Results 6,021-6,040 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I will put this on the record because this was discussed on Committee Stage in the Dáil. The Bill is drafted on the basis that rates under the CO2-based system will apply to tax discs taken out for licence periods commencing on or after the introduction of the new CO2-based system on 1 July 2008. This applies to all new cars, whether they are registered after July 2008 or between January...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I can give the Senator an example. A motor tax exemption clause was extended in April 2001 to include mountain and cave rescue vehicles. The tax exemption did not come into effect until the motor tax for any such vehicle was due for renewal. A precedent has been set. I am operating on precedent. What the Senator has suggested would be unprecedented.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: At local motor tax offices there will be a change in the arrangements for the processing of motor tax applications. The national vehicle and driver file, referred to as the NVDF, which is managed centrally by the vehicle registration unit in Shannon, will be adjusted to provide for the application of CO2-based rates. The changes associated with the introduction of CO2-based motor tax...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: Yes, precisely.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: The surcharge is to cover the higher administrative costs involved. The current surcharge levels are lower than those permitted under motor tax law. It was slightly reduced in 2001. My Department will continue to keep the level of surcharge under review in light of the expansion of the on-line system to which the Senator referred.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: It is not possible. I was quite clear in the Dáil and the Seanad that we are talking about revenue raising.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: Of course there is a conflict. The Senator's colleagues in the Dáil and the Seanad are, in many cases, speaking out of both sides of their mouths. They are referring to the need to fund local government, but accusing me of being anti-family because we are taxing cars and accusing me of being anti-rural. The system for funding local government that I inherited is, by any standard, novel....

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I thank the Members for giving me the opportunity to speak here tonight on a policy issue and initiative of importance to all Members of the Oireachtas and all members of our society. The bedrock of our planning system is to aim for "proper planning and sustainable development". There is copious reference to this phrase throughout the planning legislation and it is the touchstone for the...

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: We have no parks policy in this country.

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I am considering it.

Seanad: School Transport (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: As Senators will be aware, I will speak on a number of issues which do not come within my brief. I am, therefore, not in a position to respond or comment on questions they may ask. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the position regarding an increase in the school transport charges. Before I address the issue of charges, I will give...

Seanad: Schools Amalgamation (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which he brought up in a more general vein on 4 March last. The Minister of State, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, deputised for the Minister for Education and Science on that day and subsequently informed her of the views enunciated by Senator Phelan in this matter. The Minister of State outlined the background in detail of proposals to...

Seanad: Schools Amalgamation (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: It is unfortunate and regrettable that I am not in a position to comment. I am sure the comments made by Senator John Paul Phelan are valid, and he is correct in pointing out there are no officials from the relevant Department here — although there are officials here — which is not satisfactory. They could have had an opportunity to convey the Senator's sentiments. I hope the Acting...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I wish to emphasise the Government's commitment to providing a high-quality service to all people with disabilities. This commitment is illustrated by the substantial investment we have been making in disability services in recent years. The national disability strategy, which was launched in September 2004, reinforces equal participation in society of people with disabilities and provides...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I will be back with the Seanad again.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: I thank all the Senators who contributed to this debate. As in the other House, the contributions were wide-ranging and this is appropriate having regard to the far-reaching functions of all local authorities and the fact the Bill introduces fundamental change to the basis on which motor tax will be charged in the future. Increasing any tax is not a popular thing to do and the decision to...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2008: Second Stage (19 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: The purpose of the Bill is twofold: first, to provide a permanent legislative basis for the motor tax increases which were approved by Dáil Éireann by way of Financial Resolution on budget day, 5 December 2007, and second, to give statutory effect to the new carbon dioxide-based motor tax system which I announced in my carbon budget of 6 December 2007. The Bill contains seven sections and...

Written Answers — Hunting Licences: Hunting Licences (13 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: Section 26(2) of the Wildlife Act, 1976 provides that I, as Minister, may grant to the master or other person having charge for the time being of a pack of beagles or harriers a licence to hunt hares outside the open season for hares which runs from 26 September to 28 February. The Irish Masters of Foot Beagles applied to my Department in December, 2007 for a licence to hunt hares with a...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (13 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: My statutory responsibilities relating to the national monument at Rath Lugh, Lismullin, County Meath are those provided for under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004. On 28 September 2007 I placed a temporary preservation order on the national monument at Rath Lugh, which is located on an esker in the townland of Lismullin, Co. Meath, under Section 4 of the National Monuments...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (13 Mar 2008)

John Gormley: Automated reverse vending machines can be a feature of deposit and refund schemes aimed at supporting recovery rates for certain types of packaging waste. Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste (the Packaging Directive) is based on the concept of producer responsibility, which effectively requires producers to contribute to the waste...