Results 3,601-3,620 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: My Department provides a detailed list of the legislative activity (primary and secondary) undertaken during the previous year in each of its Annual Reports. These reports are published on the Department's website (www.environ.ie). A detailed list of the primary legislation approved by the Oireachtas during 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 is set out in the table below. In each case a brief...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: I understand that a draft land management plan for the national monuments at Rathcrogran, Co. Roscommon, is currently being drawn up by the Office of Public Works and that further discussions will take place with local interests when the draft plan is available.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The scheme referred to was not included in the list of water and sewerage schemes submitted by Galway City Council in their 2006 assessment of needs for priority capital works in their area; no supplementary proposals for such a scheme have been submitted to the Department in the meantime.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Planning permissions are typically granted for a period of 5 years, though a planning authority may, having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any other material consideration, specify a longer period during which a permission is to have effect. Where a planning permission expires, the developer may seek an extension of the relevant period. Subject to compliance...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: There are 328 staff in my Department in receipt of long service increments, the total cost of the payment of which is €969,934. The year to year costs of long service increments are normally offset by corresponding reductions in costs associated with retirements and other movements by staff on long service increments and their replacement by staff on lower points. The award of long service...

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The timing of the European Parliament elections is determined by the EU Council of Ministers by reference to the period corresponding to the first direct elections in 1979. Accordingly, they are held within a specified four day period in June every five years subsequent to 1979. The Council announced that the 2009 European Parliament elections would take place between Thursday 4 and Sunday...

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Moving the writ now makes no sense in terms of electoral efficiency or administration. It takes no account of costs and the state of the public finances or of the disruption and inconvenience to voters. There is no real logic behind the Fine Gael motion and I fundamentally disagree with its timing on this occasion.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: I do not know if Fine Gael really wants to hold by-elections at least a week ahead of the local and European elections. I find it difficult to believe it wants to expose the taxpayer to the extra expense and disruption involved in holding the polls on two separate days within such a short period of time.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The most charitable interpretation is that Fine Gael was simply ignorant of the legislation in this regard, although I take it from Deputy Kenny's earlier comments that it has since been enlightened.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The party now finds itself in the unusual position of proposing a motion it must desperately hope will not be passed.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: In February the Labour Party sought to move the writ in respect of the Dublin South by-election. Obviously its proposal at that time was to have that poll well in advance of the local and European elections. In responding to the motion, however, the Chief Whip confirmed to the House that the Government intends to run the by-election for Dublin South on 5 June, the same day as the European...

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: At the time the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, said, "On a day such as this, when stark economic decisions have had to be taken, Deputies from all sides will understand the sense in minimising the cost to the Exchequer in running elections. The Government believes this is the prudent approach."

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Deputy Carey did not refer to the Dublin Central by-election on that occasion, as it was not relevant to the motion proposed. The same logic applies, however, and I can inform the House that the Government intends that both by elections be held in conjunction with the European and local elections on 5 June.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The Taoiseach will move the writs on a suitable day within the appropriate period. For clarity, I should point out that the by-elections will be held on the basis of the constituency boundaries that operated for the 2007 general election.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Therefore, there will be a total of 264 polls held on 5 June, comprising four polls to elect 12 members to the European Parliament, 258 polls to elect 1,627 councillors in 114 local authorities and two polls to elect two Dáil Deputies.

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: There will be four European constituency returning officers for the North West, Dublin, East and South constituencies. The 28 European local returning officers will be the county registrars and in the case of Dublin and Cork, the city and county sheriffs. There also will be separate local authority returning officers for the local elections. Dublin South and Dublin Central will each have a...

Issue of Writ: Dublin South (28 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Failure to do so would constitute an offence under the Litter Acts, and local authorities are entitled to issue on-the-spot fines for posters which breach the time limits.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (23 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter lies with local authorities, who are required to take all practicable measures for the prevention, control and disposal of litter in their functional areas. In addition to their own income generating activities, my Department provides funding for local authorities from the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (23 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: Under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, the National Treasury Management Agency has been designated as purchasing agent for the State. In 2008, the Agency purchased some 3.5m certified emission reduction units at a cost of €53m. To date in 2009, they have purchased 1.8m units at a cost of €21.6m. No credits were purchased in 2007. In January 2007, prior to the designation of the National...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (23 Apr 2009)

John Gormley: The provisions governing local authority membership and local authority employment are set out in Sections 13 and 161 of the Local Government Act 2001. Under section 13 of the Act, a person employed by a local authority who is not the holder of an employment designated by order under section 161 is disqualified from being elected or co-opted to, or from becoming a member of, a local...