Results 7,021-7,040 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: We did not take money from banks or developers. When other parties were shouting for tax cuts and stamp duty amnesties, we warned of unfettered greed in the banking system, builder-led development and putting profit before people. Our banking and property problems cannot be fixed unless we address our planning problems. In this country greed ruled over need when it came to planning. The...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: It resulted in enough land being zoned in Athlone to last for 60 years of boom building - until 2069 to be precise. Did the Mullingar accord bring a fair deal to the people of Westmeath or the families who moved to the county, paying huge prices for their new homes? The scale of the problem is now becoming apparent.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Athlone is the tip of an overzoning iceberg which has contributed massively to the housing and development bubble. Figures collated by my Department show that in the 45 towns and cities designated as developing areas, sufficient land has been zoned to accommodate houses for an additional 1.7 million people. That is a staggering amount of overzoning.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Yes, I am doing something about it.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: To put it another way, it would mean that at the rate of boom house building, this land would not be used up until 2032. In individual towns, matters are even worse. In many towns and cities councillors have zoned so much land that they will be long dead before it is used up. Waterford has enough zoned land to last it until 2072 at boom time building rates. In Dundalk the house building...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The Green Party will clean up the mess this type of reckless re-zoning behaviour has brought with it and break the cosy councillor-developer cartel once and for all.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Through the most radical planning legislation ever, we will rid our council chambers of the wink and elbow language of developers and their puppet councillors.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: While councillors will retain their zoning powers, these powers will have to be used responsibly. Councillors will have to abide by national and regional guidelines and will no longer be able to engage in zoning free-for-alls. The planning context for the post-NAMA period will be set by this legislation which aims to achieve much more focused land use strategies, with the provision of land...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: -----and did nothing about it. We are in Government and we are actually going to do something about it.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Our legislation will reform the planning system to make sure it works better and more efficiently - not in the interests of a few, but in the wider interests of society and a sustainable economy. I will extend planning permissions for renewable energy projects. I will speed up the planning appeals system through reducing the quorum on An Bord Pleanála from three to two for small cases. I...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Before Christmas, and I hope the Labour Party will support it.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The only leaf the Green party is interested is a new one.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: We want to see this country turning over a new leaf, where a person can no longer get land re-zoned because they are pals with a councillor. We want a new leaf where good ideas, responsible business, and public good are rewarded.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: This week, a climate change expert, Professor John Sweeney, called for a range of policies to prevent a property bubble recurring and to ensure a sustainable future and economy for all of us. That is exactly what we plan to deliver.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Much of the talk yesterday centred on the risks and costs for the taxpayer and, yes, there are risks and costs associated with every one of the options mooted to get us out of our current crisis. Let us be clear, however, the risks and costs associated with NAMA arise if it does not make a profit. Another risk is that it works and promotes another property bubble. In formulating our...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The almost 250% increase in house prices between 1996 and 2006 was unsustainable and should never be repeated. However, is it beyond the bounds of possibility that we could have a 10% increase in property in the next ten-year period, particularly when we get credit flowing again in the economy and given that inflation alone could be running at 2% annually? That has to be a distinct...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The introduction of domestic water charges has recently been recommended in the reports of both the Commission on Taxation and the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. While I recognize the concerns raised in the question, the recommendations were made, in both reports, as part of a package of recommendations on the funding of local government and will be...

Written Answers — Turf Cutting: Turf Cutting (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The Inter-Departmental Working Group on the Cessation of Turf Cutting in Designated Areas is considering the measures that may be required to implement the cessation, at the end of the year, on 32 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. The Group has received 194 submissions from interested parties, as well as an estimated 300 expressions of interest, including short e-mails and petition...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The combined O'Brien's Bridge, O'Callaghan's Mills, Bodyke, Flagmount and Cratloe Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. Further consideration will now be given to Clare County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme following receipt of additional information from the Council earlier this week.

Written Answers — Licence Applications: Licence Applications (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: My Department issued the licence to the person in question on 11 September, 2009.