Results 5,341-5,360 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

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

Dick Roche: A review of security in relation to sensitive nuclear sites, including Sellafield, was undertaken by the United Kingdom authorities in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks. This review was welcomed by the Irish Government and considered necessary given the threat posed by a malicious attack at Sellafield. As a result of this review, current UK policy is based on restricting access to...

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

Dick Roche: The Government initiated international legal proceedings against the UK under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, in relation to the Sellafield MOX plant. The current position in relation to the litigation by Ireland under UNCLOS is that the arbitration remains suspended pending resolution of jurisdictional issues in the dispute, which were raised by the European...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: As yet, there is no formal proposal for the establishment of a European international crisis management force. However I am aware of newspaper reports in January 2005 that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner had suggested the possibility of establishing a crisis management corps to deal with disasters such as the Asian tsunami. I also understand that there are proposals for the establishment of...

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

Dick Roche: The Government has recently approved the establishment of an independent Irish heritage trust as an important extension to the existing State measures in support of the nation's built heritage. The trust will have a mandate to acquire important heritage buildings on a case-by-case basis where there is imminent risk to their heritage value and to provide for public access. The Irish heritage...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 643 together. Under section 101 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 local authorities may provide such car parks as they consider desirable in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion. The provision of facilities in such car parks is entirely a matter for individual local authorities. The Minister for Transport is responsible for the Road Traffic Acts...

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

Dick Roche: Ireland's waste management policy is grounded on the internationally accepted waste management hierarchy of prevention, re-use, recycling, and energy recovery, with environmentally secure disposal of any residual waste. This hierarchy has informed the waste policy of countries such as the Netherlands and Germany which are widely considered to be among the most environmentally advanced in...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The EU directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE, required each member state to introduce regulations providing for a producer funded take-back scheme for consumers of end-of-life equipment from 13 August 2005. While the funding of such take-back schemes is a producer responsibility, the directive allows producers, for a transitional period of eight years — ten years for...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Ireland has a strong track record in meeting targets for the recovery of packaging waste. Under Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, Ireland was required to achieve a 25% recovery rate of packaging waste by 1 July 2001, increasing to a 50% recovery rate by 31 December 2005, with a minimum of 25% to be achieved by recycling, including a minimum 15% recycling rate for each type...

Written Answers — Public-Private Partnerships: Public-Private Partnerships (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: In accordance with Department of Finance public-private partnership, PPP, guidelines, there are two approval points for PPP projects — approval to proceed to procurement and appoint clients advisers following completion of a PPP assessment and approval to go to construction following the procurement process and tender evaluation. There is of necessity a lead-in period from these approval...

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

Dick Roche: A formal response by Ireland to the judgment of the European Court of Justice issued to the European Commission on 21 October 2005 detailing the measures now being taken in terms of the structures, legislation and policy approach to ensure the implementation of the provisions of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991,...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (25 Oct 2005)

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 of capital funding line was...

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

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 181 together. At this relatively early stage in the development of the international carbon market, the average price at which carbon credits will settle in the longer term is not clear. In the report made available by my Department on 11 October, a possible average price of €15 per allowance purchased in the EU emissions trading scheme is possible...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The contract signed by the officer concerned does not require the individual to decentralise to Waterford.

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

Dick Roche: In May 2005, I issued a policy direction to local authorities and the EPA under section 60(2) of the Waste Management Act 1996 in regard to the further action to be taken against illegal waste activity and to clarify, in the context of waste infrastructure provision, the appropriate interpretation of the proximity principle in regard to the inter-regional movement of waste. In performing...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: My Department has received over 1,800 requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 since its introduction in April 1998. There have been 126 requests for internal review since 1998. The original decision was upheld in 83 of these cases. A further 40 were amended or overturned. The balance were withdrawn or are awaiting decision. Over the last eight years, 59 cases have been appealed to...

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

Dick Roche: The latest available inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, compiled annually by the Environmental Protection Agency, shows that emissions for the entire transport sector for 2003 were 11.85 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, an increase of 130% since 1990. The inventory shows that emissions of CO2 from road transport increased by 135% between 1990 and 2003. Emissions of CO2 from private cars are...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: I am satisfied that the enforcement powers and penalties available to local authorities under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 are adequate to tackle the problem of litter pollution. The 2003 Act strengthened litter legislation generally and substantially increased the financial penalties for litter offences. Since the introduction of the 1997 Act, local authority performance on...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: Part C, Site Preparation and Moisture Resistance, of the building regulations and the related technical guidance document, TGD C, require that new houses in high radon areas commencing on or after 1 July 1998 incorporate the following radon prevention measures in the foundations: radon proof membrane; and a standby radon sump which can be activated if the radon membrane is not fully effective...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The process under which integrated pollution prevention and control licences should be determined has been twice considered in detail by the Oireachtas in the context of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. Both enactments confirmed the role of an expert, management body, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in operating integrated...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Oct 2005)

Dick Roche: The ninth progress report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, concerning private property, NESC report No. 112, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy and the Goodbody Economic Consultants' report, Rationale for and Impact of a Use it or Lose it Scheme, contain analysis and-or recommendations on issues pertinent to the question and my Department is giving careful...