Results 9,741-9,760 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Yes, it was one of the things he said.

Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I can assure the Deputy that he will see it. The problem is we have had so many different initiatives to put in place. For example, yesterday the four year plan was published with significant proposals relating to funding for local government, including the local charge. All that must be consistent with the White Paper. We will now proceed with the White Paper, which will include those...

Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: In response to its challenging financial position, the executive board of the authority has undertaken a major review and restructuring of its activities, cutting all discretionary expenditure and reducing staff levels from 55 full-time equivalents in January 2009 to 27 staff currently. Whereas the authority's 2009 annual report and audited accounts, which were published earlier this year,...

Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: As the Deputy is aware, I appointed a new chairperson, Professor Niamh Brennan, to take control of the authority. She was instrumental in producing two reports which demonstrated exactly what had happened in the Dublin docklands. Recently I spoke to board members who feel the authority is now finding its feet again and I hope it will be in a position to do some very good work for the...

Waste Management (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I have always made clear that I want to see a sustainable, resource based approach to waste management. This involves a shift in focus from residual waste management options, such as landfill and incineration, to technologies such as mechanical biological treatment which can maximise the value to be extracted from what should be viewed as a resource rather than as a waste. On 15 July 2010,...

Waste Management (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: As I have stated on a number of occasions, the Government does not determine matters of this nature, which in this case is one for a private consortium and the local authority. When one considers residual waste arisings and the decline in biological waste, which is the most important consideration from a landfill directive perspective, an incinerator with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes is much...

Written Answers — Local Government Funding: Local Government Funding (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The renewed Programme for Government contains commitments to introduce a new system for the financing of local government, ensuring the viability of local services, and that Government policy for the reform of Local Government is implemented. The Programme further commits to the introduction of charging for treated water use that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. ...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The State has a legal obligation under the Habitats Directive and under the Wildlife Acts to protect sites that it has designated for conservation purposes. In Ireland a number of sites have been designated for the protection of raised bog habitat within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). These make up just over 4% of bogland in the State where...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. Housing authorities are making the necessary arrangements to make the scheme fully operational. Meeting the legitimate aspirations of many households for home ownership has traditionally been a key component of housing policy in Ireland. The Government's housing policy statement, Delivering...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) required each Member State to introduce measures to provide for producer funded take back of end-of-life WEEE for consumers. The Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 came into effect on 5 July 2005 and completed the transposition of Directive 2002/96/EC. These Regulations were...

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

John Gormley: On foot of a commitment made in the Programme for Government, I initiated a review of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February 2010. Under its terms of reference, the Review Group has been asked to review the legislation governing the EPA; assess performance against its mandate and evaluate the scope of that mandate; review the resources allocated to it; assess the structures and...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 39 together. As outlined in the Government's National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014, it is intended that water charges for domestic customers will be introduced from 2014. This will be preceded by the rollout of a national metering programme to install meters in all households connected to the public water supply. The metering programme is likely to take...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 39 of 8 July 2010, which outlined the position in regard to the provision of waste water treatment works.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: A dedicated Cabinet Committee has been engaged in finalising the policy decisions for inclusion in the White Paper on Local Government. I intend to publish the White Paper as soon as possible following completion of the Government's deliberations.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Directive 2003/35/EC ('the Public Participation Directive') provides for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and for access to justice in certain environmental matters. It amends both Directive 85/337/EC on Environmental Impact Assessment and Directive 96/61/EC on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)....

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 115 of 19 October 2010. Since then, the closing date for the public consultation on the next National Biodiversity Plan has passed and a large number of detailed submissions were received and are under consideration at present. In addition the draft plan is being reviewed in light of decisions made by the recent Conference of the Parties of the Convention...

Written Answers — Commercial Rates: Commercial Rates (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purpose in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. That Act and matters relating to valuation generally come under the remit of the Minister for Finance. The body of legislation governing...

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

John Gormley: While the Programme for Government included a commitment to introduce a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrade of septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems, it is no longer feasible to introduce such a grant scheme in the light of budgetary constraints. Under my Department's Rural Water Programme, grants are available to provide groups of households with the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The European Commission's letter of formal notice referred to raised a number of issues, including the position regarding a waste authorisation for the site concerned. My Department is currently preparing a reply to this letter which will set out a series of actions to address the Commission's concerns in this regard. I expect this reply to be finalised at the end of this month.

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I assume the question refers to Directive No. 2000/53/EC on end-of life vehicles (ELVs) which sets out the specific measures to be put in place by EU Member States in relation to the collection, storage, treatment, dismantling, reuse and recycling of end-of-life vehicles. Under the Directive, each Member State is required, inter alia, to ensure that all end-of-life vehicles are dismantled,...