Results 3,841-3,860 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I thank Senator O'Toole for raising this issue and for his long and active interest in Seanad reform. I welcome the motion and agree with the Senator that reform of the Upper House deserves our attention. His motion represents a commendable desire to move this issue forward without further delay and I am happy to have the opportunity to lay out the timetable I intend to pursue. I had the...
- Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The recommendations include the widening of the franchise for the higher education constituency in Seanad Ãireann. The current restriction of the Seanad university seats to three elected by graduates of the National University of Ireland and three by Trinity College graduates has been acknowledged by all parties as anomalous. The Seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Election of Members...
- Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: There is not quite full consensus because certain Senators have said they want to see a whole package and not a piecemeal approach. I do not believe it is piecemeal. We can have a number of smaller reforms. It is vital to have some reform because if there is no reform, people we say we are stuck in a situation where nothing is happening at all. Once we get the ball rolling we can then see...
- Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 to provide for the introduction of limits on expenditure by candidates and political parties at local elections. It is my intention to have the limits in place for the local elections to be held on 5 June next. There are currently no...
- Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: It was caviar.
- Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: No he has not.
- Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: It will be capped.
- Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I fully agree with the Deputy.
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: My Department is advancing the preparation of necessary legislation to give effect to a new charge to be levied by local authorities on non-principal private residences, as announced in budget 2009. It is expected the new Bill setting out the necessary legislative provisions will be introduced shortly and the Government's intention is to have it enacted as soon as possible thereafter. I...
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The concept of a property tax is being examined, as the Deputy knows, by the Commission on Taxation, which is due to report in September. We will consider all its proposals. It is investigating a range of proposals including a carbon tax and some form of property tax. We have been assured by the Minister for Finance that the carbon tax will be introduced but, again, it is premature to talk...
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The Deputy is right to point this out. A total of 85% of new vehicles purchased this year are in the low-CO2 category, which shows the success of that scheme and that it is having the desired effect. However, there has been a reduction in new car sales this year. Two thirds of the money going to local government comes from motor taxation, while one third comes from the Exchequer. My...
- Departmental Agencies. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The authority was established in 1997 with the general duty to secure the social, economic and physical regeneration of the Dublin docklands area. Since its establishment, it has engaged in extensive business transactions involving the purchase, management, development and sale of lands in the area. The authority is self-financing, operating on the profits of its business dealings, and does...
- Departmental Agencies. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The Deputy will be aware that a "Prime Time" programme was made on the Dublin Docklands Development Authority which referred to some of the issues he raised. I have appointed Mr. Gerry McCaughey, who has been described as a green entrepreneur, as the new chairperson to the authority . Mr. McCaughey understands the necessity of good regulation and I believe he will move the authority in the...
- Departmental Agencies. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: If the Deputy is familiar with the individual I have appointed, he will be aware of his rigour and his understanding of what is required of him. Mr. McCaughey has been fully briefed by my officials and the CEO of the authority, Mr. Moloney, on the potential for and difficulties with the site. I have no doubt that he will thoroughly investigate these matters and will come to his own...
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: On publication of the public expenditure Estimates associated with Budget 2009 in October 2008, the Department's overall capital expenditure envelope amounted to â¬2.145 billion. Most of this funding related to capital expenditure grants for housing, infrastructural and other capital programmes, chiefly implemented by local authorities. At the end of February 2009, total capital...
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I will go through some of the issues raised by the Deputy. On a previous occasion Deputy Hogan asked about the housing capital programme. In broad terms, â¬1.4 billion of Exchequer capital funding is available for housing in 2009. We must work towards the fullest achievement of our broad range of housing objectives against the background of the significantly altered economic context. The...
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: When all of the requests for capital borrowing are taken together, they exceed â¬500 million but these are beyond the requirements for this year. I envisage being able to accommodate half of this in 2009 with the rest spread over 2010 and subsequent years. I am finalising my consultation with the councils and the determining priority must be that we see how labour intensive projects are.
- Departmental Expenditure. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I cannot give such an assurance because there was provision for a record amount of â¬560 million. We are looking at investment of over â¬500 million, which is still a substantial amount that represents an increase on last year. We have commitments related to the water framework directive and it is not just about compliance with our EU obligations, it is also a matter of putting in place...
- Planning Matters. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 45 together. An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine appeals and referrals within 18 weeks. Consideration of the performance of the board must take account of the legacy of record levels of case intake over recent years and the assumption of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act...
- Planning Matters. (11 Mar 2009)
John Gormley: The Deputy is right to make that distinction. People may say that while they like housing, they do not like developers but who builds the houses?