Results 8,661-8,680 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: -----if they considered it so important.

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: This Bill proposes to amend section 39 of the Electoral Act 1992 to compel the holding of a by-election not later than six months after a vacancy occurs. The Bill recognises and retains the reference to the role of the Dáil in directing that a by-election be held but then swiftly undermines that role by forcing the Dáil to act within six months. This mechanical approach to holding...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: We do not have control over such matters and must be able to respond appropriately. It is necessary that we retain the flexibility that allows our elected representatives to make the necessary judgement call as circumstances require.

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: Members of this House are democratically elected by the people. I see this Bill as diminishing the role of our national Parliament and I disagree with the approach in the Bill. In any event, this is an issue which should be addressed as part of a wider systematic review of the electoral system and not in a piecemeal and isolated way as proposed in this Bill. My commitment and that of the...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: I look forward to the introduction of the Bill to the Oireachtas as soon as possible.

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: Last year the Government moved swiftly and decisively to enact legislation which regulated, for the first time, spending and donations at local elections; all in all, that was a good day's work. The programme for Government envisages that an independent electoral commission would take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitution has an important and valuable input to our overall electoral reform considerations. In the course of its examination of the system used for the election of Members of Dáil Éireann, the committee has considered issues in respect of the administration and functioning of Ireland's electoral system generally. I was glad to have the...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: That said, a key argument for retaining the current system is that it is easy for voters to understand. There are various alternative systems available but, as with all systems, there are arguments for and against. One of the alternatives considered by some experts to be perhaps the most feasible is the method used in the European Parliament elections, as provided for in the European...

Electoral Representation (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: I wish the Deputy would go for it.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The €200 non-principal private residence charge was introduced in the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which came into force in July 2009. As an exceptional measure for the year of introduction, the liability date for the charge was fixed at 31 July 2009. The Act provides that the liability date for 2010 and future years is 31 March. Payment does not fall due until two months after...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework for combating litter pollution in Ireland. Section 6 of the 1997 Act places an onus on owners and occupiers of property to keep their properties litter free to the extent that they are public places or are visible from a public place. Section 9 of the same Act empowers local authorities to serve a notice on any person...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government Efficiency Review Group has been established and I have asked that it complete its work by mid 2010. The Group's findings and recommendations will then be considered in the appropriate policy and financial contexts. The membership of the Group is as follows: Mr. Pat McLoughlin, Chairman, CEO of the Irish Payment Services Organisation Mr. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive,...

Written Answers — Motor Tax: Motor Tax (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: I have no plans at present to introduce one-month terms for motor vehicle licences. A change from the present system of issuing licences on a quarterly, half-yearly and annual basis would result in significant increases in staffing requirements, administration and printing costs in motor tax offices. It could also lead to increases in the cost of motor tax to the average motorist as the...

Written Answers — Motor Tax: Motor Tax (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: When an application for a motor vehicle licence is received, motor taxation authorities are required by law to satisfy themselves that the tax disc for which the application is made is the appropriate disc for the vehicle in question. In the case of a commercial vehicle, the applicant must complete a statutory declaration, produce a weight docket if the vehicle is under a certain weight,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 348, inclusive, together. A comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure has been approved for County Galway in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 -2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The total value of contracts underway and those proposed for commencement during the period of the Programme...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the provisions relating to the charge on non-principal private residences, does not provide for a waiver scheme. Owners of second properties would not normally be in a category of persons for whom a waiver scheme would generally be necessary or appropriate, and the charge is relatively modest. The Act places collection of the charge...

Written Answers — Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: On foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, a review of the Environmental Protection Agency commenced in February 2010. Details of the review, including the associated public consultation process currently underway, are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie I expect the Review Group to be in a position to submit its report and recommendations to me in Autumn 2010.

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The contracts of sale have been amended as required and my Department forwarded the deposit monies to the Chief State Solicitor's Office on 14 April 2010. It is now a matter for the solicitors for both sides to prepare the documents with a view to closing the sale.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 which sets out the provisions of the non-principal private residence charge, provides at section 4(4) for an exemption to the charge in the case of a property where the owner is, or was, a party to a marriage, the other party to that marriage lives in the property in question as his or her sole or main residence and where a decree of divorce or judicial...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 May 2010)

John Gormley: Details in respect of funding provided directly by my Department to agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are set out in the table below. Such agencies and bodies may be funded solely by my Department or through a combination of income from my Department, local authorities and other funds including their own resources and fees. Additional...