Results 5,301-5,320 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Ballyna Regional Water Supply Scheme, which replaces a previous proposal to serve the area through a group water scheme, is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007- 2009 as a scheme to advance through planning at an estimated cost of €11.5 million. My Department is awaiting submission of Kildare County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. In working to compile the Register for 2007/8, local authorities undertook and completed, with assistance from my Department, the most extensive...

Written Answers — European and Local Elections: European and Local Elections (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The timing of European Parliament elections is determined by the EU Council of Ministers by reference to the period corresponding to the first direct elections in 1979. Accordingly, they are held within a specified four-day period in June every five years subsequent to 1979. The Council announced in June 2008 that the 2009 European Parliament elections will take place between 4 and 7 June...

Written Answers — European and Local Elections: European and Local Elections (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Under section 13(1) of the Local Government Act 2001, a person is disqualified from being elected or co-opted to, or from being a member of, a local authority if he or she is a member of the European Parliament. Under section 2(4) of that Act, reference to being disqualified from election or co-option includes disqualification from nomination for election or co-option.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled with regard to my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The estimated cost of incremental pay increases in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agency or body concerned and my Department is not involved in their day-to-day operational activities.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The estimated annual costs of the pay increases in question are as follows: 2.5% from September 2008: €1,913,715 3.5% from September 2009: €2,756,073 The estimated annual costs of the pay increases concerned in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned as my Department is not involved in their day-to-day operational activities.

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I was not invited.

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: At the outset, it might be helpful if I set out the background to this matter for the House. A review of local electoral areas was necessary prior to the 2009 local elections on account of population changes since the last review in 1998. Accordingly, on 8 January 2008, I announced that I had established two committees to review local electoral areas and I detailed the terms of reference....

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Under the Local Government Act 1991, the Minister is required to publish a report furnished to him by a boundary committee. I received both reports on 16 June and published them the following day. A copy of each report was laid before each House and a copy was sent to each Member of the Oireachtas. In carrying out their work the committees undertook public consultation, which involved...

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In fact, it was a member of the Labour Party who made the only submission which suggested that Sandymount should be split. When publishing the reports on 17 June 2008, I announced that, consistent with long-established practice in respect of constituency formation at European, national and local levels in Ireland, I was accepting the recommendations contained in them. It is my view that to...

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Recently, the Deputy and her party readily agreed in this House to the recommendations of the constituency commission on Dáil and European constituencies, as set out in the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008. Is she now proposing that we abandon this approach to constituency formation in Ireland and set off on the road back to a time when electoral boundaries appeared to be set according to...

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: On this side of the House, we are not prepared to do that. I will therefore be making the necessary orders to give effect to the recommendations in the reports as soon as possible. The local electoral areas established by these orders will apply at the 2009 local elections. Deputy Creighton was relatively measured this evening in her response, but I have seen some of the literature put out...

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Some of the comments made at that meeting were libellous. I do not recall any Minister in this House ever rejecting an independent boundary report.

Boundary Commission. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Either Fine Gael believes in independent boundary reviews, or it does not.

Water Quality. (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. A significant range of water services projects are being progressed in South Tipperary at present, with the support of unprecedented Exchequer funding from my Department. I am pleased that a record provision of €560 million, an increase of 19% over 2008, will be available for water services in 2009. This is the clearest possible statement by the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a planning authority may decide to refuse to grant planning permission to an applicant where, in the view of that authority, the person or company concerned is not in compliance with a previous planning permission. The applicant concerned may apply to the High Court which may by order confirm or annul the decision of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I will give careful consideration to this matter in the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, the General Scheme of which I will shortly be bringing to Government for approval.

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I understand that a cheque for €830 has been issued to the vendor's solicitor as a deposit for the purchase of the initial plot of land. The Chief State Solicitor's Office requested additional documentation from the vendor's solicitors on 23 October 2008, and this has yet to be received. On receipt of satisfactory documentation, the Chief State Solicitor will arrange for the close of the...

Written Answers — County Development Plans: County Development Plans (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Meath County Development Plan 2007-2013 sets out a framework for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county, taking account of a range of national and regional policy objectives and priorities. It envisages a holistic and integrated approach to the delivery of the necessary infrastructure and services for the county, while also preserving and enhancing the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (29 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: My Department has received the report by the Ombudsman Waste Waiver Schemes Administered by Local Authorities and will be giving the report, and in particular the recommendations contained within it, full consideration. Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The...