Results 1,761-1,780 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (23 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: As was outlined in response to question number 278 on 12th March 2008, during 2007, two finds were made in the North Celtic Sea Basin off the south coast. Providence Resources Limited identified an oil accumulation at the Hook Head prospect in block 50/11 while Island Oil and Gas Limited encountered gas at the Schull prospect in block 57/2. In addition, Island Oil and Gas Limited...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (24 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department's role is one...

School Accommodation. (29 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, the position regarding the proposed building project for Ballymahon vocational school, County Longford. I will outline the procedures involved in selecting school building projects for inclusion in a school building programme. All...

Natural Heritage Areas. (29 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Sheahan for raising this matter, which I will be taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley. Special areas of conservation, SACs, are proposed for designation under the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997. These regulations transpose the 1992 habitats directive and provide a...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (29 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: I refer to the reply to Question No. 363 of 17 October 2007. The position has not changed. Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and air quality management is a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. The EPA's Air Quality in Ireland 2006, published on 10 October 2007, contains details of the monitoring and...

Written Answers — Fire Safety: Fire Safety (29 Apr 2008)

Tony Killeen: Under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 a fire authority is statutorily required to make adequate provision for a fire service in its functional area. Section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1981 requires each fire authority which maintains a fire brigade to prepare (and, as occasion requires, revise) plans for fire and emergency operations showing the provision made by it in respect of...

Farm Waste Management. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputies Creed and Sherlock for their good wishes. The revised farm waste management scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive. Under the scheme, a standard grant-rate of 60% — 70% in the four zone C counties — is available to farmers who complete the required investment works. The...

Farm Waste Management. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed made the point that much of the information was contained in the last paragraph of my reply. In fact, all the information about the numbers involved in the scheme is in the prior elements. Two schemes, in fact, were mentioned in the question, the farm waste management and the farm improvement schemes. The latter is not affected by the end of year deadline in this instance....

Farm Waste Management. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: In this instance, it is an enormously important scheme from an environmental viewpoint. It is contributing hugely to the improvement of investment on farms and the environment. I am satisfied that farmers who have their approvals will be in a position to complete the works.

Farm Waste Management. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: All the evidence currently available to the Department suggests the works can be completed within the timescale. It would be extraordinarily unhelpful to give any signal at this stage that the timescale was being reviewed, in view of the facts as outlined by the Deputy.

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: The national strategic plan for the Irish fisheries sector for the period 2007 to 2013 was prepared and approved by the Minister on 26 November 2007 and was subsequently submitted to the Commission on 28 November 2007. The plan sets out a programme of support for fisheries in line with the seafood sector review group report, the Cawley report, Steering a New Course — Strategy for a...

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy and other Members will appreciate that in the normal course of events, the Commission puts forward its position, on foot of which there is toing and froing at official level and fairly frequently at ministerial level, as in this instance, to address the outstanding issues. It is not helpful to blame the Commission, Departments or various directorates general at Commission level....

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: It is very difficult to give a timeframe for any of these issues, as the Deputy will be well aware. I assure him that the Department and I are committed to ensuring we progress the discussions on the operational programme as speedily as possible.

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: We must also take account of the fact that we are trying to achieve objectives and are working against the background of the Cawley report and other information and realities pertaining to the fishing industry. It would be far better to spend a few weeks or, at worst, a few months longer trying to achieve the appropriate outcome. Judgments must be made on this as we proceed to deal with the...

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: The number of privately owned hectares of forestry planted in each of the past 20 years has been set out in tabular format and will be included in the Official Report. It ranges from 2,954 hectares in 1987 to 6,947 hectares last year. I fully acknowledge the contribution made to the forestry sector to date by private landowners and farmers with the vision to adopt forestry as a viable land...

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Sheehan will be aware of the Malone report, which examined all of the issues mentioned by him, as well as a number of other issues that affect the acreage being afforested each year. The report contains 18 principal recommendations, some of which are being implemented at present and some of which refer to the FEPS programme. One recommendation, which specifically proposed the...

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: I am not aware of the specific nature of the commitment made by the former Minister, Deputy Coughlan.

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: That is one of a number of issues being considered in the context of new legislation.

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: The undertaking is that legislation will be introduced in this area. In the context of this legislation——

Afforestation Programme. (20 May 2008)

Tony Killeen: The legislation will examine this issue, as well as a considerable number of other issues. The Deputy and Members from all sides in both Houses will have an opportunity to make a case on scientific grounds, on the basis of the Malone report and other evidence, whether economic or otherwise. A judgment will be made on that basis.