Results 461-480 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Electronic Voting: Electronic Voting (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: It is of paramount importance to ensure the integrity of the electronic voting system. For this reason, my Department has engaged extensively in the independent checking and validation of all aspects of the voting equipment and software. The testing regime includes certification of the voting machine by a German test institute and by two test institutes from the Netherlands. The system...

Written Answers — Development Levy: Development Levy (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with the requirements of section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, my Department was consulted by Wicklow County Council on its draft development contribution scheme. My Department forwarded comments on the draft scheme to Wicklow County Council on 6 January 2004. A copy of these will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Any possession by a company of a draft report, in preparation to inform Government decision-making on emissions trading, is unauthorised. This matter is under consideration in my Department and a decision as to any necessary action will be taken as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is a statutory consultee on any proposed development which may have an impact on the natural or built heritage. In accordance with the relevant planning regulations, Trim Town Council forwarded to my Department on 6 March 2003 a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I intend to appoint consultants shortly to carry out this review and the value of the contract will then be determined on the basis of the relevant tender. The terms of reference of the review are set out in the request for proposals document which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. I anticipate that the review will take nine to 12 months to complete.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I intend to bring draft legislative proposals to Government in the coming weeks to streamline the consent process for major infrastructure projects. I will be seeking priority for the drafting of the legislation, once approved by the Government, to ensure the Bill is published at the earliest possible opportunity this year. In advance of the Government considering these proposals, it would be...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Commission has proposed two draft directives setting out the basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations, and on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, which together comprise proposals for a nuclear safety package. Discussions on the directives, which began last year, are continuing in the European Council's atomic questions...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Draft regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area were published jointly by the Dublin and mid-east regional authorities on 19 December 2003. The draft guidelines are on public display until 5 March 2004. In accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a copy of the draft guidelines has been formally submitted to my Department. The draft guidelines...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department is co-operating actively with the decentralisation implementation committee and the Department of Finance with regard to the decentralisation programme announced in the budget for 2004. This envisages the decentralisation of all Dublin based functions of my Department, with the exception of Met Éireann and some local based services, to Wexford which will serve as headquarters,...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: On 24 October 2003, in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service performance verification group, CSPVG, my Department submitted a progress report on the commitments set out in its action plan under Sustaining Progress. Supplementary material sought by the group was submitted on 25 November 2003. Following assessment of the progress reported by my Department, the CSPVG decided that...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer to the reply to Question No. 100 of 26 November 2003. A further report was made to the tribunal on 28 November 2003. The position is otherwise unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Recent years have seen a major local government modernisation programme with: constitutional recognition and guaranteed local elections; record levels of funding; strengthened political and management structures; an updated legal framework along with legislation last year to end the dual mandate; and an efficiency agenda focused on improved corporate planning, IT, human resources and customer...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Inventory of Dioxin and Furan Emissions to Air, Land and Water in Ireland for 2000 and 2010, published by the EPA in December 2002, provides a useful indication of the relative significance of various emission sources for dioxins. As regards the nine hazardous waste incinerators in operation in the year 2000, the report estimated these to have contributed a fraction of 1% of national...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The nitrates directive, 91/676/EEC, aims to protect water quality against pollution from agricultural sources, with a primary emphasis on better management of livestock manure and other fertilisers. The directive came into effect in January 1992. The nitrates directive has been implemented in Ireland by way of extensive monitoring of nitrate levels in waters, the assessment of the trophic...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The national climate change strategy identifies process substitution as one action to control greenhouse gas emissions and refers to the potential of environmentally friendly cement substitutes as part of a range of measures designed to enable Ireland to reach its Kyoto target. My Department is examining options for increasing the use of environmentally friendly cement substitutes in the...

Written Answers — Pollution Control: Pollution Control (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I am satisfied that the penalties for breaches of the terms of integrated pollution prevention and control licences issued by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 are set at an appropriate level. These penalties were increased significantly by section 10 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, which was brought into operation with...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The total amount of funding, both capital and current, provided by my Department for the non-national roads programme in 2003, was €434 million. I recently announced non-national road grant allocations of almost €477 million for 2004. This is more than double the 1997 State expenditure on non-national roads and represents an increase of almost 10% on last year's initial grant allocation....

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I am aware of concerns regarding the possible threat to workers posed by exposure to radon gas in the workplace. Regulations relating to the exposure of workers in Ireland to radon gas in the workplace are set out in the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000. This requires employers to measure workplace radon levels if so directed by the Radiological Protection...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: On 23 January 2003, the European Commission issued Ireland with a Reasoned Opinion to the effect that the €20 fee for the making of a submission on a planning application which requires environmental impact assessment is contrary to the public participation provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA. A reply, responding to each of the points raised in the...

Written Answers — Political Lobbying: Political Lobbying (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Separate draft national codes of conduct for councillors and staff of local authorities dealing with conduct and standards of integrity have been produced and views on them have been sought from the local government associations, staff interests, local authority managers, the Department of Finance and the Standards in Public Office Commission. Following consideration of these views I intend...