Results 2,461-2,480 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for managing Killarney National Park for the enjoyment and benefit of all, including tourists. Local jarveys use the park to ply their trade for financial gain. The horse dung on the roads in the park is unsightly and smelly and is at odds with the national park ethos, conflicts with the beautiful landscape and...
- Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: In the period 2008-2012, Ireland is required to meet a challenging greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol; this target is binding in international law. In addition, by 2020, Ireland is committed under the EU climate and energy package agreed in December 2008 to achieve a 20% reduction on 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors of the economy not...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in correspondence in respect of 31 cases relating to transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. The following table lists the directives involved and indicates the various stages of proceedings in respect of these cases. The Commission made a decision on 29 October 2009 to refer...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: Meeting the requirements of the Landfill Directive is a key national priority in respect of waste management and I am committed to implementing the measures necessary to ensure that Ireland meets the 2010, and subsequent, EU landfill diversion targets. In the coming weeks, I will make regulations to bring an entirely new approach to the management of our food waste, which will take effect...
- Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Question Nos. 81 and 452 together. On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Government had decided not to proceed with implementation of electronic voting in Ireland. Since then, a process has been put in place to address the issues that arise from the decision. An interdepartmental task force, chaired by my Department, has been established to bring the project to an...
- Written Answers — Water Management: Water Management (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The capital provision and expenditure outturn for water services infrastructure in 2008 was â¬471.4 million and â¬496.4 million, respectively. A provision of â¬500 million is available for investment in water services infrastructure in 2009. Expenditure to date in 2009 amounts to â¬442.6 million; the full year provision will be spent...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 90 together. Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the...
- Written Answers — Site Management: Site Management (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: As previously advised, the Government has decided that the Office of Public Works will chair a working group to develop a structured and coherent approach to the further management and development of the site. The establishment of this group is a matter for the OPW. The issue of a retaining sea wall or similar such barrier remains a key issue to be addressed in this context. Consideration...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I understand the concerns of domestic turf cutters on the relatively small number of designated raised bogs on which, for conservation reasons, turf cutting needs to be ended. There is no intention to restrict this activity on the vast majority of bogs within the State, where cutting may continue as before. The restrictions on domestic turf cutting on designated raised bogs affect only...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: My Department has a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance for implementation of the general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts in the local authority sector, on the condition that the overall staffing levels in the local authority sector are to be reduced significantly by the end of 2010 in adherence with the Government's policy on staffing and numbers in the public...
- Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: The programme for Government, agreed in 2007, contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling Electoral Register, take over the functions of the Standards...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: My Department is currently undertaking a Value for Money Study in relation to the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of the Water Services Investment Programme as part of the Government's Value for Money Reviews for 2009 â 2011. The outcome of this study, which will be finalised early next year, will influence the implementation of future water services investment programmes. As...
- Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 45 on today's Order Paper.
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 422 together. Under the Government's water pricing policy, local authorities are required to recover the costs of providing water services from non domestic users of these services. A water services charge is levied for the provision of drinking water and is based on volumetric use. A programme of work to install water meters for all non domestic...
- Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 provides for a charge on all non-principal private residences set at â¬200 per annum which is payable by owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole of main residence. The Act is structured with a starting position of a universal liability for residential property in respect of...
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together. Work is under way in drafting an amendment to the Control of Dogs Acts and I hope to publish my proposals in the near future. The draft Bill proposes to give statutory effect to the recommendations of the Working Group that had been established to review the management of dog breeding establishments. The Working Group recommended that a...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: Under the provisions of the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, the charge on non-principal private residences is only payable in respect of a building used, or suitable for use, as a dwelling. It follows, therefore, that a building that is not habitable is exempt from the charge. While the Act does not define what might constitute a habitable, building, my Department has issued guidelines...
- Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: The provision of a public library service in Belturbet is a matter for the library authority concerned, in this instance Cavan County Council. The authority has indicated that the library in Belturbet is its number one priority for funding. Following detailed consideration of the priority lists submitted by all local authorities, a limited two-year Capital Programme for Public Libraries was...
- Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: As previously advised the Attorney General sought and received on my behalf, on a confidential basis, a copy of the agreement in respect of the public private partnership between Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of the Dublin local authorities, and Dublin Waste to Energy. The figure of â¬18 million was arrived at on the basis of a desktop exercise to assess risks associated with the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Nov 2009)
John Gormley: The Department's leased buildings are acquired by the Office of Public Works. Rental costs and rent reviews are a matter for that Office.