Results 3,041-3,060 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I fully appreciate that the Senators want to make a brief contribution in the broadest sense. I agree with Senator Tuffy. The Taoiseach regularly points out to me that this is a good approach for precisely the reasons the Senator outlined. This plan was holistic, it involved the community and the local authority. It dealt with infrastructure and the social supports that were required to be...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: During my remarks on Second Stage I stated my belief that the expertise of the board should be fully employed in the planning process as early as possible. I have introduced a number of specific amendments to this end. Amendments Nos. 2 and 51 extend the powers of the board to give advice on what considerations in respect of environmental effects of a proposed development will be taken into...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: Many of the Senators' comments do not directly arise from the Bill. We are striving for the interpretation of planning law, to which Senators Bannon and Kitt referred. I am conscious of the changes in the interpretation of the guidelines for one-off rural housing. Like Senator Bannon, I am rightly anxious that planning law is reflected in the same way everywhere. There is clarity of language...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: When the Seanad discussed the Bill, it provided that a relevant planning authority would be informed of the board's decision only where it decided that a proposed development does not constitute strategic infrastructure and would, therefore, be subject to the normal planning process. Amendment No. 3 ensures that the board shall serve a copy of its decision concerning whether the development...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: The regional plans will be factored into the board's consideration. On regional authorities and so on, the best approach is to ensure that where applications hit universally, as it were, the local authorities should get the information, as they feed into the regional bodies. On advertising and notices, we had a lengthy discussion on site notices and I will differentiate the colours. We...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: No. We will have the same colour across the country. If the colours were red and green, they would only refer to Mayo or Rathnew.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: These amendments give the board the power to seek the opinions of any person or body with relevant views on information in respect of the consultation on a proposed development, particularly the scoping of an environmental impact statement. It is important that the board has the power to look for expertise in areas beyond what is immediately available to it, for example, that of a Department,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: The EPA is mentioned in section 37F(5) which states: Before making a decision under section 37G in respect of proposed development comprising or for the purposes of an activity for which an integrated pollution control licence or a waste licence is required, the Board may request the Environmental Protection Agency to make observations. This set of amendments empowers the strategic...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: As is typical with complex legislation, it is necessary to make minor clarifications of a drafting nature and that is what these amendments do. I was seduced by Senator Bannon's mellifluous tones during the Bill's passage through this House and kindly accepted one textual amendment which, as it turned out, would have had a disastrous effect that neither of us foresaw, and which we had to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I would never suggest that a specialist in the arcane and dark art of parliamentary drafting necessarily knows better than parliamentarians themselves, but we must accept their advice when it is offered. The amendment the Senator tabled was firmly offered so I stand chastised, though I am still firmly on his side.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: These are interesting amendments because they expand public participation and take into account the transboundary elements of the EIA directive. The amendments require applicants for strategic infrastructure to include in the newspaper notice, where relevant, that a proposed development is likely to have a significant impact on the environment of another EU member state signatory to the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: We had lengthy discussions in this House and in the Dáil about the need for the full range of views of councillors to be referred to the board for information. This is important to me because I want to capture the views of councils. The Bill incorporates a major innovation in providing for councillors to send their recommendations to the board. As I said in the Seanad, to general agreement,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I welcome the fact Senators endorse what I have done in the Bill. On the other issues, which, strictly speaking, are not dealt with by the Bill, I agree with the Senators. In particular, I agree with the last point on legal advice, which is a thorny issue on which I have engaged in debate. Local authority members have more powers than they sometimes realise in this regard. Unfortunately,...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 542 together. The Ennistymon, Liscannor, Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction in 2007 at an estimated cost of €12.5m. Clare County Council's Preliminary Report and Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the scheme are under...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 555 together. The amount spent by my Department on advertising in 2002 and 2003 is €1,633,297 and €2,230,831 respectively. The information in relation to the period since 2003 is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. Expenditure was incurred on statutory notification requirements and a range of advertising...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 974, 975, 976 and 977 of 25 April 2006. My Department is considering additional information received from Clare County Council earlier this week in relation to the Feakle, Scariff and Quilty Sewerage Scheme and a response will issue to the Council as soon as possible. The position in relation to the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: The Broadford Sewerage Scheme is approved for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 under the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative at an estimated cost of€1.6m. My Department is awaiting submission by Clare County Council of a revised Preliminary Report and updated Water Services Pricing Policy Report which will help determination of the overall funding...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 978 of 25 April 2006. Overall funding arrangements for these schemes will be determined as soon as Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the schemes has been submitted by Clare County Council and approved by my Department.

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: The planning and development of library proposals is primarily a matter for each library authority subject to approval by my Department at various stages of a project's development. The Kilkenny Central Library/HQ project was approved under the 1999/2002 Library Capital Programme. Kilkenny County Council submitted Detailed Cost and Design proposals to my Department in 2001 but was asked to...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (5 Jul 2006)

Dick Roche: The cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of any vegetation growing on land not then cultivated is generally prohibited during the period from 1 March to 31 August each year by the provisions of Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. However, subsection 2 of Section 40 of the Act, as amended, provides specified exemptions from this...