Results 3,121-3,140 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank the Senators for their comments which highlight the differences between the Upper and Lower Houses because one does not often hear references to Proust or quotes from Yeats in the Lower House and it is quite refreshing. I thank Senators Coffey and Cummins for this amendment. As I made clear yesterday I intend to exempt what are termed granny flats from the charge and have sought the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank the Senators for this amendment. We had some discussion about uninhabitable dwellings on Committee Stage yesterday. In section 1 of the Bill "dwelling" is defined as including a building "used, or suitable for use, by an individual as a separate dwelling". Additionally in section 2 residential property is defined as "a building situated in the State used, or suitable for use, as a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank the Senators for these amendments, which were discussed yesterday. The Bill provides that income from the charge will accrue to local authorities. This is a new form of local authority income and it is important it is administered effectively and efficiently. I have full confidence that local authorities are well placed to administer and collect the charge and that they will assign...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I thank the Senators for engaging in such a positive way and for their amendments. Broadly, the Senators will be very satisfied with the amendments I will introduce in the Dáil. I also thank my staff who are present and everybody involved in bringing forward this legislation. I thank Senators for their co-operation in facilitating early consideration of the Bill. I look forward to...

Written Answers — Rights of Way: Rights of Way (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I note the judgment of the High Court in this specific case, including a summary of the current law relating to the evidentiary basis for establishing the existence of a public right of way, and the Court's concluding observations regarding a satisfactory resolution of the respective rights of property owners and walkers. Section 14 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides a...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The information requested is not collated by, or available in, my Department. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compiles the National Waste Report and the most recent report in respect of 2007, published earlier in 2009, is available on its website, www.epa.ie. According to the National Waste Report 2007, over 2.3 million tones of biodegradable municipal waste was generated in that...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The Final Report on the performance of new infrastructure provided under the pilot programme to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems is expected to be submitted to the National Rural Water Services Committee shortly. The Committee has been asked to report to me following its review of the outcome on the results obtained. I will review the future role...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 485 and 505 of 6 May 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Electronic Voting Machines: Electronic Voting Machines (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Responsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials (such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments and stationery) is a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to Returning Officers to make the necessary arrangements in relation to the storage of the electronic...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 189 of 25 June 2009. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: My Department does not have offices transferring to locations in Laois/Offaly or to Roscrea, Co. Tipperary under the decentralisation programme. Recent information provided by the Central Applications Facility indicates that five members of staff in my Department have registered an interest in decentralised locations in Laois/Offaly as follows: Location Number of Staff Department of...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: A number of Senators have referred to a granny flat. The question of whether these are separate dwellings is relevant and was part of our discussion during the interval. Given the different arrangements people make regarding adjacent living accommodation for their parents, for example, in terms of access and the extent of living accommodation in the flat, some granny flats are likely to...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: It is as I stated. It is very clear.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I again thank the Senators for raising these points which I know are sincerely made. I found the discussion very useful. That is the purpose of debating legislation, that we tease out any outstanding difficulties. Let me be very clear, I do not seek out individuals to impose a €200 levy. I do not wish to give the impression this is some kind of tax on the elderly. People might construe...

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I have just stated that, in many cases, they are present to be looked after. Let me-----

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: We are meant to examine these issues and there may be an issue I may need to reconsider. The matter raised by Senator Doherty is not the intention. I am not someone who looks for tuna or dolphins. I want to be as fair as possible. I will consider the matter overnight to determine what clarity can be provided.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I will seek advice from the Attorney General and others to see whether we can nail the issue down. That is all I can do.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: The house must be habitable. If it is not, it does not fall under this legislation. I meant to refer to Senator Doherty's point in this regard.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

John Gormley: I tried to indicate that the fine will be per individual property. Therefore, there would be an accumulation of fines.