Results 4,481-4,500 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: An effective basis for addressing our waste management responsibilities has been put in place through my Department's policy statements Changing Our Ways, 1998, Delivering Change, 2002, and Taking Stock and Moving Forward, 2004; through statutory waste management plans, largely prepared on a regional basis; and through the comprehensive regulatory framework now in place for waste. The...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 205 and 219 together. I have sought legal advice from the Attorney General about the matters raised in the questions. Until I receive this advice and have determined on an appropriate course of action, I do not propose to comment further.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: An effective basis for addressing our waste management responsibilities has been put in place through my Department's policy statements Changing Our Ways, 1998, Delivering Change, 2002, and Taking Stock and Moving Forward 2004; through statutory waste management plans, largely prepared on a regional basis; and the comprehensive regulatory framework now in place on waste. The Government is...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I was pleased to note that Ireland is ranked at tenth place overall in the Pilot 2006 Environmental Index which is published by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University. This reflects the generally high quality of our environment and the effectiveness of public and private sector actions on the environment. The index employs 16 indicators and, as with any index with...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: It should be stressed that the Competition Authority did not note any significant anomalies in the amounts charged by private waste collectors throughout the country. However, it did suggest that a competitive tendering process might offer better options to customers by increasing competition in the market. As I have already indicated publicly, I am giving consideration to how the waste...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Question No. 7 of 29 November 2005. In terms of the purchase of carbon allowances by the State, the Kyoto Protocol commitment period does not commence until 2008 and the purchase of allowances in respect of greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 and 2007 does not arise. The purchase of allowances by Irish installations participating in the EU emissions trading scheme depends...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed in this country. There are nine directives in my Department's area of responsibility which are outstanding for transposition. Details of these directives are set out as follows.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 introduced requirements for development of air quality management plans by local authorities, in co-operation with the Environmental Protection Agency. Where the indicative level for any pollutant is exceeded, the 2002 regulations require the local authority concerned, following notification by the agency, to develop a long-term air quality...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Government policy on waste management is firmly rooted in the waste hierarchy, an integrated waste management approach that places greatest emphasis on waste prevention, followed by minimisation, reuse, recycling, waste to energy and finally environmentally sustainable disposal of residual waste. National waste statistics in respect of all waste streams are published on an annual basis by the...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 627 and 628 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 539 and 556 of 31 January 2006.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, and the Office of Public Works to ensure the Government's decentralisation programme is implemented efficiently and effectively. The programme involves the relocation of my Department's operations to four locations in the south east, Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny. In...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has been in discussion with the newsprint industry with a view to developing a producer responsibility initiative, PRI, for the recovery and recycling of newspapers and magazines. A joint industry taskforce, comprising the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland, RNAI, Irish Retail Newsagents Association, IRNA, Newspread and Eason Wholesale Limited, and co-ordinated by...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand that meetings took place between officials of my Department and the company in question in summer 2003 and that my predecessor, accompanied by officials, met representatives of the company early in 2004. At no point have I as Minister met the company. My Department and I hold regular consultations with stakeholders in the context of the ongoing implementation of Government policy...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is undertaking a wide range of initiatives to ensure that the unprecedented rate of population growth and housing development being experienced in Ireland is planned for in a manner that will over the longer term support more balanced regional development and the creation of sustainable urban areas and communities. Many of these initiatives have the full support of the NESC,...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The compilation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority in accordance with electoral law and it is the duty of registration authorities to ensure as far as possible the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. Local authorities fund their general expenditure, including in regard to the register, from a variety of sources, including...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The provision of a fire service is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and my Department has no direct role in this matter. Each local authority has a major emergency plan for dealing with major incidents and such plans take account of particular potentially hazardous facilities within the functional area concerned. Major emergency plans are reviewed on a regular basis and...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The litter action plan, the national anti-litter strategy, adopts a multi-sectoral approach — with broadly based local partnerships with local authorities taking the lead role — as the basis for combating litter. Key actions continuing or implemented under the litter action plan are as follows: developing and implementing the national litter pollution monitoring system and publicising...

Written Answers — Local Authority Property: Local Authority Property (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: In regard to the purchase and disposal of land, local authorities operate within the framework of relevant legislative provisions, notably those of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Local Government Act 2001. In addition, the extensive legislative and administrative procedures set out in EU public procurement directives and related guidelines govern the activities of local...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The Achill Sound sewerage scheme has been approved for construction under my Department's water services investment programme 2005-2007. In common with all projects funded under the programme, this scheme is subject to water services pricing policy. Local authorities must ensure that the design and scale of individual schemes takes account of the implications of the pricing policy framework....

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198, 216 and 621 together. Record levels of funding have been provided for new and upgraded water and waste water infrastructure under the current national development plan. The additional capacity this has produced has made a direct and substantial contribution to strengthening economic performance by facilitating industrial and residential development and by...