal County Council submitted a revised application for approval in principle for a new replacement fire station at Moville. This is being considered in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme having regard to the overall availability of resources and priorities under the programme.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (8 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. An application from Sligo County Council for funding for improvement works to Sligo HQ fire station is being considered in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme having regard to the overall availability of resources and priorities under the programme. There is no formal application before my Department at...

Written Answers — Solid Fuels: Solid Fuels (8 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The June 2002 voluntary agreement between my Department and the solid fuel trade group, which represents the principal importers and distributors of solid fuel in Ireland, provided, inter alia, for the delivery of significantly cleaner standards for bituminous coal and petcoke on a phased basis. The agreement also encompassed the extension of the coal ban to four new areas from October 2003...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. Under this provision, licences have been issued annually to the...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: In its 1998 report, the Heritage Council recommended that the legal status of the deer be determined in accordance with section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976. The Department sought the advice of the Attorney General on foot of that recommendation. The effect of the advice was that the Act applies to the hunting of deer by the Ward Union Hunt and that the Minister should interpret the...