Results 4,821-4,840 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: Hopefully, I am progressing that at a rate with which Deputy Hogan will be happy. The commission will have its report by the end of August. I would also like it to look at this issue and see what recommendations it can come up with.

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: In my original reply, I said that it would be quite problematic for these machines to be used at this stage in the local and European elections.

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: Lots of latitude.

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy knows only too well that the commission on electronic voting carried out an analysis. He also knows that in respect of the voter verified audit trail, VVAT, issue, it was not part of the terms of reference. However, the submissions made reference to VVAT and the need for it. It looked at that issue in some detail. We know that retrofitting will cost about €22 million, which...

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: The question is whether it is the Deputy who is justifying that.

Electronic Voting. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: Those are the questions with which I must grapple.

Services for People with Disabilities. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: My Department's sectoral plan, as provided for in section 36 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. There are statutory provisions, codes of practice and guidelines available to assist local...

Services for People with Disabilities. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: We have taken a number of measures in the Department. We have established the local government disability steering committee and the Disability Act sectoral plan advisory committee, introduced the Building Control Act 2007 to provide for disability access certificates, initiated a review of Part M of the building regulations, introduced the revised housing adaptation grants scheme for older...

Services for People with Disabilities. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: I agree with the Deputy. I have the implementation plans here and can give that detail to Deputies Tuffy and Terence Flanagan. The list is too long to read out now but I can give the Deputies all that information. It goes through all the county councils, the implementation plans received and comments about where they are in respect of those plans.

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: In accordance with the programme for Government, I recently published the Green Paper on local government reform, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change. The Green Paper outlines a range of issues for consideration, including the establishment of expenditure limits at local elections. The submissions made in the course of the preparation of the Green Paper were generally supportive...

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: If it is so absurd why did the Labour Party not introduce it when it had the opportunity?

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: However, it was not done for local elections. I recognise that it was a progressive move on the part of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle when he was Minister to introduce such measures and the same Government introduced other measures, such as the Freedom of Information Act. I have always been on the record with regard to these matters. Last week, Deputy Tuffy's colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch,...

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: I thank the Deputy and I appreciate it very much.

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: We had examples in the past where there were expenditure figures for local election candidates of approximately €100,000, which is ridiculous.

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: This is not tolerable. It is like the United States, with the best democracy money can buy. We must get away from this.

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: When I say "all-party consensus" I include my Fianna Fáil colleagues——

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: ——with Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats——

Local Government Elections. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: ——the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and Independents. Everyone can come and bring a little bit to the party. I am sure we can make progress on this.

Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 66, 70 and 88 together. There is a certain amount of confusion regarding the impact that restrictions on turf-cutting are having or will have. Turf cutting is restricted on a very small number of Ireland's bogs. Of the 1,500 to 1,600 raised bogs in Ireland, only 139 are designated as special areas of conservation, SACs, or natural heritage areas, NHAs,...

Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)

John Gormley: There is a misapprehension about this. The hopper is permitted but the sausage machine is causing the difficulty.