Results 521-540 of 13,185 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Mar 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I presume the Deputy's question relates to commercial salmon fishing licences, which, under the Fisheries Acts, are an operational matter for which the regional fisheries boards — in this case the Southern Regional Fisheries Board — are responsible. I am advised by the board that there are two main river catchments with commercial fisheries in County Waterford. These are the River...

Disabled Drivers (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise for the Minister for Finance who is unavoidably absent. I am pleased to take this opportunity to clarify matters concerning the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession scheme. Deputy Crawford has raised two issues that will be addressed, the eligibility criteria for the scheme and the operation of the board of appeals. The disabled drivers and disabled passengers...

Disabled Drivers (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I will deal with that. I do not disagree. As the Deputy may be aware, an interdepartmental group reviewed this scheme. It examined all its aspects, including the qualifying medical criteria, the benefits and the appeal process. The report made a number of recommendations that were considered by the Government in June 2004. The report was published on the Department of Finance website in July...

School Accommodation. (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise to the House and Deputy Burton for the Minister, Deputy Hanafin's, inability to attend. However, on her behalf, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for giving me the opportunity to outline the actions being taken by the Department of Education and Science to address the school accommodation needs of the Dublin 15 area in general. The Minister is fully conscious that the...

Site Acquisitions. (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, the Department's proposals in regard to the provision of a new facility for Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport, County Mayo. Since the beginning of the year the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, has made a number of announcements relating to the...

Schools Building Projects. (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position regarding the application received in the Department for improved accommodation at Kilfinane national school, Kilfinane, County Limerick. Since the beginning of the...

Written Answers — Salmon Fishing Licences: Salmon Fishing Licences (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The Government has consistently ruled out buyout as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and has instead, since 2002, promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective. Moreover, no convincing case has been advanced as to the public good that...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I indicated to the House in my reply to a question on 8 March on the subject of the establishment of a European coastguard that a draft directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of sanctions for infringements, which is under consideration, calls for the Commission to undertake a feasibility study of the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Responsibility for coastal protection rests with the property owner, whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002 the Department requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003-06 national coastal protection programmes. Sligo County Council submitted a proposal for coastal protection works...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The incident that the Deputy refers to occurred off Buncrana slipway when a car was pushed into the water. It was not known initially that the car was unoccupied. When tasked by Malin Head coastguard, the RNLI local operations manager selected the inshore lifeboat to respond to the incident. The RNLI says it decided to use the inshore lifeboat instead of the all-weather lifeboat due to the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: There was only one contractor employed in the development of the pier on the Dingle Harbour development project in 2000 and 2001. Irish Enco Construction Limited was awarded the contract on 2 November 1999 following a tender process. The amount paid to Irish Enco Construction Limited for the project was £2,759,586.04, €3,503,951.48, including VAT. This figure included the works as...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I have appointed the person referred to by the Deputy as a director of Dundalk Port Company with effect from 5 April 2005. The principal reason for the delay in making this appointment is that neither Dundalk Port Company nor Dundalk Urban District Council informed the Department of the nomination until recently.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I understand Cork County Council has drawn up revised proposals for the tidal barrage. It will be necessary for the local authority to apply for planning permission for the revised proposals. Following completion of the planning process, further consideration will be given to the application made to the Department for the necessary foreshore consent.

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The allocation of the funding available under the 2005 coastal protection programme is under consideration and a decision will be made in the near future.

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the coast protection measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, €52.01 million is identified for expenditure. Expenditure on this measure is not co-funded by the EU and is, accordingly, totally Exchequer-funded. Expenditure under this measure up to the end of 2004 was €32.2 million and €2.882 million is the amount of Exchequer funding made available in 2005 for the coast...

Written Answers — Coastal Erosion: Coastal Erosion (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Wexford County Council recently forwarded proposals for funding for coast protection works to the Department. These proposals are under consideration at present in conjunction with the 2005 national coastal protection programme and in the context of the amount of Exchequer funding available for coast protection works generally and overall national priorities. The Department has not, to date,...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (12 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The programme for Government contains a commitment to set out a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of our fishing industry, which operates within the overall framework of the Common Fisheries Policy. To date, a number of specific policy initiatives have been progressed, including a new CFP Regulation agreed in 2002, following comprehensive sectoral consultation in Ireland. A...

Written Answers — Water Sports Vehicles: Water Sports Vehicles (13 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The maritime safety directorate and law division of the Department are currently working to bring forward an updated Maritime Safety Bill which takes account of amendments arising from the passage of the Bill through the Seanad. The Bill provides powers for local authorities to regulate the operation of jet skis and other mechanically propelled sport and leisure craft in their areas. It also...

Seanad: Port Development. (13 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Morrissey for raising this important issue on the Adjournment and for giving me the opportunity to outline the Government's position on port capacity. Of course, ports are vitally important to us. As was stated, 99% of our exports and imports go through our ports, and we are very much victims of our own success. The reason that we require the additional capacity, which I...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services. (14 Apr 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I should like to thank Senator Kitt for raising the issue of a metropolitan area network, MAN, for Tuam and for giving me the opportunity to outline the present situation. In March 2002, the Government set out its aim of placing Ireland within the top 10% of OECD countries for broadband connectivity within three years. Although the provision of telecommunications services, including...