Results 4,141-4,160 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Political Donations and Planning: Motion. (21 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: To date, the tribunal has issued four interim reports, which made certain findings. Following the conclusion of its public hearings, the tribunal will prepare and furnish to the Oireachtas its final report. In this regard, the tribunal has a mandate to make recommendations and, at that stage, we will follow those recommendations.

Political Donations and Planning: Motion. (21 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: While we await the completion of the work of the tribunal, the Government has not been slow to put in place reforms to protect the openness, probity, fairness and efficiency in the operation of the planning system. To this end, we have introduced various new measures to improve the openness and transparency, a few of which I will outline. For instance, the Planning and Development Act 2000...

Political Donations and Planning: Motion. (21 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001 corruption is presumed where there is proof that certain persons in public office have received money or other benefits from a person who has an interest in the way certain functions are carried out or the outcome of specified decisions, including planning decisions. In effect, this reverses the normal burden of proof. A person who...

Political Donations and Planning: Motion. (21 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Deputy Ryan has a habit of coming in here, roaring and shouting like a bull, and making as much sense as a bull.

Political Donations and Planning: Motion. (21 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Deputy Ryan will have his opportunity and I will listen to him with more courtesy than he is showing me. If he stops behaving like a little jackbooted bully we may get somewhere in this House. Each occasion I come in here to make a speech he comes up, red-faced with indignation, roaring and shouting and making little sense. I suggest he take a tranquilliser, calm down and listen to a little...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The local authority PPP fund was established on 1 December 1999 to provide funding to local authorities to enable them to investigate the potential for, and promote, PPP projects outside the Department's mainstream investment programmes. Eligible expenditure by local authorities included feasibility studies, planning and design costs, the presentation of business plans, procurement costs and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The Buttevant sewerage scheme has been approved for funding in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007 under the rural towns and villages initiative. A tenderer whose bid for the collection system contract has been disqualified by Cork County Council on grounds of non-compliance with the instructions to tenderers has exercised his entitlement under procurement procedures...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Contracts submitted by the solicitor for the person named in relation to the sale of bog to my Department are currently being examined in the Chief State Solicitor's office, in preparation for completion of the transaction.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: As stated in the reply to Question No. 504 of 28 February 2006, battery operated watches and clocks with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,500 volts for direct current, DC, are within the scope of the WEEE directive. Consequently, retailers are required to take back such items at end of life on a one-for-one basis when selling a similar product. Alternatively members of the public can deposit...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, ELVs, incorporates measures aimed at: meeting new recovery and recycling targets for ELVs; ensuring that all end-of-life vehicles are deposited, dismantled, treated and recovered by industry at no cost to the final holder or owner of that vehicle and in a manner that does not cause environmental pollution; producers meeting the costs of free...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The north-east Roscommon water, augmentation scheme is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007 as a scheme to commence construction this year. The west Roscommon regional water supply scheme, which will serve north Roscommon, is approved in the programme to advance through planning. Roscommon County Council's preliminary report for the north-east Roscommon...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: In 2004, the latest year for which complete information is available, the estimated expenditure by local authorities in respect of the operation and maintenance of public water supplies was some €214 million. Such expenditure is funded from a combination of non-domestic user charges, general purpose grants and specific grants. In line with the polluter pays principle and the water services...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I assume that the question refers to general purpose grant allocations from the local government fund. General purpose grants are discretionary block grants paid to local authorities as a contribution towards their current costs. These costs are also funded by specific State grants and income from local sources such as commercial rates and charges for goods and services. It is a matter for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The Government's national water services pricing policy framework requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. The unit cost of water services provision will differ between sanitary authorities given the differences in the costs of water production across...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: A Law Reform Commission working group is currently examining a range of legal issues in relation to the management of multi-unit structures. The Government will consider the recommendations in its final report, including the need for any new legislation in this area. Following a request for information from my Department, I understand that the majority of planning authorities do not attach...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: While local authorities are responsible for the operation and maintenance of their public water supply systems, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives over the years to assist authorities to optimise the management, quality and efficiency of such systems. In 1996, following publication of the greater Dublin water supply strategic study, a new capital funding line was introduced...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: Exchequer funding for leak detection works and other infrastructural measures to improve the management of water supplies in the Dublin region was provided under my Department's water services investment programme as part of the Dublin region water conservation project between 1996 and 2000 during which unaccounted for water levels were reduced from 42% to below 29%. Following completion of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: The current output of the water production plants in the greater Dublin area — including Kildare, Meath and Wicklow — is approximately 582 million litres per day. The main water treatment plants providing water to the region are located at Ballyboden, Ballymore Eustace, Leixlip and Vartry. A range of projects to further expand capacity is being advanced under my Department's water...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 39 of 8 March 2006.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (9 Mar 2006)

Dick Roche: It is intended that I will visit Malaysia, Thailand and Japan during St. Patrick's week. In Kuala Lumpur I expect to meet the vice-president of the St. Patrick's Society and attend the St. Patrick's ball. I also expect to meet my Malaysian ministerial counterpart, attend an Irish business network function, co-hosted by the Irish Ambassador and Enterprise Ireland, and attend a function for...