Results 4,121-4,140 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: We will go beyond that. The Deputy knows that money was set aside. There is no indication that the €270 million will be used. I am confident we can do so domestically. The Marrakesh Declaration puts an onus on all states to reduce emissions domestically and not to rely on carbon credits. It is an obvious point to make but the Deputy is right in stating that if we are to make decreases...

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: In the context of taxation policy, the programme for Government committed to establish a new Commission on Taxation. The commission, which was established on 14 February 2008, is tasked in its terms of reference to look at the introduction of measures to further lower carbon emissions and to phase in, on a revenue neutral basis, appropriate fiscal measures including a carbon levy over the...

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I welcome the fact that the company carried out the poll. There was no need to consult other members of Government. I am the Minister responsible. We set out to have an awareness raising campaign and, in order to raise awareness one must measure how quickly and by how much one can raise awareness. A baseline study is needed to find out where we are now. The poll findings were interesting...

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy asks why people will support carbon taxes. Believe it or not, some people are responsible——

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: ——and understand they have a duty, as we all do, to tackle the biggest issue facing humanity. People want responsible action. I can check how many members of the Labour Party, perhaps, or what percentage of its supporters are in favour of these measures. I suspect it is more than the Deputy believes. Too often politicians run for cover when they hear of a carbon levy. If the Deputy...

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: This is the only one I know about so far, but I shall check it out for the Deputy.

Environmental Policy. (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: We shall see whether there are any further surveys. All politicians are interested in surveys to see how the people are thinking, but it is encouraging. The fact that the Green Party's poll ratings are going in the right direction is further evidence that people are interested in acting responsibly in tackling this very important issue. As regards the carbon levy and the deliberations of...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The over-riding goal of the Government communications and public awareness campaign on climate change, the Change Campaign, is to engage the nation in such a way as to drive significant behavioural change to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The strategic starting point is to create a shared understanding of the challenge. This is being done through working with stakeholder groups,...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred by them in respect of the electronic voting machines and...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 93 and 398 together. The Government's commitment to ensuring that water supplies achieve full compliance with drinking water standards is reflected in the €4.7 billion in capital funding for water services infrastructure in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, an increase of 27% on the previous NDP. In addition, new drinking water...

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: When the National Biodiversity Plan was published in April 2002, the Departments and state agencies that were required to produce sectoral action plans were not specified. The responsibilities of various Departments have evolved and changed in the intervening time, and it is a matter for each Department or agency to identify the need for the creation of biodiversity posts or the development...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: On 30 January 2008, the Government approved the drafting of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 which will provide for the revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Constituency Commission which was presented to the Ceann Comhairle last October. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of future Constituency...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 113 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform, to examine a number of issues with the objective of making local government more transparent and responsive. I have published the Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, today. I established a Consultative...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of the local authority that benefit development in the area, based on a scheme of contributions adopted by the elected members of the authority. Subject to this, the types of public infrastructure that...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: My Department's Sectoral Plan, as provided for in section 31 of the Disability Act 2005, was developed in consultation with people with disabilities to assist the Department and local authorities in supporting an inclusive society with accessible buildings, facilities, services and information. The Plan provides for monitoring, review and reporting arrangements. There are statutory...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 413, 415, 421 and 422 together. The management of public drinking water supplies, including the assessment of requirements and monitoring of demand and storage capacity, is the responsibility of the local water services authorities, which have a range of instruments and measures available to deal with water supply needs. In addition, my Department finances...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic users the cost of providing water services to them. Under the legislation governing water charges a waiver is available on grounds of personal hardship only. With the abolition of domestic water charges after 1996, this provision has become largely irrelevant, regardless of a local authority's billing arrangements.

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 104 together. While the production of a local biodiversity action plan is a matter for each local authority, my Department has initiated a number of actions to support this process. These have included circulation of guidelines on the production of local biodiversity action plans to all local authorities in March 2006, and organisation of a seminar in...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: My Department is aware of many different technologies or processes for the management of waste including gasification, of which I understand the 'Stein' method is one of many variations. The Government's policy in regard to waste management is clearly set out in the Programme for Government. It is firmly grounded in a continuing commitment to the waste hierarchy with a renewed drive towards...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (22 Apr 2008)

John Gormley: I am aware of the operation of such schemes abroad; similar schemes are in place in certain local authority areas in this country. Under statute, the primary response to litter is a matter for local authorities. My Department's role is to provide the legislative framework for combating litter pollution, and to motivate and energise anti-litter responses as necessary. It is the...