Results 281-300 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: -----but he made a good speech earlier. He not only regretted some decisions that were made, he apologised for certain decisions. I respect someone who knows when to apologise. I will not say I have warmed to Fianna Fáil in government but I like to think I get on with those I work with on a daily basis in that party. I am critical of decisions that were made during the boom years but I...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Fine Gael Members talked out of both sides of their mouths. They said the pay deal did nothing to tackle many issues but, on the positive side, said it offered stability. The Green Party and Fianna Fáil proposed, supported and delivered that pay deal. We have made tough decisions on taxation. The Labour Party has proposed a third rate at 48%. That would mean a marginal rate of income...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: We did not do it. The next time the Labour Party talks about opt-outs, remember that six months ago, in their proposals for taxation, they said they would raise €500 million from taxation. One cannot do that if one gives opt-outs to everybody. Fine Gael talked about rebuilding Ireland. That is what we are doing. At times of huge difficulty, companies like Airtricity, Microsoft and the...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Estates: Unfinished Housing Estates (15 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 4 of 27 May 2010. As part of its comprehensive response to the issue of unfinished or unoccupied estates, my Department is currently undertaking, with the co-operation of local authorities and other key stakeholders, a national inventory on a county by county basis to quantify, classify and map the various types of unfinished or unoccupied estates so as to...

Written Answers — Urban Renewal Schemes: Urban Renewal Schemes (10 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Designations under the Urban Renewal Scheme were based on Integrated Area Plans (IAPs) submitted by local authorities and were in line with recommendations made by an Expert Advisory Panel which was established by the Minister to assess all of the plans submitted. The Deputy is advised to contact the relevant local authority, i.e. Meath County Council, directly, with the complete address at...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 791 of 20 April 2010. I will shortly finalise the scope and terms of reference for the review.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Would the Deputy scrap the tax?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Is Deputy Varadkar opting out?

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Implementation of the cycle to work scheme for officers within the Department of Transport is a matter for my Department, whereas the broader implementation of the scheme is not. Within the Department, to date 16 staff members signed up for the cycle to work scheme since its introduction last year. The only cost to my Department is in terms of administration. It is estimated that total...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Planning Acts and associated Regulations provide for extensive consultation in relation to development at all stages of the planning process. It is a requirement that a valid application for planning permission must be advertised by site notice and newspaper notice. The site notice and newspaper notice must state that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (1 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Article 6 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 sets out certain classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements. The exemptions are circumscribed by article 9, which places a number of general qualifications on the availability of exemptions. Under Class 3 of Schedule 2 Part 1 of the 2001 Regulations the erection of a non-agricultural...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Estates: Unfinished Housing Estates (1 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I refer to the reply to Question No. 4 of 27 May 2010, which outlines the actions underway to address the issue of unfinished housing estates.

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (1 Jun 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: As previously stated in the reply to Question No. 320 of 11 May 2010, I am advised that the designation of public safety zones around Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports requires primary legislation. The mechanism by which these legislative changes can be introduced is under consideration by my Department in consultation with the Department of Transport and the Office of the Attorney General....

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: My Department published statutory Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (Cities, Towns and Villages) in December 2008. The Guidelines are accompanied by an Urban Design manual which sets out practical examples and best practice. The Guidelines state that sustainable neighbourhoods should be guided by the principle of universal design,...

Written Answers — Unfinished Housing Estates: Unfinished Housing Estates (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide that a planning authority may attach a condition to a planning permission, requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a development, and, if the development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, may apply the security to that satisfactory completion. My Department's...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Government has recently announced its intention to introduce a range of controls on the availability of psychotropic products which are sold in so-called head shops, and is bringing forward specific legislation in this regard. My Department will keep under review the role the planning system might play in addressing this issue, through, for example, a more restrictive use of the change...

Unfinished Housing Estates (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I do not wish to be confrontational but to echo the real concerns of people, we are putting together a best practice manual to assist local authorities in deciding on the remedial action to take. A primary concern is health and safety to ensure we do everything we can to stop children or vulnerable people going into unfinished developments. That key issue of securing the site is required....

European Court Rulings (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I presume the question refers to European Court of Justice cases C215-06 and C66-06, both of which relate to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and which are the subject of letters of formal notice from the Commission to which the Irish Government will shortly be responding. In relation to case C215-06, the ECJ ruled, in June 2008, that the Irish retention permission system did...

European Court Rulings (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: That is a matter for decision under the legislation and the regulation. If Deputy Hogan has any specific ideas he wishes to address to me I would be more than happy to receive them.

European Court Rulings (27 May 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I do not have that information to hand.