Results 5,581-5,600 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The terms of reference of the Commission on Taxation require it to "investigate fiscal measures to protect and enhance the environment including the introduction of a carbon tax". They also provide that "as the introduction of a carbon tax requires a completely new tax charge and structure, the commission is asked to commence work in this area immediately". These terms of reference directly...

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I did not say that.

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy will be aware that I speak to the Minister for Finance regularly.

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: This is the most important point. This is now the preserve of the Commission on Taxation. My Department has been in contact with the chair of the Commission on Taxation and has put forward our views in a coherent way. Under the terms of reference its full report must be made by 31 September 2009. It is in a position to issue interim reports. We have to get this right. We must make sure...

Tax Code. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: As I understand it, discussions have taken place on the possibility of an interim report and it is up to the chair of the Commission on Taxation to determine whether that is possible. He has expressed the view that all elements must be integrated and that one cannot consider one issue in isolation. He is considering the matter. However, the Deputy must understand that when we appoint...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Responsibility for the elaboration of standards and for the certification of products rests with the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI. When the issue of pyrite arose, and following an intervention by my Department, the NSAI reconvened its aggregates panel to give urgent consideration to the publication of additional guidance on appropriate protocols for testing under-floor...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Since 1 March last I have commenced new enforcement powers under the Building Control Act 2007. In summary, these powers will significantly increase the maximum penalties for breaches of the national building regulations. For example, the old fine of IR£10,000 has been increased to €50,000 on conviction or indictment. We will introduce the option for authorities to bring summary...

Building Regulations. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: It is clear that what has occurred here is not acceptable. The builders in question behaved in a way that is not acceptable. We must ensure that practice does not happen again, but ultimately these are matters for the individuals and the builders in question. That is the position. As a Government, we must regulate the activities of these individuals to ensure this matter will not arise...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 121, 125 and 130 together. My Department has prepared a screening regulatory impact analysis on the options for transposing the EU environmental liability directive. This document is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. The views of interested parties were sought on it, and 29 responses were received from a varied group of respondents....

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: Speaking about fiddly little moves, I noticed the Deputy had an interesting press release yesterday on the issue of clothes lines. The directive will be transposed by a combination of primary and secondary legislation. The timescale is dependent on the drafting and passage of the legislation, but I intend it will be completed before the end of 2008. As I said earlier, we will see what the...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Deputy seems to have misunderstood the situation relating to the directive. She gave an example of an oil spill from a ship. The environmental liability directive, ELD, precludes its application to environmental damage or to an imminent threat of such damage arising from an incident in respect of which liability or compensation falls within the scope of a number of conventions which are...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The delay in the transposition has been due to the complexities of the directive and its interface with existing national environmental legislation. As the Deputy may know, 15 other member states, including the United Kingdom, are in a similar position to Ireland in not having transposed the ELD. I intend to do so and have spoken to the Commissioner on the issue. I have assured the...

Legislative Programme. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: So far no steps have been taken to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice. Next week, I will meet the Commissioner for the Environment, Stavros Dimas, in Luxembourg. We have met frequently to discuss this issue. On taking office I made it clear that my first priority was to meet the Commissioner to assure him that this Minister puts the transposition of EU directives at the top of...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 108, 119, 140 and 456 together. Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the legal requirements for planning authorities for the taking in charge of residential estates where certain conditions have been met. Updated policy guidance on this matter in the form of circular letter PD 1/08 was issued to all planning authorities by my...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: The developer of a residential estate is statutorily required to complete the development in accordance with the terms of the planning permission. A development which has not been completed in accordance with the planning permission is an unauthorised development. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities have substantial enforcement powers. A planning authority may...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: In reply to Deputy Ciarán's Lynch's question, no local authority has reported but the deadline is the end of June. As I stated in my previous reply, I am of the view that they have the necessary resources. The Department is issuing circular letters to the local authorities to say that this is important work which must be done. It is not just a question of allowing them to issue...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

John Gormley: New service indicators are now in place. Planning authorities will be asked each year to provide the following information in respect of the previous year — the number of residential estates for which the planning permission has expired in respect of which formal written requests for taking in charge were made either by residents or developers; the number of estates taken in charge in the...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 May 2008)

John Gormley: The provision of childcare facilities is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister of State with responsibility for children. My Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Childcare Facilities in June 2001, which provide a framework to guide all local authorities in the preparation of development plans and in assessing applications for planning permission; assist...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (22 May 2008)

John Gormley: Lagarosiphon major, also known as the curly-leaved pondweed, is a native of southern Africa. It has been widely sold for many years as an oxygenating plant for garden ponds and aquaria. However, it is viewed as a major threat to Irish lakes and their associated wildlife since it became established in Lough Corrib in 2005. A Lagarosiphon Task Force has been established to address the spread...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (22 May 2008)

John Gormley: Ministerial cars are driven by members of An Garda Síochána. Such vehicles are exempt from tolls under section 62 of the Roads Act 1993. Accordingly, no cost arises to the Exchequer.