Results 5,181-5,200 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 66, 70 and 88 together. There is a certain amount of confusion regarding the impact that restrictions on turf-cutting are having or will have. Turf cutting is restricted on a very small number of Ireland's bogs. Of the 1,500 to 1,600 raised bogs in Ireland, only 139 are designated as special areas of conservation, SACs, or natural heritage areas, NHAs,...
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: There is a misapprehension about this. The hopper is permitted but the sausage machine is causing the difficulty.
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I am not out of touch. I am outlining the current position. We are not dealing with hoppers.
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The Deputy wants answers and clarity and I am providing that. I take the Deputy's point.
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: That is what we are dealing with, not hoppers. Last night, the Deputy's colleague correctly stated people voted "No" in the recent referendum because they were resentful about their right to cut turf being affected and a campaign of misinformation was pursued on this matter.
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: We need to clarify this. All of us have a duty as elected representatives to tell people the truth regarding this matter. People say they cannot use the traditional hopper for turf cutting, which is not the case. Deputy Naughten asked what my Department has done. Only last week we provided exemptions for microrenewables in order that people in the affected areas can erect wind turbines and...
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I can do that but my officials are well aware of that, particularly those on the ground. They try to engage the public and I have spoken to rangers. I met the ranger in Galway recently who informed me about the campaign of misinformation on this matter. Deputy Naughten contacted my Department regarding the scientific information. My officials indicated they are compiling it and they will...
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: This issue of restricting turf cutting must be put in perspective, as it involves 32 bogs this year. I recently listened to "Sunday Miscellany" and a romantic story about the end of the turf cutter.
- Special Areas of Conservation. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: Turf cutting can continue on our blanket bogs and that message needs to be disseminated.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The State, acting through the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in a co-ordinating role, took over custody of the former Irish Ispat site from the liquidator in June 2003. This position is an exceptional one in that the Department has been directed by a specific Government decision to have responsibility for the care and maintenance of this specific site and this...
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The Deputy is right in pointing out that I met the residents. I made all the information available very rapidly. If the Deputy assesses the situation, he will find that, without disparaging previous Ministers, I did more about this matter in a very short time than previous Administrations. The reports that have been made available are in the Library, as the Deputy knows. People made much...
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The Deputy appears to be contradicting himself becauseââ
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: ââ-when he spoke there he asked me to contact the EPA. He has now revealed, if I understand him correctly, that the EPA does not have this information.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The Deputy has just said he does not have the information, yet he is asking me to contact the EPA. I have gone through a number of the documents dating back to 1995. My preliminary assessment at this stage is that a previous Government, which comprised Fine Gael and the Labour Party, did not cover itself in glory as regards this site.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I know the Deputy does not want to hear this.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: I know he does not want to hear it, but I am just giving him the truth. As regards the White Young Green study carried out in 2005, an extensive, intrusive site investigation was undertaken at the time, which indicated no evidence of immediate threat to human health or the environment, and they are best suited in determining the best way forward in securing the site from an environmental and...
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: To suggest that I can give a clean bill of health to every single site in the country is ridiculous.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: In the case of Haulbowline, I was able to get the analysis. I will not lead people up the garden path.
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: The environmental challenge presented by the former steelworks on Haulbowline did not manifest overnight. It is the legacy of an industrial past. For many years the steelworks were a significant employer in the Cork area and an important part of the local economy. The site has the potential once again to contribute to the economic and indeed social life of the area. First, however, the...
- Waste Management. (9 Jul 2008)
John Gormley: That is precisely what we are doing. That is what the Government is about. We are producing a strategy for a way forward, a plan. That is what the White Young Green analysis is about, namely, to get on the site and produce the data, which will be peer reviewed. I hope the residents will be happy with the analysis that has been carried out. I have said previously that I am about openness...