Results 5,861-5,880 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 provide for a system of permitting by local authorities of commercial waste collection activities and for nominated local authorities to attach such conditions as they consider necessary to give effect to the objectives of the statutory regional waste management plans, including in respect of recyclates. Enforcement of a permit is a...

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Strictly speaking the question does not relate to No. 6 but I will answer it anyway.

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I agree the litter problem is something that needs to be addressed. The Deputy may be aware that we increased the fines already. I am liaising with Irish Business Against Litter, which has done fantastic work. It has asked for a number of changes to be made and I am considering them. In the context of the new international review that we are conducting on waste management, we are examining...

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: The circular I issued means that the brown bins are being rolled out. They have been rolled out in Dublin. That is vital if we are to comply with the landfill directive, especially the amount of biodegradable waste that is going to landfill. The brown bins can make a major contribution to that. Most people are complying with that. There are some initial teething problems but overall the...

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I think I said cement kilns.

Waste Disposal. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: What I said was that it would be a last resort. We must look at those substances that have a high calorific value and consider what we do with plastics. I said previously that in combination with mechanical biological treatment, MBT, which is what is done elsewhere, we would examine separating out those materials that have a high calorific value. I refer to black bin waste that can go into...

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 218 together. I held a public consultation regarding the control of postering for elections and referenda in autumn 2008. Following the analysis of submissions received by my Department, I informed the Government on 27 January that I intend to pilot test certain measures in the upcoming local and European elections to evaluate their impact on the...

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: In consultation with local authorities, I am asking them to examine the various options I outlined. They can pick from these options to ascertain which ones are most appropriate to their area and I hope most of them will buy into this. I will meet managers and representative bodies of councillors, which is most important because we must have political buy in, and ask them which option is...

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I agree with many of the points made by the Deputy on the role of posters. They are essential. It was never my intention to ban postering. The intention was to introduce some form of regulation so that we would not have the somewhat chaotic postering we have. It is getting worse with successive elections. We received 117 submissions, including that of the Deputy. Many referred to the...

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: At the risk of repeating myself, we are taking a common sense approach. It is not restricting freedom of expression or unduly restricting postering. What may restrict postering is——

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Precisely. That will have its own effect because postering is quite expensive. I understand that some parties have already printed their posters — including some in Northern Ireland, but we will not go there. I understand that people need to make preparations. The sort of dialogue we are engaged in with the local authorities will ensure that a common sense approach is adopted.

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: How many times do I need to repeat myself in this House?

Proposed Legislation. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: If they are repeated ad nauseam they can become tedious. I have said a common sense approach is being adopted. This measure is not restricting postering. Deputy Tuffy's colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, made a submission on the matter, which indicates his interest in it. The restriction will come from the restriction on spending. My party has never had a billboard as far as I know. We do...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1 on today's Order Paper, in which I outlined the range of work under way across all sectors towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the review being undertaken to ensure that emission projections reflect the changing economic circumstances. The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 sets out the measures on foot of which Ireland will meet its...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I did not mention it in my reply.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: If you want me to answer it, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: I would be happy to reply. The Deputies opposite know that transport continues to be the dominant growth sector. Emissions in that sector were approximately 4.7% higher in 2007 than in 2006. If we are going to achieve a reduction we need a radical transformation of our public transport system.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Fine Gael has a very different view from that of the Labour Party on public transport.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Fine Gael wants to build more roads and privatise.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)

John Gormley: Dublin Bus requires radical reform to meet the needs of bus users. The company made a profit of approximately €4.7 million in 2007, but it lost €10 million last year and is forecast to lose €31 million this year unless action is taken. I am sure Deputies will recall that unfortunately, there have been archaic work practices in that organisation. Even the slightest change is resisted....