Results 5,321-5,340 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Thermal performance and insulation standards for new dwellings under part L of the building regulations have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992 and are due for further upward adjustment by 2008. The national climate change strategy, NCCS, proposed that 1997 part L standards, operative since 1 July 1998, be significantly increased in two phases in mid-2002 and 2005....

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 125, 140, 149 and 187 together. I welcome the publication of this report which also sets out an action plan to deal further with unauthorised waste activity in Ireland. The Office of Environmental Enforcement, through its national enforcement network, will co-ordinate the implementation of this plan. The network has, for example, on 18 and 19 October 2005...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The European Commission has communicated with my Department in relation to potential costs associated with completion of a statutory declaration in respect of the first time registration of Community voters who wish to vote in European Parliament elections in Ireland. Detailed consideration of the matter is now at an advanced stage in my Department and a substantive reply will issue shortly...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 601 and 602 together. My Department has regard to the appropriate Department of Finance guidelines on engaging consultants. In addition, following the Quigley report, procurement guidelines and practices in the Department were reviewed in March 2005 and a set of consolidated guidelines has been circulated to all staff. Briefings on these have been...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 154, 170, 592, 657, 676 and 680 together. Following an open procurement process, my Department appointed consultants in July 2005 as part of a programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system. The brief is to undertake a security and risk assessment of all aspects of the system and to devise a programme...

Written Answers — Water Supply Contamination: Water Supply Contamination (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The Water Services Bill 2003, which is before the Dáil, provides for a comprehensive legislative code to underpin the delivery of water services. Enforcement provisions in the Bill are being reviewed at present and I will be prepared to facilitate on Committee Stage any reasonable provisions to strengthen current arrangements which may be considered necessary.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The Planning and Development Act 2000 was the culmination of a comprehensive review of planning legislation and apart from the strategic infrastructure Bill which is now being drafted, I do not have any current plans to review the general statutory provisions relating to the planning process.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments is empowered by relevant Oireachtas resolutions to carry out such preliminary investigations in private, as it thinks fit. My Department has co-operated with all requests by the tribunal to make files available. However, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of material provided in this way to the tribunal, on a...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied that current planning processes facilitate to the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Wind is a primary source of renewable energy in Ireland. To assist local authorities and An Bord Pleanála in planning for wind energy and in processing applications for facilities for wind farms, I intend to publish final revised guidelines to planning authorities on wind energy...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The national spatial strategy, NSS, is a 20-year strategic planning framework published in 2002 aimed at achieving more balanced regional development. Substantial progress has by now been made at national level with the strategy, which is having an increasing influence on policies and programmes across a number of Departments and agencies such as the Department of Finance, Department of...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The basic regulations governing the energy efficiency of boilers in Ireland are the European Communities (Efficiency Requirements for New Hot Water Boilers Fired with Liquid or Gaseous Fuels) Regulations 1994 which require that domestic boilers installed on or after 1 August 1994 meet minimum efficiency requirements laid down by EU Council Directive 92/42/EC of 21 May 1992. Encouraging the...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 525 and 531 of 11 October 2005. No application for consent under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 2004 was received or sought in my Department in relation to the development in question.

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: In January 2001, the UK Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate issued British Nuclear Fuels with a specification to formalise a programme to reduce the level of highly active liquid waste stored at Sellafield to a buffer stock limit of 200 m3 by 2015. This specification, which is a legal requirement, required that the maximum permitted holding of this liquid waste...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 184 together. Extensive investigations have already been undertaken by Wicklow County Council and other enforcement agencies in relation to the instances of illegal dumping that have come to light in County Wicklow in recent years. As a result both civil and criminal actions have been pursued, are under way or are pending. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: In areas for which my Department has responsibility Ireland has not had to deal to date with any costs arising from cases as referred to in the question. Fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in relation to any case taken against Ireland. In the period 1995 to 2005, there have been nine judgments against Ireland in areas for which my Department has responsibility. The...

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The 11th conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the first meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol will take place in Montreal from 28 November to 9 December. I plan to attend the conference and to lead the Irish delegation during the high level segment. My Department, together with other Departments with sectoral responsibility for...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 157, 171, 197, 622, 655 and 682 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 409 of 12 October 2005. The Government's national climate change strategy, published in November 2000, provides a comprehensive framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the most efficient and equitable manner and for ensuring that Ireland meets its commitments under...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 202, 204, 598 and 599 together. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, producers, that is, manufacturers and importers, of farm plastics, silage bale wrap and sheeting, are required to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have placed on the market or alternatively to contribute to and participate in compliance schemes...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 621 together. The compilation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority in accordance with electoral law and includes the carrying out of house to house inquiries, the delivery of registration forms and running local awareness campaigns. It is the duty of registration authorities to ensure as far as...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The Drigg facility, which is located quite near the Sellafield plant, is a low level waste disposal facility and is run by British Nuclear Fuels Limited, BNFL. The overall responsibility for the Drigg site, as well as a number of other sites including Sellafield, has been assumed by the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as of last April. The Environment Agency regulates all disposal...