Results 4,101-4,120 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: Since the publication of the national climate change strategy in 2007, the relevant Departments have been working on the development of further measures to reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. This work is overseen by the Cabinet committee on climate change and energy security, which is chaired by the Taoiseach. I have been reporting progress to the Oireachtas on an annual basis...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I did not say that.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I would like to correct the misleading statement made by the Deputy that we are relying on the recession. I said no such thing. What we are relying on is Government action. We have said over and over again that the climate change strategy will be implemented and have taken the necessary steps to achieve that, through the creation of the Cabinet climate change committee and the Oireachtas...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: Once again, I must correct the misleading comments put forward by the Deputy. With regard to the European Union, it has congratulated Ireland on leading the way on energy efficient light bulbs.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: The fact is we have led the way and are supported by Mr. Verheugen and Greenpeace. However, I do not want to go over that again or to boast. With regard to Fine Gael's transport policyââ
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: Our policy is working, while Fine Gael's is about building more roads. Fine Gael is at sixes and sevens. On the one hand, the Deputy's colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, says we should double the amount of roadsââ
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I thank the Chair for pointing out that is not a point of order. I must be in a position to correct statements that are made by Opposition Deputies.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: What is required in Dublin Bus is radical reform, and that is what we have put forward. We are introducing measures to achieve that. Fine Gael, on the other hand, just wants to privatise transport and to build more roads. It wants to double the amount of roads being built. That is Fine Gael policy.
- Election Management System. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I intend to bring forward proposals in the near future for legislative change to allow for the introduction of spending limits at local elections. It is my intention to have the limits in place for the local elections to be held this year. The programme for Government contains a commitment to examine spending limits at local elections as part of the Green Paper on local government. The...
- Election Management System. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: On the one hand Deputy Lynch states there are issues which need to be examined and, on the other, that there are no complexities. There are complexities and there is no question about it. If one considers the variation in population, and this will be based on population, the electoral areas range from a low of 6,470 to a high of 51,803. This is a huge variation. How does one allocate...
- Election Management System. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I assure the Deputy that candidates will have clarity. Deputy Lynch must remember that I am a leader of a party and I have people running in the local elections also and they are as anxious as him to have the details. They will have those details next week.
- Election Management System. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: These matters have been discussed in detail, and as I stated because they are complex issues they must be teased out. However, I will be in a position next week to make a firm announcement.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: The Government decision to introduce public sector pension-related measures announced by the Taoiseach in the House on Tuesday will apply to all public sector employees, including those employed by local authorities. While there will be a saving in respect of local authority staff, there will be a neutral impact on local authority finances as there will be a corresponding reduction in the...
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: For 2007, the total amount paid by local authorities on salaries and wages amounted to â¬1.7 billion or 35% of their total expenditure. More than â¬1.5 billion is projected to be available to the local government fund in 2009. The general purpose grants are the contributions from my Department to meet the gap between the cost of providing a reasonable level of day to day services and the...
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: We are broadening the base.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I just answered it.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: We are broadening the base and it is expected that the new pension levy on local authority staff will yield an amount of â¬80 million per annum.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: This will be realised by the Exchequer through a reduction of this amount in the Exchequer contribution to the local government fund. Grants to local authorities for 2009 will be reduced by an equivalent amount. That is the answer.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: I can go better than that.
- Local Authority Funding. (5 Feb 2009)
John Gormley: This is what I tried to state a moment ago. The broadening of the base and the introduction of the levy on second homes will provide extra money to local authorities and this is what they are asking for. I want to ensure that not only can this money be collected locally but that it can be used locally.