Results 5,741-5,760 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Local Authority Audits: Local Authority Audits (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: A system of local authority service indicators was developed and introduced as part of the local government modernisation programme. These service indicators addressed such matters as provision of segregated waste collection, recycling, litter pollution, environmental complaints and enforcement, and compliance with drinking water standards. Revised service indicators have come into effect in...

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Development plans, prepared by local authorities under Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000, provide the over-arching strategic framework for development within their areas, ensuring that all development is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms. As such, the development plan must offer clear guidance on sustainable development policies and objectives, both...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with...

Written Answers — Environmental Protection Controls: Environmental Protection Controls (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 624 together. The Programme for Government commits to initiate a study of all legislation relating to environmental fines as part of the review of the Environmental Protection Agency. I am at present considering how best to give effect to these undertakings.

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The commitment in the Programme for Government to establish community-based "litter watch" systems was given in the context of protecting Ireland's scenic amenities and combating fly-tipping. The Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (PURE) Project was a pilot project launched on 1 September 2006 to combat the escalating problem of fly-tipping and small scale illegal dumping in the...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Agency's report on Air Quality in Ireland 2006 in October 2007 contains details of the monitoring and assessment of national air quality, and incorporates data from all air quality monitoring stations operated by the EPA. Monitoring in 2006 showed that air quality in Ireland is good and complied with the...

Written Answers — Water and Air Quality: Water and Air Quality (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has a statutory duty under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 to make information available on ambient concentrations of all pollutants under the scope of the Regulations. The EPA website provides real-time, publicly accessible, data from a number of monitoring stations nationally...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 974 on 2 April 2008. My Department is working on the preparation of new regulations that will address recent developments in the case law of the European Court of Justice, to ensure that the transposition of the Birds and Habitats Directives is complete and fully up to date. I have also increased the allocation to the Biodiversity Fund from €500,000 in...

Written Answers — Heritage Sites: Heritage Sites (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: I recently approved a detailed programme of work in my Department towards the inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List of those Irish heritage sites deemed to be of "Outstanding Universal Value". In this context, I attach a high priority to the nomination of Clonmacnoise heritage site for inscription on the List. At the invitation of my Department, Dr. Jukka Jokilehto, an...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a National landscape Strategy is aimed primarily at the development and implementation of policies on landscape protection, management and planning. It builds on Ireland's ratification of the European Landscape Convention in March 2002. A steering group of key representatives, supported by a wider consultative panel, has been...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department has completed a detailed review of the taking in charge procedures for residential developments provided under section 180, Part XI, of the Planning and Development Act 2000. On foot of this review, new policy guidance issued to planning authorities in February 2008 on the taking in charge of estates in the form of circular letter PD 1/08 which is available on my Department's...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: My Department is undertaking a range of measures to encourage and facilitate the development and enhancement of sustainable cities and towns. Building active and successful communities through quality housing is at the core of the housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities which sets out a vision to guide the transformation of the Irish housing sector over the next ten...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Implementation of the National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste involves a range of measures including waste prevention, home composting, segregated collection of biodegradable waste for the generation of compost, and the introduction of Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities as one of a range of technologies to treat residual waste. To assist in ensuring that our waste management...

Written Answers — Community Wardens: Community Wardens (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The position remains as set out in the reply to Question No. 187 of 27 February 2008.

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: As the first stage in a major review of archaeological policy and practice in Ireland, my Department held a number of seminars in the latter half of 2007 to get the initial views of stakeholders on the scope of such a review. These seminars were attended by stakeholders from all areas working in, or with an interest in, archaeological heritage, including academic interests, commercial...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Ireland has long been concerned about the threat posed by the nuclear site at Sellafield. Our concerns in relation to the site have been consistently articulated to the UK Government at political, diplomatic and official levels. In 2001, in response to the imminent commissioning of the MOX plant at the site, Ireland instituted legal proceedings against the UK under the United Nations...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: Details of the costs incurred to date in relation to decentralisation by my Department are set out in the following table. These cover training, travel and subsistence, and costs (IT facilities and office administration) associated with the establishment of an advance office in Wexford in June 2007. The Local Government Computer Services Board and the National Building Agency who are under...

Management Companies (Housing Developments): Motion (8 May 2008)

John Gormley: The Government is determined to ensure that the public concerns relating to multi-unit developments and property management companies are urgently addressed. This issue is broad and touches on a wide range of legislative and policy areas and legal documentation, leases and other legal agreements between buyers, sellers and management companies, as well as consumer protection and company law...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion. (7 May 2008)

John Gormley: That is a blatant lie.

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion. (7 May 2008)

John Gormley: I will correct the comment. Deputy Gilmore's statement was an untruth.