Results 401-420 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

EU Directives. (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I have never described Deputy Cuffe as a realist. I am too friendly with him to describe him as I think he is but a realist is not one of the descriptions I would use. Nobody has lobbied me on this issue and there has been no general lobbying of which I am aware. It is complex, as is recognised in the body of the directive. Deputy Cuffe is correct, we should get this up and running as soon as...

EU Directives. (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: Hopefully the exchanges we have had today will go some way to help redress the lack of public information on this issue. Deputy Gilmore's suggestion may not be very practical but I will consider anything the Deputies propose because this is a serious issue and will continue to be so. Questions arise about how to implement the directive and determine whether the vendor has responsibilities or...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 102 together. I accept that my Department's main website, environ.ie, is in need of improvement and updating. In addition to environ.ie, which is the main Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government website, my Department operates some 16 special interest websites dealing with particular aspects of the Department's activities. Over the...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 134 together. The scheme of architectural protection grants available to owners of protected structures is administered by local authorities and resourced by my Department. Funding for the scheme was increased from €2.888 million in 2003 to €3.9 million in 2004 and the provision for 2005 is €4.031 million. The funding available under the scheme is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: In response to Question No. 539 on 30 November 2004, I stated that the amount paid from my Department's Vote for services provided by lawyers in 2003 and 2004 amounted to €7,739,585.81; some €7.578 million of this amount relates to the planning tribunal. In general, legal services for my Department are engaged following consultations with the Attorney General's office and-or the Chief...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: Some tyre retailers are charging a management fee for the take back of waste tyres. I am concerned that the public may be given the wrong impression that such a fee is a Government levy and-or is contributing to a quality approved recycling scheme, whereas no evidence or assurance is being provided that tyres taken back are being treated in an environmentally sound manner. I have requested...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department does not propose to acquire the Kilmainham Mills complex, which is in private ownership and has recently received a planning permission for redevelopment from An Bord Pleanála subject to conditions designed to protect its historic and archaeological significance. The purpose of a national trust initiative would be to develop methods of ensuring the preservation of key heritage...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: Decisions as to whether proposed development should be permitted or restricted in any particular area are a matter for the relevant planning authority in the first instance and for An Bord Pleanála in the event of an appeal. The Planning and Development Act 2000 specifically empowers planning authorities to provide in their development plans that development in areas at risk of flooding may...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: The opinion of the Advocate General is still under consideration but until such time as the judgment of the European Court of Justice is available in the coming months it would not be appropriate to comment on this matter. If the court finds that a member state has failed to fulfil an obligation under the European Treaty the state concerned is required to take the necessary measures to comply...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: In response to the reduced availability of traditional disposal and re-use routes for tyres and to promote recycling of this waste stream, my Department has had discussions with the Irish Tyre Industry Association, ITIA, with a view to establishing a producer responsibility initiative. These discussions are continuing with the intention of concluding the necessary arrangements for such an...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 105 together. One of the main barriers to an improved and sustainable recycling performance is the lack of stable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials and products manufactured from recycled products. The need for the establishment of a market development group, which would oversee the development of a market...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 81, 119, 131 and 268 together. I am satisfied, having regard in particular to the mid-term review of the national development plan overseen by the Economic and Social Research Institute, in co-operation with a number of consultancy firms, that progress on the various NDP programmes and measures falling within the remit of my Department has been generally...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has over 3,700 suppliers of goods and services. It would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work to examine the files relating to all contracts held with those suppliers since 1997 and compile the details referred to in the question. If the Deputy wishes to indicate a particular more limited area of interest, it may be possible to provide the information sought.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 97 together. I have already publicly expressed my regret at the closure of this plant. The Smurfit plant, established in 1954 and requiring substantial modernisation, was the only paper mill recycling plant on the island of Ireland. Its closure, on foot of the closure of the Irish Glass and Irish Steel plants in recent years, diminishes our capacity to...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: National waste statistics in respect of all waste streams are published at three yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent national waste database report being in respect of 2001. While the database reports do not provide an overall recycling figure for Ireland, recycling rates in respect of individual waste streams are supplied. In the intervening period,...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware that the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute, IAVI, has published results of a 2004 survey of its members purporting to show, among other things, that the price of residential development land across the country rose more quickly last year than the price of new homes. The IAVI suggests that this may reflect improved economies of scale through higher residential densities, low...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: Enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. The delay in transposing and implementing the directive principally reflects difficulties in reaching agreement with the relevant sectors on the detailed mechanisms for the operation of the take back...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied, having regard in particular to the mid-term review of the national development plan overseen by the Economic and Social Research Institute, in co-operation with a number of consultancy firms, that progress on the various NDP programmes and measures falling within the remit of my Department has been generally satisfactory. I am determined that we will continue to make progress...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: In accordance with section 4 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, the Clerk of Seanad Éireann is the returning officer for the Seanad. The arrangements for the establishment and maintenance by the returning officer of the register of nominating bodies are set out in Part 2 of that Act. The register is currently being revised for 2005 and the register as revised will be published...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (9 Feb 2005)

Dick Roche: I am aware of this recent report, which was published in the British Medical Journal, of a study concerning radon and lung cancer which was funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Commission. This report was the result of a collaborative analysis of individual data from 13 case control studies of residential radon and lung cancer in nine European countries, which did not include...