Results 6,101-6,120 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (5 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: That is the hope.
- Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (5 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue and I thank my Green Party colleagues for tabling the motion. There is a fair degree of consensus in the House on this issue, which is welcome. I have listened with interest to the contributions of Senators. It is especially timely that the Seanad should consider this matter now and provide its input as we embark on a programme of...
- Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (5 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: I will address some of the other issues raised by the Senator. Part of the idea is that the commission would deal with all matters relating to elections. I hope we can learn lessons from Northern Ireland and other countries. It should be possible to get an accurate electoral register. The commission can do this job. As a serving Deputy I am aware there is an inconsistency now between the...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Pension cover for spouses and children was first introduced for certain male employees of local authorities in 1969. This was extended to all employees, male and female, in 1984. The pension benefits and contributions payable under the local authority spouses and children's pension schemes are the same for male and female employees.
- Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538, 573 to 577, inclusive, 579, 581 and 582 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 16 of 27 February, 2008 in relation to standards for rental accommodation, obligations of landlords in that regard, enforcement of the standards regulations, penalties for offences in relation to the regulations and review of the regulations which is now at an advanced...
- Written Answers — Boundary Reviews: Boundary Reviews (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Section 24 of the Local Government Act 1994 specifies that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may by order, subject to Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, divide a local authority area into local electoral areas. Under Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, the Minister is required, before deciding whether to make an order under section 24 of the 1994 Act...
- Written Answers — Boundary Reviews: Boundary Reviews (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 553 together. The Constituency Commission presented its report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies on 23 October 2007. Work is now underway on the drafting of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 which will, inter alia, provide for revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in accordance with the Commission's report. The Bill...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together. The development plans of the relevant local authorities provide the primary land use protection policies for the Liffey Valley. In addition, parts of the Valley are already covered by special designations. The area between Chapelizod and Lucan is protected by a Special Area Amenity Order, and part of the valley is designated as a...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: My Department is currently examining options to strengthen legislation on noise pollution, with a view to meeting the Programme for Government commitment as a matter of priority. I intend to consult with key stakeholders, including local authorities, and will announce my preferred approach as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Record levels of case intake over successive years 2004 â 2006 and the assumption of significant new functions under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 challenged An Bord Pleanála's ability to achieve its statutory objective. According to the Board's annual report for 2006, the 18-week statutory objective was met in 52% of all cases, compared to 78% in 2005....
- Written Answers — Election Expenses: Election Expenses (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for a range of electoral matters including the functions currently exercised by the Standards in Public Office Commission relating to election spending; the Electoral Commission will also examine the issue of financing of the political system. In this regard, a...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: The Ennis Town Water Supply Augmentation Scheme is approved for construction under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. In 2005, my Department approved Clare County Council's proposals to lay the pipework for the scheme in conjunction with the Ennis Road By-Pass and progress thereafter is a matter for the Council.
- Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Responsibility for the management and operation of public water supplies rests with the local authorities, and my Department does not hold comprehensive data on operational matters, including boil notices, in relation to individual supplies. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for monitoring and reporting on drinking water supplies. Under the European Communities (Drinking...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: In accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive, local authorities are required to recover the cost of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services, by means of a meter based volumetric charge to ensure water charging of users according to actual consumption. The only exemption from water charges provided for in Irish legislation, and constituting established...
- Written Answers — : (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Grant aid of up to â¬2,031.58 is available from county councils under the Rural Water Programme for the provision or necessary improvement of an individual water supply to a house that does not have access to either a public or group water scheme supply. The eligibility of individual proposals for grant purposes is a matter for the relevant local authority.
- Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: My Department administers a Civic Structures Conservation scheme of grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally. The deadline for completed applications was 15 February, 2008. Tynagh Development Society (Reference number CS 77 08) submitted an application for conservation...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Details of major water supply schemes to be advanced and funded in the coming years are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library. In addition, a significant range of drinking water supply improvements are being implemented under the Rural Water Programme which is also funded by the Department. Responsibility for the...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: The Belmullet and Foxford Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 to start construction in 2009. My Department approved Mayo County Council's Preliminary Reports for the scheme in February 2007. The Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare Tender Documents for the Waste water Treatment Plants was received in my...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: Creagh is part of the Roscommon Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme which is approved for construction under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. The waste water treatment plants for the locations served by the scheme are mainly being procured through design, build and operate contracts. Roscommon County Council's contract documents for a number of the plants,...
- Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (4 Mar 2008)
John Gormley: The amount of motor tax, including on-line tax, driver licence duties and other related charges collected by Mayo County Council for 2007 is â¬27.4 million (unaudited).