Results 3,801-3,820 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Senator is possibly right. It adds significantly to the word count, but if one considers, from a different viewpoint, the possibility of a legal challenge to a particular section it is clear that the section requires the type of self-containment ensured by including the whole set of words. On amendment No. 26, I am not sure that it is grammatically correct to take out "from the" and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The words "in relation to a proposed development to the Board" have a very specific purpose in that particular sentence, if one reads the entire section. To delete those words would have the exact opposite effect to that being sought. Section 37E(4) reads, "...prepare and submit to the Board a report setting out the views of the authority on the effects of the proposed development on the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I will not accept this amendment and reading through it again and listening to the debate I am conscious that we are ad idem on one thing. Senator McCarthy stated that over the years there has been a haemorrhaging away of authority from elected representatives. Senator Bannon made the same point. In many ways councillors find themselves as rather impotent in a council chamber faced, as they...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The last part of Senator Bannon's contribution is not something against which I would argue. He will accept I have already made guidelines on rural planning for which I have been roundly criticised by some quarters but about which I am proud, especially when I drive through the country and see the resurrection of the countryside, the very point Senator Bannon advocated. I do not think the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: ——and getting back to the amendment, it is important that we keep the precision as it is drafted. That will be to the advantage of councillors around the country. They will know precisely and specifically on what they may draw up a report.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: The Bill does not exclude expert advice. It provides that the board may seek the views of any person or party it feels may have information relevant to the determination of an application. That would include health experts if, in the opinion of the board, that would be appropriate. The Bill also provides for the making of regulations to prescribe bodies for the purpose of consultation on an...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: Yes, that is why a specific reference can be made in this regard to regulations, as has happened in the past. It is not necessary to amend the legislation because the board may seek the views of any person or party it feels may have information and that would include health experts. The practice was to make regulations to prescribe bodies for the purpose of consultation which, in this case,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: I gave Senator Bannon's point some thought during the short break between press conferences and other things. I understand his concerns, but the health issue would have to be covered in an EIS. In a project developed under this Bill, an EIS would be part and parcel of the process. The arrangements in the Bill as stated are permissive, that is they allow the local board to call on such...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (3 May 2006)

Dick Roche: These amendments are grouped together because they propose to redefine what can best be described as the actors involved in the planning process, namely, the EPA and prospective applicants, thus resulting in consequential deletions. I do not propose to accept them. I am happy that the Parliamentary Counsel has been very clear in the approach adopted. Much effort was put into the drafting of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: It has already been indicated that there will be a high degree of co-ordination in inspections and other requirements arising from the implementation of the regulations transposing the nitrates directive in order to alleviate to the greatest possible extent the burden on farmers from bringing the directive into operation. The necessary inspection and other functions assigned to local...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 197 of 14 February 2006. Since that date, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has advised Mayo County Council about the aspects of the council's proposals which need to be reviewed to allow the appropriate non-domestic capital contribution to be determined. I have previously approved the council's tender recommendation for the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 948, 949, 951, 952, 973 and 980 of 25 April 2006. Officials from the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Agriculture and Food met officials from Teagasc on 20 April 2006 to clarify and elaborate aspects of the advice submitted by Teagasc to the Minister for Agriculture and Food with recommendations for amendment of the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: In March 2005, Sligo County Council submitted to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government a copy of a report prepared jointly by Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon county councils regarding the condition of the R294 between Ballina and Boyle. The report proposed a number of short-term and long-term improvement works to the route. The Department responded that it is open to the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 344 of 8 February 2006.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (27 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: The following table provides a breakdown of provisional licences by local authority area within the categories provided in response to Question No. 270 of 6 April 2006. County Councils 1st Provisional Licence 2nd 3rd 4th 5th or more Total Carlow 3,001 1,612 715 602 597 6,527 Cavan 3,119 1,549 559 435 461 6,123 Clare 5,527 2,216 820 557 605 9,725 *Cork...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: The Killybegs sewerage scheme has been approved for construction under my Department's water services investment programme 2005-07 at an estimated cost of €17.5 million. The wastewater treatment plants for both Killybegs and Bundoran will be procured under a single design/build/operate contract. Donegal County Council's preliminary reports for both the Killybegs and Bundoran sewerage...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: A reply to this correspondence issued on 18 April 2006.

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (26 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 418 of 6 April 2006.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (26 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: A reasoned opinion was received from the European Commission on 5 January 2005 on planning enforcement procedures for unauthorised developments in which environmental impact assessments are required. A formal response issued to the Commission on 8 March 2005. My Department has not received any further formal communication from the Commission or from the European Court of Justice and no...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (26 Apr 2006)

Dick Roche: The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2002 provides that non-party candidates at European, Dáil and local elections must have their nomination paper assented to by 60, 30 and 15 persons respectively who are registered in the register of electors in the constituency or local electoral area to which the candidate is seeking election. The form is left in a local authority office for the assentors to...