Results 6,721-6,740 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Water Pollution. (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: That is not the case. This is a serious problem because there are approximately 418,000 septic tanks in the country compared to England which has just over 800,000 despite being one of the most densely populated countries in the world. That puts the matter in perspective. The Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, of which Deputy Hogan is a member, made...

Water Pollution. (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I have stated that the matter will have the highest priority. The European Commission is taking the matter very seriously and if we do not get our act together quickly we will face the prospect of fines.

Water Pollution. (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: We will do it all right. I hope the Deputy will support the measures I introduce. He has not done so thus far.

Water Pollution. (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Fine Gael will not implement it.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The proper planning and sustainable development of urban and village centres is underpinned by the legislative and regulatory frameworks set out in planning legislation and existing statutory planning guidance. Building on the 2007 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans which comprehensively deal with the function, content, process and implementation of development plans as...

Written Answers — Electoral Commission: Electoral Commission (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling Electoral Register, assume the functions of the Standards in Public Office...

Written Answers — Building Energy Regulation: Building Energy Regulation (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 45, 52 and 75 together. The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 – 2008 requires that any person offering a building for sale or letting, or any agent acting on behalf of a person in relation to such an offering, must produce a copy of the relevant Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate to any person who expresses an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: A number of initiatives supported by my Department such as the Green Schools programme, TidyTowns, Agenda 21 Local Partnership and initiatives implemented through Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations contribute to varying degrees in raising awareness of climate change. In particular, the Change campaign, led by a consultancy consortium was launched in November 2007 with the specific...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 53 and 156 together. The EPA's report, The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland - A Report for the Years 2007-2008 published in April 2009, found that the quality of drinking water in Ireland is generally good and highlighted the progress which has been made in improving quality in recent years. While I am unaware of any water sources at risk...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 42, 66, 69 and 73 together. On 12 May 2009 I announced that the Government had decided to introduce a directly elected Mayor for the Dublin Region in 2010. Work is now under way in my Department towards preparation of the necessary legislation to provide for the election and the powers and functions of the Mayor. I hope to bring the legislation before...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: My Department co-funds the Irish Business Against Litter National Litter League. €84,000 has been allocated in support of the initiative in 2009. A welcome and positive outcome has been achieved in the first round of results for 2009, with 68% of the 60 towns and cities surveyed across the country achieving the highest grade possible, "Clean to European Norms". This represents the best...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Following enactment of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009 in March 2009, a new system of spending limits for all candidates and political parties contesting local elections became effective for the local elections held on 5 June 2009. For candidates contesting an election to the 34 county and city councils, there was a sliding scale with four separate spending limits, based on the...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Bogs are important natural habitats and are home to unique ecosystems containing rare flora and fauna. Both blanket bogs and raised bogs are protected habitats under European and Irish Law and representative samples have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) under the Wildlife Acts. Ireland has some of the most...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Ireland is required to meet challenging greenhouse gas emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol for the period to 2012. The EU climate/energy package agreed in December 2008 places a requirement on Ireland for a 20% reduction on 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the non-traded sector by 2020. These targets are legally binding and the package of legislative measures adopted at...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The Government has set an ambitious target of 40% of Ireland's energy to be supplied from renewable sources by 2020. The planning system will support the achievement of this target through, for example: · the introduction of a streamlined, single stage consent process under the 2006 Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act for certain classes of strategic infrastructure...

Written Answers — Referendum Commission: Referendum Commission (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: Section 2 of the Referendum Act 1998 provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may establish a Referendum Commission not earlier than the date on which a Bill proposing to amend the Constitution is initiated in the Dáil. I intend to establish a Referendum Commission in respect of the proposal for the amendment of the Constitution relating to the Lisbon...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: The General Scheme of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 envisaged the imposition of an annual development incentive levy on designated land if not brought into housing development in accordance with requirements agreed with or imposed by the relevant planning authority. These provisions had previously been included in the General Scheme of the Designated Land (Housing...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I recently announced €12.5 million in funding for the 2009 built heritage capital programme which covers a broad range of conservation schemes, including the local authority conservation grants scheme, the civic structure conservation grants scheme, the walled towns initiative, the significant places of public worship grants scheme, and funding for heritage properties both in State and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I am committed to implementing the necessary measures to ensure that Ireland meets the EU landfill diversion targets by 16 July 2010. The National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste was published in April 2006 and sets out measures progressively to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill in accordance with the agreed targets in EU Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. These...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Jun 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 165 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 161 and 163 of 18 June 2009; the position is unchanged.