Results 5,241-5,260 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Election Management System. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I did.
- Election Management System. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: At the risk of repeating myself, we have examined storage facilities and reduced costs significantly by placing the machines in centralised storage facilities. I have discussed the issue with the high-powered academics who are preparing a report on the electoral process. That report has not yet been published.
- Waste Disposal. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: The recently published fourth state of the environment report states there are between 1,980 and 2,300 commercial sites where there is the potential for soil or underground contamination, the exact number being unknown as there is currently no national inventory. Two national initiatives are under way to establish such inventories of historic mines and unregulated waste disposal sites....
- Waste Disposal. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: A risk assessment has been carried out and a code of practice produced. In 2007, the Office of Environmental Enforcement published a code of practice for environmental risk assessments of unregulated waste disposal sites. The code sets out a risk-based procedure that should be applied to sites identified in accordance with sections 22(7)(h) and 26(2)(c) of the Waste Management Act 1996....
- Waste Disposal. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: There is an acceptance that a proper inventory of contaminated sites is the least that is required. Two inventories are currently being completed. The first relates to old mines and is being prepared by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the EPA. It is expected to be published before the end of the year. The second relates to old municipal waste disposal...
- Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: The EPA's reports on the quality of drinking water set out compliance levels across a range of parametric values, including lead. The most recent report for the years 2006 and 2007 is available in the Oireachtas Library. Management of public drinking water supplies to ensure compliance with water quality standards is the responsibility of each local authority. I have put in place a rigorous...
- Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I am confident that the record investment of â¬560 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 19%, in water services and infrastructure will allow us to make the necessary progress. The national development plan includes the objective of ensuring that "good quality drinking water is available to all consumers of public and group water supplies in compliance with national and EU...
- Water Supply Contamination. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I assure the Deputy that we have tried to telescope the timeframe involved by significantly reducing the number of criteria. I have spoken to the local authorities about this issue. Whereas cuts have been made in other areas, I was anxious that we continue and increase the investment in the water services programme. Were the impetus to be lost in terms of investment, the programme could be...
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: In 2009, some â¬1.6 billion will be available for allocation via the local government fund. General purpose grants are the contribution my Department makes to local authorities to meet the gap between the cost to them of providing a reasonable level of day-to-day services and the income they obtain from other sources. A total of â¬935.2 million in general purpose grants will be provided...
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: First, I must correct the Deputy in respect of his estimate of the reduction in the local government fund for 2009. Some â¬1,580 million is available to the local government fund in 2009, a reduction of 1.4% when compared to the total of â¬1,603 million expected in 2008. The Deputy may have been referring to the general purpose grants for which I will now provide the figures. The total...
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: One cannot have it every way.
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: One cannot oppose a measure and then direct councillors, as I understand Fine Gael has done, not to co-operate in regard to the striking of a rate.
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: Let us try to interpret it benignly. Fine Gael is trying to ensure there is no major rate increases for businesses. I agree with the Deputy on that point.
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: However, if Fine Gael is trying to incite councillors not to co-operate in the striking of a rate, I would regard that as the height of irresponsibility.
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I read about the matter in a newspaper.
- Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: As the Deputy will be aware, I am trying to broaden the revenue base of local authorities. We are commencing the process this year with the introduction of the â¬200 levy on second properties, some of which are holiday homes. It is hoped this will net â¬40 million, although the final amount could be higher. This is an innovation which I hope will start the process of broadening the...
- Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 19, 22, 29, 38 and 59 together. Ireland's Environment 2008, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's fourth state of the environment report, was launched by me on 8 October 2008. It concludes that the quality of Ireland's environment is relatively good overall, although it is subject to increasing pressures as a result of the rapid expansion of our...
- Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: I launched the report.
- Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: Deputy Tuffy is selective in quoting the comments of the director of the EPA at the launch because she went out of her way to thank me for the additional resources and staffing made available to the EPA. In regard to the Deputy's question of what can be done now, I have provided for record increases in the EPA's resources and staff complement at a time of major budgetary constraints. I did...
- Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)
John Gormley: In terms of the water framework directive, which is very important, a total of eight river basin districts, RBDs, have been identified on the island. Three of these are international RBDs in that cross-Border waters are shared with Northern Ireland, four are wholly within the State and one is wholly within Northern Ireland. The environmental objectives of the directive are to be achieved...