Results 6,961-6,980 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Yes. We published details of the houses that are listed. I seem to recall that the Deputy was present when I launched the document relating to those properties in Kerry.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Castles, thatched cottages and so on are included.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: No, that possibility does not exist. However, in the interest of clarifying certain matters, I will issue guidance to local authorities. I made it clear earlier that people will either be part of this or they will not. It is not possible to legislate for situations where a person intends something to happen. I cannot operate in that way.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank Deputies Ferris and Ó Snodaigh. From my speech on Second Stage the House will be aware that I have considerable sympathy with the view that the determination of the charge should be devolved to local authorities in the future. I see this power being exercised as a reserve function within certain limits that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would...

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank Deputy Hogan although I cannot accept his amendment. The definitions in the Bill are relevant to this amendment. The policy parameters of the Bill arise, as well as considerations of equity and fairness. Let us consider the definitions of "building" and "dwelling" in section 1 and "residential property" in section 2. These are the building blocks that define the scope of the Bill....

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: HSE contracted buildings are exempt. Deputy Hogan should remember that we are talking about the owners of the properties, not those renting.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: We are trying to encourage the rental accommodation scheme. Deputy Hogan is asking questions back and forth; I will respond when he is finished.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I have explained this in this House and in the Seanad. We try to encourage the rental accommodation scheme and move towards it. We have less and less money to build property. We are trying to move more people to the rented sector. We can get better value for money and that is why we made the exemption. The RAS system is working well.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank Deputies Ciarán Lynch and Joanna Tuffy for tabling amendments Nos. 9 and 10. Section 4 provides that where a decree of divorce or a decree of judicial separation has been granted in respect of a marriage, a residential property in which a spouse retains an interest but which is occupied by the other spouse as his or her sole or main residence will not attract a liability for the...

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Is there a need to go through it all again.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: We have gone through it.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following subsections: "(5) If, on a liability date, an individual who is the owner of a residential property— (a) is incapacitated by reason of long term mental or physical infirmity, and (b) had been obliged, at a time prior to that date, due to the said mental or physical infirmity, to vacate the said property,...

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: An au pair is not a relative. I will revert to the earlier points made by the Deputy. A relative is someone who is a relative, it is as simple as that. It could be a brother or whatever.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: This amendment did not have to be dragged out of me.

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: It certainly did not and if the Deputy spoke to his colleagues in the Seanad or if he read the Seanad debate he would find they were pleased to praise the way in which I conducted the debate. I conducted it in a non-partisan way and I was pleased in an unprecedented way to go outside and to allow them to-----

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: -----be briefed thoroughly by my officials. We considered the issue and I could not believe that, while we were conducting those discussions in a most civilised way, the Deputy issued a press release which was mischievous. I stand by my description in that regard. We have examined all the issues and listened at all times to what people have had to say. If the Deputy wishes, we could close...

Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The Deputy and I discussed the matter outside. Originally the wording was permanent, which was not flexible enough. On the meaning of "long term", someone who is residing in a nursing home is often regarded as someone having long-term incapacity and that is the best way to describe it. This is a description that has been used in other legislation so we were of the view that "long term" was...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: In order to be able to vote at elections and referenda in this jurisdiction, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Subject to this primary requirement, the person's citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens who are registered to vote may vote at all...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Rates are local property taxes that are levied by local authorities on commercial properties that are rateable under the Valuation Act 2001. The determination of the annual rate on valuation which is applied to property valuation to calculate rates is a decision taken locally by the elected members of a local authority in their annual budget. In order to support economic activity and...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (9 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 40 on 24 June. The position is unchanged.