Results 7,961-7,980 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Water Supply Contamination: Water Supply Contamination (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 together. During 2007, water services authorities were asked by my Department to review the operation of all water treatment plants (and associated infrastructure) and to ensure that the installation of continuous chlorine alarms and turbidity meters at appropriate locations at the treatment plant or in the distribution network (including at...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 to 577, inclusive, together. HCFC-22 (or R22) is a refrigerant gas that has been commonly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems for more than four decades. However, releases of HCFC-22, such as those from leaks, are damaging to the environment as they contribute to ozone depletion. HCFC-22 gas has been banned from use in tanks used for the...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Question Nos. 578 and 581 together. As indicated in the reply to Question No. 14 of 14 January 2010, the renewed Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce charges for domestic water use in a way that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. I will be bringing detailed proposals to Government shortly on the approach to metering of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Under the terms of the Government's decision on implementation of savings in public service numbers no public service vacant post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. This decision is effective from 31 March 2009. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance for...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: A letter responding to the additional matters raised by the company concerned will be issued directly to the Deputy within one week.

Written Answers — Hunting Licences: Hunting Licences (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: My Department has not received an application for a hunting licence for hunt parties in north Tipperary. I should point out that a licence is not required from my Department for fox hunting as foxes are not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts.

Written Answers — Animal Breeding Regulations: Animal Breeding Regulations (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 commenced second stage in the Seanad on 26 January 2010. The Bill contains provision to give statutory effect to the recommendations of the Working Group that reviewed the management of dog breeding establishments. A dog breeding establishment is defined in the Bill as a premises with not less than 6 bitches of 4 months old capable of breeding. The...

Written Answers — Construction Industry: Construction Industry (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Building Control Act 1990 assigns primary responsibility for complying with the Building Regulations to the owners and builders of buildings. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations is vested in the 37 local Building Control Authorities, who are empowered to carry out inspections of buildings, issue enforcement notices for non-compliance with the Regulations and initiate Court...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Planning applications, including those applications for planning permission to erect wind turbines, must comply with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2008. My Department's Wind Energy Development Guidelines issued to planning authorities in June 2006 offers advice on determining applications for wind...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Bodies: Animal Welfare Bodies (2 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Funding of voluntary run services for animal protection, including dog protection, is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. However, it is open to local authorities to make payments to voluntary run dog protection services where these relate to a service provided to the local authority in respect of its dog control functions.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: For local authority employees the mandatory retirement age is 65 for pre 1 April 2004 entrants. Under The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 for new entrants, i.e., post 1 April 2004, there is no set retirement age; however the minimum retirement age is set at 65.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for a range of foreshore functions including all foreshore energy-related developments (including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy). The foreshore application made by Eirgrid in respect of the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: My Department's statutory Development Management Guidelines, published in June 2007, were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and An Bord Pleanála is obliged to have regard to them in the performance of its planning functions. The Guidelines advise that potential applicants should be made aware at pre-application stage of the necessity to ensure that the design...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Castlefin Sewerage Scheme was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09 as part of a bundle with a number of other schemes. My Department is awaiting the submission of Donegal County Council's preliminary report for the bundled schemes. Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (3 Feb 2010)

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. Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for postal voting...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Office of Public Works has responsibility for the provision of office accommodation and/or rental costs, where they occur, under the decentralisation programme. In advance of the relocation to the Department's new headquarters in Wexford, some 130 staff have been accommodated in three temporary offices in Wexford town. Details of these offices are set out in the following table: ...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The Government's decision to introduce a directly elected mayor of Dublin will deliver significantly strengthened leadership for the city and region, with enhanced accountability and a direct connection with the citizen. The mayor will primarily act as a strategic policy maker who will also work to integrate the activities of local government and the wider public service in and across...

Seanad: Water and Roads Infrastructure: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I was hoping the Senator would go on.

Seanad: Water and Roads Infrastructure: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I am pleased to join with Members to debate the recent severe weather event which we all encountered in December and January. We should not forget those people who are still experiencing the effects of it, mostly through recovering from injuries received from falls on the ice or where there are difficulties with water supply. One matter on which I think we can all agree is that severe...