Results 2,881-2,900 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: Every time the Deputy speaks about this issue, he issues a degree of extraordinary confusion on it or simply an incapacity to grasp it.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy has said time and again that it will cost thousands of millions——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: ——but the Deputy is wrong and has always been so.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy asked me a third question which he does not want me to answer.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy asked me a third question which he does not want me to answer because he is on the record as saying time and again that it will cost us thousands of millions in fines to reach the target.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy did. He said on one occasion that it would cost €1 billion.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Deputy also gives high double digit figures for the cost of a tonne which he knows are wrong. As the Deputy knows, the figure fluctuates.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: It has been as low as 8 million.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The estimate is approximately 15 million. The figure has gone up and down as the Deputy knows. It fluctuates. The estimated figure is approximately 15 million. If one takes 3 million and multiplies it by that, one is talking about a lot less. The mechanism provides specifically——

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: If one multiplies 3 million by 15 million, one gets 45 million. That would be the figure in 2012 if nothing happened between now and then. However, one should look at what we propose to do in respect of biofuels, for example. As Deputy Cuffe knows, when one increases the amount of biofuels from 2% to 5.7% not only does one cut significantly the cost of fuel but one also significantly cuts...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The figure of 8 million tonnes is the achievement to date. That calculation comes from various EPA reports. Deputy McCormack is quite right in saying that changes in agricultural practice are having a major impact on emissions. One must realise that changes in agriculture have, to a large extent, been driven for example by the huge take-up in REPS.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The recently adopted nitrates package will also have a significant impact, as will the decoupling of payments. All of those factors will result in change. One could say these are determined by external factors but they are Government policy. A grant package for housing was announced in the 2006 budget — the greener homes initiative of which the take-up has been significant. I understand...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I just answered it. Perhaps there is something wrong with the acoustics. The Deputy may not have heard me but I stated it is already a fact that the legal prohibition will continue as long as this Government is in power.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: A Cabinet sub-committee exists which examines environment, energy, transport and agriculture. It is a sensible point to environmentally test a whole series of public policies. I do not accept Deputy Cuffe's point about urban sprawl. We have a rapidly growing population. People like to live in individual households. Notwithstanding that the EEA appears to have some prescriptive remedy as...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I want to make a point about the EEA. The EEA appears to suggest a prescriptive form of housing which I do not accept. Frankly, Deputy Cuffe's party does not accept it either. I do not believe people in Ireland want to live in multi-storey blocks on top of each other.

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (3 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In general, planning permission must be sought for the erection of an antenna support structure or mast. In July 1996 my Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures. Their purpose was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (3 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: The Kildare Town Sewerage has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. My Department is currently examining Kildare County Council's Preliminary, Public Private Partnership Applicability and Water Services Pricing Policy Reports for the scheme and a decision will be conveyed to the Council as quickly as possible. While the Council has...

Written Answers — Civil Protection Mechanism: Civil Protection Mechanism (3 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism provides for interventions both inside and outside the European Union following a request for assistance (personnel, equipment and/or supplies) from a country where the domestic emergency services are unable to cope in the aftermath of a major natural or man-made disaster. Under the Mechanism, when a...

Written Answers — Property Inspection System: Property Inspection System (3 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: In accordance with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive-EPBD (2002/91/EC of 16 December 2002), Building Energy Rating (BER) will be required for newly constructed buildings and for existing buildings when sold or let. BER will become mandatory, on a phased basis, over the period 2007-2009. BER will be required for new dwellings commencing on or after 1 January 2007. To avoid...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (3 Oct 2006)

Dick Roche: To address the issue of accumulated backlogs of farm plastic, designated facilities are being provided on a temporary, once-off basis by local authorities where farmers may deposit stockpiled farm film plastic and silage wrap. This arrangement operated on a pilot basis in the first instance in counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, Offaly and Waterford during June and July of this year. This service...