Results 5,421-5,440 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (19 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Under the Waste Management Acts statutory responsibility for the making of regional waste management plans, which includes determinations in regard to the waste management infrastructure appropriate to each region, rests with the local authority (or local authorities) concerned and my Department has no function in this regard. The proposed development in question is by a private company and...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (19 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government clearly sets out the approach to waste management that will be reflected in national policy in the years ahead. It is firmly grounded in a continuing commitment to the waste hierarchy with a renewed drive towards the achievement of international best practice in the reduction, re-use and recycling of our waste. This, coupled with an increasing emphasis on...

Written Answers — Electoral Boundaries: Electoral Boundaries (19 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: On 30 January 2008, the Government approved the drafting of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 which will provide for the revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Constituency Commission which was presented to the Ceann Comhairle in October 2007. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of future Constituency...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 218 together. The 2007 Annual Planning Statistics are currently being compiled and it is expected that they will be available on my Department's website www.environ.ie by the end of the September 2008.

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Since 2006, my Department has included in its Annual Report, details of the Department's legislative activity during that year including Statutory Instruments, Bills and EU Directives, together with information on the application of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA) in each case. Copies of the 2006 and 2007 Annual Reports are available in the Oireachtas library. Following the Government...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. On 16 June 2008, I received the Reports of the two Boundary Committees I established last January to review local electoral areas. The Reports were published on 17 June 2008. I am accepting the recommendations contained in both Reports and will be making the necessary orders to give effect to them in due course. Copies of the Reports are...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Information on affordable housing activity up to the end of 2007 is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Information is also published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. My Department is collating data on output for the first quarter of 2008, which will be published in the near future. The timing of...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: I am satisfied that the bundling of sewerage schemes, combined with Design/Build/Operate procurement, has demonstrated positive results in terms of capital cost, operation and maintenance expenditure and long-term protection of the physical assets. This approach to procurement is only adopted where detailed assessment by the local authority concerned establishes it to be the best overall...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The Government's housing policy statement, Building Homes, Sustaining Communities, signalled the intention to introduce an incremental purchase scheme. The objective of the proposed scheme is to make it possible for households with incomes lower than those required for affordable housing to gain access to home ownership, through making new local authority housing available for purchase by...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: My Department recently published a Report on the Status of Habitats and Species in Ireland. This is the first comprehensive report on the status of those habitats, animals and plants in Ireland which have protected status under the Habitats Directive and relevant national law, and it includes details in regard to the freshwater pearl mussel. The Irish population of the freshwater pearl...

Lisbon Treaty: Statements. (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The beauty of the Charter of Fundamental Rights is that it can be read as a stand alone document. There has been criticism, perhaps valid, that much of the Lisbon treaty could not be read as a stand alone document. The reason for this is the proposed constitution, much of which could be read as a stand alone document, was thrown out. The Lisbon treaty harked back to previous treaties,...

Lisbon Treaty: Statements. (18 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: I join other party leaders in expressing disappointment at the result of the Lisbon treaty referendum. However, as an Irish person, I am very proud that this was the only country in the European Union to hold a referendum on this issue and it is regrettable that other countries did not do so. It points to the disconnect about which some of the previous speakers spoke between the European...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Ireland is required to protect habitats of European importance under the Habitats Directive 1992, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. I have no plans to seek a relaxation of the requirements of the Habitats Directive.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The European Commission has put forward proposals for the third phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme commencing in 2013. As part of these proposals criteria are being explored to identify industrial sectors at risk of carbon leakage. I am aware of the global competitiveness of the alumina sector. I believe that a comprehensive and global climate change agreement for the period...

Written Answers — Energy Ratings: Energy Ratings (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The Building Energy Rating (BER) Scheme was established under the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 666 of 2006). Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which operates under the aegis of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, has been designated as the Issuing Authority with responsibility for the management of the BER Scheme,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Insofar as section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is concerned my Department collects information on the: number of enforcement notices issued following warning letters, number of enforcement notices issued without previous warning letter, number of enforcement notices complied with, number of prosecutions initiated following failure to comply with an enforcement notice, number...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: Under section 19 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002, a local area plan must be consistent with the objectives of the development plan for the area. Section 10(2) of the Act sets out the mandatory objectives of a development plan which include, inter alia: the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: The following are the state bodies and boards under the aegis of my Department: Affordable Homes Partnership An Bord Pleanála An Chomhairle Leabharlanna Building Regulations Advisory Body Comhar Sustainable Development Council Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board Dublin Docklands Development Authority Environmental Protection Agency Fire Services Council The Heritage Council Housing...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (17 Jun 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 — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Jun 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 883 and 884 together. The Athea, Askeaton, Foynes, Glin and Shanagolden Sewerage Scheme and the Drumcollogher, Hospital, Pallasgreen and Bruff Sewerage Scheme are included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as schemes to start construction in 2009. My Department is awaiting submission of Limerick County Council's Preliminary...