Results 7,981-8,000 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

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

John Gormley: That is a simple fact. Of course, we were lucky in the sense that all over Europe there was significant demand for salt and, therefore, it was very difficult. However, I can tell Senator Coffey that the national emergency committee co-ordinated that. We ensured that salt got to the areas where it was most needed and also ensured that we got our embassies onto it to get salt supplies from...

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

John Gormley: I am referring to the framework document and the suite of guidance and protocol documents which, together with the local major emergency plans on which response is built, form a plan for dealing with not only single major emergencies but also events such as we have had since November last. This suite of documents enables the principal response agencies to prepare for and make a co-ordinated...

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

John Gormley: I can only conclude that Fine Gael wants to establish such an agency because the party wants to privatise our water services. Such a move might be in line with Fine Gael's call for a fire-sale of State assets-----

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

John Gormley: -----but it is one to which I am completely opposed.

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

John Gormley: The Senator might be in denial.

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

John Gormley: Of course not.

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

John Gormley: When the Senator's party leader was asked a simple question about water meters, he could not answer it.

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

John Gormley: What is Fine Gael's policy on the issue? I do not believe it has one.

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

John Gormley: There is a structure in place to ensure the delivery of water services-----

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

John Gormley: -----one that will be strengthened further with the completion of the river basin management planning process. The development of national water policy and the underpinning legislation come within the remit of my Department. Water services legislation was consolidated and modernised with the passage of the Water Services Act 2007. A suite of water quality legislation has been put in place...

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

John Gormley: It has seen the EPA take on an enforcement and compliance role in respect of the local authorities in terms of both drinking water and wastewater facilities. In regard to the recent sustained period of severe weather, the critical consideration was the response of the relevant statutory agencies tasked with addressing emerging events. The response arrangements of the statutory and voluntary...

Written Answers — Burial Grounds: Burial Grounds (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The management of burial grounds and the provision of burial facilities is a matter for each individual local authority. I, as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, have no direct role in the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. I can confirm that I have received a request for an investigation on the lines outlined in the questions and that I have this matter currently under examination.

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. I have arranged for all of the records released by my Department under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 on the matters outlined in the questions to be forwarded to the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council for circulation to all members of the council. I have arranged also for this material to be furnished...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Deposit and refund schemes can contribute to the recovery rates for certain types of packaging waste. Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste (the Packaging Directive) is based on the concept of producer responsibility, which effectively requires producers to contribute to the waste management costs of products which they have placed...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Within the coming weeks, I expect to receive a report from an inter-departmental working group that I established last year to make recommendations on managing the cessation of turf cutting within these sites. I will conclude my consideration of these recommendations as rapidly as possible, and will then be in touch with affected individuals and representative groups in regard to the position.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 316 together. The Adare Sewerage Scheme and the combined Athea, Askeaton, Foynes, Glin and Shanagolden Sewerage Scheme were included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. I understand that Limerick County Council is advancing the detailed planning of the Adare scheme. As regards the combined scheme, my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Section 34(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that planning authorities may attach conditions to a grant of planning permission. Section 34(4) lists specific conditions that may be attached, but this is expressly without prejudice to the generality of the power to attach conditions set out in subsection (1). The interpretation and application of the relevant legislation...

Written Answers — Local Authority Rates: Local Authority Rates (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. Commercial rates are normally paid by the occupier of the premises in question. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each...

Written Answers — Water Supply: Water Supply (4 Feb 2010)

John Gormley: The operation, maintenance and management of the water supply are in this instance a matter for Dublin City Council. The Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2008 report, a copy of which is available from the Oireachtas Library, includes information on Unaccounted for Water (UFW) in each local authority. During the period from 1996 to 2002 Dublin City Council, as the lead authority in the...