Results 5,521-5,540 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I do not think so. Deputies must listen to my replies. I made a settlement of €35 million available and the Deputy says we are not accepting responsibility. I commissioned this independent report, which shows the equipment being installed is fit for purpose and will eliminate the smell. Deputy Ciarán Lynch's colleague knows nothing about the smell because she does not live in the area....

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The report is already available on a website. Have the Deputy and his colleagues not read it? The Deputy is asking me to make the report public, but it already is in the public domain. He should do his homework. Of course I knew the population would increase, but I was not in Government or on Dublin City Council. I was on the local authority and I made amendments because it was a reserve...

Water Quality. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to my earlier reply and discussion on Priority Question No. 1. The EPA water quality report for 2004-2006 found that ground water is the only aquatic system showing a trend of decline in water quality and this is a major cause of concern. Implementation of the nitrates directive is one of the key measures to address the deterioration of ground water quality. The nitrates directive...

Water Quality. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy's colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, referred to the appearance of the industry representatives before the committee earlier. It sounded like an interesting submission and I will obtain a transcript to establish the points they made to the committee. The Deputy is absolutely correct that we have a serious problem in regard to septic tanks, to which I referred earlier. I also...

Water Quality. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I take the points made by Deputy Tuffy regarding a monitoring and inspection regime. The sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities issued in April 2005 emphasised the need for adherence to best practice in regard to septic tanks to protect water quality, particularly in ground water. They were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which...

Election Management System. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: As I have stated recently in the House, I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in regard to the electronic voting and counting project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well...

Election Management System. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputies opposite say this is an opportunity to show leadership. I wonder, as I have said before to Deputy Lynch, if and when a decision is made in regard to this matter——

Election Management System. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: ——the Deputy will show leadership. I am sure he will be out on the plinth. I am interested to hear what he would have to say at some time in the future if this matter is resolved.

Election Management System. (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I love to see confidence and ambition. With regard to the Government decision to proceed with the movement of electronic voting equipment, it was the best decision to go to the centralised premises. There are 25 locations and the Deputy has outlined some of the costs involved. In taking forward the decision to centralise storage of the electronic voting machines, what we were trying to do...

Written Answers — Hunt Licences: Hunt Licences (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: No hunt licence has been issued by my Department in respect of the Doneraile Hunt Club nor, I understand, is such required.

Written Answers — Building Energy Rating: Building Energy Rating (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings was transposed into Irish law in the form of the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. In accordance with these Regulations an existing dwelling, which is offered for sale or letting on or after 1 January 2009, will require a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate similar to that currently required...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The projections to which I have referred, for 2016, are based on the existence by then of mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) on the necessary scale. Relevant issues in that regard, such as the implementation timescale and cost of putting MBT in place, are being examined in depth in the International Review of Waste Management Policy that is currently underway. The initial targets...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 54 together. Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The Planning and Development Act 2000 updated and modernised planning legislation and introduced a range of measures to pursue sustainable development through the forward planning and development management processes and the enforcement of planning legislation. Development plans, prepared by local authorities under Part II of the Act, currently provide the over-arching strategic framework...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Each year an awareness campaign is run by my Department related to the Draft Register of Electors. Following a competitive tendering process, First Advertising Ltd. were appointed to undertake the 2008 nationwide awareness campaign to coincide with the period (from 1 November to 25 November) when the Draft Register is on display in public offices, such as City and County Council offices,...

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Costs: Departmental Legal Costs (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: The proceedings taken in the High Court by the association and some individuals against the State have been struck out. The State did not seek its costs in these matters and has also agreed not to pursue the Supreme Court costs orders recently awarded against those involved.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 409 of 4 November 2008 concerning Ireland's response to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgement of 3 July 2008. The position is unchanged. The ECJ judgement in case C-66/06 was delivered on 20 November 2008. The case primarily concerns legislative provision for screening of certain on-farm projects to determine whether they should be subject to an...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Since the publication of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 — 2012, work has continued across Government Departments on the development of measures to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Progress in implementing such measures, and the coordination of work across Government with respect to the climate change agenda is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting and counting project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Land Designation: Land Designation (27 Nov 2008)

John Gormley: Designations of land for the purposes of nature protection fall broadly into two categories. Natura 2000 sites, which are either Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs), are designated and protected under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated under the Wildlife Acts. Proposed sites requiring designation are...