Results 4,721-4,740 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. In working to compile the Register for 2007/8, local authorities undertook and completed, with assistance from my Department, the most extensive...

Written Answers — European and Local Elections: European and Local Elections (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The timing of European Parliament elections is determined by the EU Council of Ministers by reference to the period corresponding to the first direct elections in 1979. Accordingly, they are held within a specified four-day period in June every five years subsequent to 1979. The Council announced in June 2008 that the 2009 European Parliament elections will take place between 4 and 7 June...

Written Answers — European and Local Elections: European and Local Elections (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Under section 13(1) of the Local Government Act 2001, a person is disqualified from being elected or co-opted to, or from being a member of, a local authority if he or she is a member of the European Parliament. Under section 2(4) of that Act, reference to being disqualified from election or co-option includes disqualification from nomination for election or co-option.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled with regard to my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The estimated cost of incremental pay increases in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agency or body concerned and my Department is not involved in their day-to-day operational activities.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The estimated annual costs of the pay increases in question are as follows: 2.5% from September 2008: €1,913,715 3.5% from September 2009: €2,756,073 The estimated annual costs of the pay increases concerned in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned as my Department is not involved in their day-to-day operational activities.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: First, I must correct the Deputy in respect of his estimate of the reduction in the local government fund for 2009. Some €1,580 million is available to the local government fund in 2009, a reduction of 1.4% when compared to the total of €1,603 million expected in 2008. The Deputy may have been referring to the general purpose grants for which I will now provide the figures. The total...

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: One cannot have it every way.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: One cannot oppose a measure and then direct councillors, as I understand Fine Gael has done, not to co-operate in regard to the striking of a rate.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Let us try to interpret it benignly. Fine Gael is trying to ensure there is no major rate increases for businesses. I agree with the Deputy on that point.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: However, if Fine Gael is trying to incite councillors not to co-operate in the striking of a rate, I would regard that as the height of irresponsibility.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I read about the matter in a newspaper.

Local Authority Funding. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: As the Deputy will be aware, I am trying to broaden the revenue base of local authorities. We are commencing the process this year with the introduction of the €200 levy on second properties, some of which are holiday homes. It is hoped this will net €40 million, although the final amount could be higher. This is an innovation which I hope will start the process of broadening the...

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 19, 22, 29, 38 and 59 together. Ireland's Environment 2008, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's fourth state of the environment report, was launched by me on 8 October 2008. It concludes that the quality of Ireland's environment is relatively good overall, although it is subject to increasing pressures as a result of the rapid expansion of our...

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: I launched the report.

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Deputy Tuffy is selective in quoting the comments of the director of the EPA at the launch because she went out of her way to thank me for the additional resources and staffing made available to the EPA. In regard to the Deputy's question of what can be done now, I have provided for record increases in the EPA's resources and staff complement at a time of major budgetary constraints. I did...

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: In terms of the water framework directive, which is very important, a total of eight river basin districts, RBDs, have been identified on the island. Three of these are international RBDs in that cross-Border waters are shared with Northern Ireland, four are wholly within the State and one is wholly within Northern Ireland. The environmental objectives of the directive are to be achieved...

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy wishes to talk about climate change but her record on this is appalling. It is oppositional.

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Everything I have tried to do on climate change has been opposed. There is such a thing as constructive opposition. When I was in opposition, if the Government did something good on climate change, my party supported it. On a small initiative, such as the introduction of energy efficient light bulbs, Deputy Tuffy was first out of the traps——

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: She is on the record as saying——

Environmental Policy. (23 Oct 2008)

John Gormley: Perhaps she is trying to rewrite history but RTE has coverage of what she said when she ran on to the plinth——