Results 4,401-4,420 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Electronic Voting. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: As much as I would like to empower Members of the Oireachtas, there is no need for that. I am quite capable of making those decisions myself and I will be——

Electronic Voting. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I will be making those decisions on the basis of all of the evidence available. We only received the Dutch report last week. I must examine all of the data and make a decision but a decision I will make.

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The water framework directive requires member states to achieve at least good status of waters by 2015 and to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, ground water, estuaries and coastal waters. These objectives will be achieved through river basin management plans which are required to be prepared under the directive. Draft river basin...

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I do not accept that. The existing standards for septic tanks are set out in the recommendations for domestic effluent treatment and disposal from single dwelling houses, published in 1991 by the NSAI. These standards are incorporated into Part H of the building regulations dealing with drainage and waste water disposal. The aim of these standards is to achieve satisfactory practice in the...

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: No, not the EPA standard. The EPA standard is currently——

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: It is the NSAI standard which dates back to 1991.

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: That is correct. That is the standard.

Water Quality. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I do not fully understand the Deputy's question. On the one hand, he is saying that there is no standard and on the other, that there is a standard, but it dates back to 1991. That is the standard, the NSAI standard. I have just informed the House that there is an EPA standard. I have also informed the House that I have issued letters to the local authorities on the matter. We are taking...

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The terms of reference of the Commission on Taxation require it to "investigate fiscal measures to protect and enhance the environment including the introduction of a carbon tax". They also provide that "as the introduction of a carbon tax requires a completely new tax charge and structure, the commission is asked to commence work in this area immediately". These terms of reference directly...

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I did not say that.

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy will be aware that I speak to the Minister for Finance regularly.

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: This is the most important point. This is now the preserve of the Commission on Taxation. My Department has been in contact with the chair of the Commission on Taxation and has put forward our views in a coherent way. Under the terms of reference its full report must be made by 31 September 2009. It is in a position to issue interim reports. We have to get this right. We must make sure...

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: As I understand it, discussions have taken place on the possibility of an interim report and it is up to the chair of the Commission on Taxation to determine whether that is possible. He has expressed the view that all elements must be integrated and that one cannot consider one issue in isolation. He is considering the matter. However, the Deputy must understand that when we appoint...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Responsibility for the elaboration of standards and for the certification of products rests with the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI. When the issue of pyrite arose, and following an intervention by my Department, the NSAI reconvened its aggregates panel to give urgent consideration to the publication of additional guidance on appropriate protocols for testing under-floor...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Since 1 March last I have commenced new enforcement powers under the Building Control Act 2007. In summary, these powers will significantly increase the maximum penalties for breaches of the national building regulations. For example, the old fine of IR£10,000 has been increased to €50,000 on conviction or indictment. We will introduce the option for authorities to bring summary...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: It is clear that what has occurred here is not acceptable. The builders in question behaved in a way that is not acceptable. We must ensure that practice does not happen again, but ultimately these are matters for the individuals and the builders in question. That is the position. As a Government, we must regulate the activities of these individuals to ensure this matter will not arise...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 121, 125 and 130 together. My Department has prepared a screening regulatory impact analysis on the options for transposing the EU environmental liability directive. This document is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. The views of interested parties were sought on it, and 29 responses were received from a varied group of respondents....

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Speaking about fiddly little moves, I noticed the Deputy had an interesting press release yesterday on the issue of clothes lines. The directive will be transposed by a combination of primary and secondary legislation. The timescale is dependent on the drafting and passage of the legislation, but I intend it will be completed before the end of 2008. As I said earlier, we will see what the...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy seems to have misunderstood the situation relating to the directive. She gave an example of an oil spill from a ship. The environmental liability directive, ELD, precludes its application to environmental damage or to an imminent threat of such damage arising from an incident in respect of which liability or compensation falls within the scope of a number of conventions which are...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The delay in the transposition has been due to the complexities of the directive and its interface with existing national environmental legislation. As the Deputy may know, 15 other member states, including the United Kingdom, are in a similar position to Ireland in not having transposed the ELD. I intend to do so and have spoken to the Commissioner on the issue. I have assured the...