Results 2,941-2,960 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The objective of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters from pollution caused by nutrients from agricultural sources. The regulations apply to fertilisers containing nitrogen or phosphorus and do not control the use of potassium (potash). The permitted fertilisation rates of phosphorus are based...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Enforcement of waste legislation, including actions against illegal activity, is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. Data from the OEE shows that in 2008, 2034 inspections were carried out under the packaging regulations by the local authorities. While the OEE compiles statistics on the total number of prosecutions taken under the Waste Management...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I understand that the Question refers to development contributions payable to planning authorities under the Planning and Development Act 2000. As Minister, my role is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority. Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 328 together. My responsibilities, under the Wildlife Acts, relate to the conservation of populations of certain protected species. Where a hunting licence under the Wildlife Act 1976 is required, each licence application is dealt with individually having regard to the conservation impact on the particular species in line with the provisions of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: On 19 May 2009, the Government decided to reduce the payment period for invoices for goods and services received by central Government Departments from 30 to 15 calendar days, in respect of valid invoices, for goods or services received on or after 15 June 2009. Details of my Department's payments, since 15 June 2009, are as follows. Invoices Paid Within 15 Days Invoices Paid Between 15...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The overall amount of debt outstanding in city and county councils at the 31 December 2008, the latest date for which I have audited figures, is some €4.9 billion. The information requested is set out in the following table. Balance @ 31/12/08 County Councils € Carlow 43,967,551 Cavan 23,390,981 Clare 121,519,712 Cork 512,949,872 Donegal 136,160,895 Fingal 510,969,433 Dun...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The Government decided to broaden the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on all non-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 per dwelling and payment must be made by 30 September 2009. The most important exemption under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 is for principal private residences. If a person owns a property other than one that they...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (22 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The following expenditure subheads in my Department's Vote are part funded by the National Lottery: B.1.14 Communal Facilities in Voluntary and Co-operative Housing Schemes; and B.2.4 Private Housing Grants G.1 Heritage Council. Details of Lottery funded expenditure elements in each programme in the period from 2005 to 2008 are set out in the following table: Subhead 2005 €m 2006 €m...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The introduction of domestic water charges has recently been recommended in the reports of both the Commission on Taxation and the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. While I recognize the concerns raised in the question, the recommendations were made, in both reports, as part of a package of recommendations on the funding of local government and will be...

Written Answers — Turf Cutting: Turf Cutting (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The Inter-Departmental Working Group on the Cessation of Turf Cutting in Designated Areas is considering the measures that may be required to implement the cessation, at the end of the year, on 32 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. The Group has received 194 submissions from interested parties, as well as an estimated 300 expressions of interest, including short e-mails and petition...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The combined O'Brien's Bridge, O'Callaghan's Mills, Bodyke, Flagmount and Cratloe Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. Further consideration will now be given to Clare County Council's Preliminary Report for the scheme following receipt of additional information from the Council earlier this week.

Written Answers — Licence Applications: Licence Applications (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: My Department issued the licence to the person in question on 11 September, 2009.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 of 18 March 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for non-directional household lamps contains specific requirements for non-directional household lamps, including lamps containing mercury. The implementation of this Regulation is a matter for the Tánaiste and...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: While there are no specific provisions in planning legislation regulating the establishment or use of allotments, any material change of use of land, including for allotments, would normally require planning permission. I am giving consideration to the inclusion in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 of a legislative amendment to facilitate the establishment of allotments in...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I expect that the White Paper on Local Government will be published later this year following, inter alia, Government consideration of the Report of the Commission on Taxation.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: Kildare County Council's revised contract documents for the scheme are awaited in my Department.

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I am aware of the views of the Irish Campaign against Blood Sports in connection with hare coursing. Hare coursing in the State is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Statutory responsibility for the Act is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relate to the conservation...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I expect to be in a position to make a final decision on the designation of three Special Protection Areas in Dublin Bay in the near future.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: The harsh reality is that our country is in a financial crisis. As a small open economy, the international recession has hit us harder than most. The mess in which we find ourselves has arisen in no small part from the greed and stupidity of a minority of those involved in banking, land speculation and building developments. The property frenzy, largely driven by this minority, only halted...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Sep 2009)

John Gormley: I will not name him because I have a great deal of respect for him. However, he also made the interesting comment that if Fine Gael and the Labour Party were to form a coalition and enter Government in a few weeks' time, they would introduce NAMA.