Results 6,221-6,240 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: Odour incidents at Dublin City Council's Ringsend waste water treatment plant, which is operated on the city council's behalf under a public private partnership contract, have originated from the on-site sludge treatment facility. A programme of works has been implemented by the city council, which has greatly improved the overall situation since summer 2004. Regrettably, the odour problem...
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I accept the general point made by the Deputy. It is not good enough that people in Ringsend or Greystones should have to tolerate foul odours from the plant and it is fundamentally odd that a new plant should operate in this way. I have expressed this view on behalf of my constituents. I have visited Ringsend and experienced the odour at first hand and sympathy is due to the local community....
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: It is regrettable that there has been a problem.
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I am not off on another soliloquy â the Deputy is being unfair â I am trying to answer his question in as comprehensive and open a way as possible and I will continue that practice unless I am advised otherwise. There has been a problem in the plant. There was a fire, which nobody had planned on, and that was a problem. There are issues relating to processing and questions arise about the...
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: Yes, if the Deputy was willing to listenââ
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: International engineering consultants have been appointed and they have commenced a comprehensive review of all aspects of the plant. I am as anxious as anybody that we should understand what happened, including in regard to the design and the ongoing operation and management performance. When the assessment is concluded, we will know where the fault lies. There is no point jumping the gun...
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I am grateful for the Deputy's comments.
- Waste Disposal. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: International experts are assessing where the problems were and where the breakdowns occurred. I am absolutely certain the odour was not confined to Ringsend because odours have a peculiar way of travelling. On the other hand, the waste water treatment plant has resulted in considerable benefits for residents on Dublin Bay, including residents in Clontarf and recreational users of the fine...
- Local Government Act. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I compliment Deputy Murphy on her first oral question, which addresses an issue in which I am greatly interested. Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that qualified electors of a town having a population of at least 7,500 as ascertained at the last preceding census and not having a town council may make a proposal for the establishment of such a council. Under the relevant...
- Local Government Act. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: Regarding the last point, I am not sure of the exact numbers, but I agree with the general tenor of Deputy Murphy's comments. Town councils, and indeed the older town commissions, are a positive force in local democracy and I am interested in facilitating them wherever I can. There is an issue around the differentiation between town councils that were once town commissions and town councils...
- Local Government Act. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: If Deputy Murphy wishes to discuss the matter of town councils further, I would be delighted to do so outside the House. To answer Deputy Cuffe's question, if one looks at comments I have made since becoming Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, one will see that I am anxious to stop the trend to which he referred, namely the movement of power away from local government...
- Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: As I was saying before I was interrupted, the view taken by the MEPs across the political spectrum and from all corners of Europe was an authoritative and credible statement from a wide and diverse range of democratically elected public representatives. I will now set out briefly how the Government is approaching the ratification of the European constitution. I will also focus on six core...
- Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I too congratulate and compliment the Seanad on what is a novel arrangement, which is unique in Europe. It represents a great use of this Chamber and, as Senator O'Toole has said, is an excellent way of interlinking the various democratic strands. I am pleased to take this opportunity to involve myself in the discussions today. I am happy to recognise on behalf of the Government the...
- Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: I will make sure Members get a copy this morning.
- Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)
Dick Roche: May I continue, a Leas-Chathaoirleach?
- Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (17 May 2005)
Dick Roche: In July 2004 my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs...
- Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (17 May 2005)
Dick Roche: My Department is developing, in parallel with the continuing work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, a programme of further assessment, testing and validation which is intended to address the concerns raised in the Commission's interim and first reports with regard to the secrecy and accuracy of the electronic voting and counting system. As part of this work programme, regard will...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 May 2005)
Dick Roche: The Castleisland sewerage scheme, stage 2, is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006 as a scheme to commence construction in 2006 at an estimated cost of â¬5.5 million. My Department received the required water charging policy report for the scheme from Kerry County Council within the past few days. This will allow consideration of the council's preliminary...
- Written Answers — Local Government: Local Government (17 May 2005)
Dick Roche: One of the objectives of the Local Government Act 2001 was to strengthen current town local government and to provide for linkage and co-operation with the county in the delivery of more integrated and improved service to the public, for both the town and its surrounding areas. The Act modernises the law relating to former town commissioners and provides appropriate powers, flexibility and...
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 May 2005)
Dick Roche: The Shanagolden and Foynes sewerage schemes, which are being advanced as part of a grouped project, are included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006 as schemes to commence construction this year. My Department is awaiting the submission by Limerick County Council of a preliminary report for the schemes.