Results 6,381-6,400 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 1992 states that the ballot paper at a Dáil election shall be in the form set out in the Fourth Schedule to the Act, subject to any modifications provided for in regulations made under section 88(2)(cc) of that Act. Regulations made under this provision (S.I. No. 156 of 2007) provide for the modification of the ballot paper set out in the Fourth Schedule...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: 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 will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Government Members: Local Government Members (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together. The following tables set out the number of councillors in each local authority area, the population of each local authority and the ratios of elected members to population by local authority, as per Census 2006. The number of elected members in each local authority is set out in section 21 and schedule 7 of the Local Government...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The WEEE Directive has been very successfully implemented in Ireland. During 2006, the first full year of operation, 31,500 tonnes of household WEEE was collected. This represents approximately 3.5 million electrical and electronic products or 7.4kg per inhabitant. This is almost double the 4 Kgs target the WEEE Directive requires Ireland to achieve by the end of 2008 and indicates...

Written Answers — Flood Risk Assessment: Flood Risk Assessment (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The First Schedule of the Planning and Development Act 2000 specifies, inter alia, that planning authorities may include in their development plans objectives regulating, restricting or controlling development in areas at risk of flooding. Where development is proposed in an area at risk of flooding, it is a matter for each planning authority to evaluate such risk, on the basis of a flood...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 66, 111 and 116 of 18 December 2007. I met with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen, and the Commissioner for Environment, Stavros Dimas, in Brussels on 9 January 2008 to outline the Government's plans to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. European Commission Directive 98/34/EC, which lays down...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The position set out in the reply to Question No. 97 of 18 December 2007 has not changed. The National Climate Change Strategy which was published in April 2007 contains a commitment to produce a national adaptation strategy within two years. The planned strategy will provide a framework for the integration of adaptation issues into decision-making at national and local level across all sectors.

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: A National Strategy Group on Packaging Waste Recycling — which is co-chaired by my Department and Repak and involves key public and private sector stakeholders — was established in late 2004 to monitor and further develop the regulatory packaging waste regime in Ireland in the context of the new recovery and recycling targets set for 2011 under the new Directive 2004/12/EC. The Strategy...

Written Answers — Recycling Policy: Recycling Policy (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The data sought in the Question are not available in my Department. Major producers i.e. those who have an annual turnover in excess of €1 million and who place more than 25 tonnes of packaging on the Irish market, have additional responsibilities with regard to the recovery of packaging waste from their customers, meeting targets, signage, reporting of specified data and registration with...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: On 13 December 2007, the European Court of Justice handed down its Judgment in case C 418/04. Ireland has two months to respond formally to the European Commission and to satisfy it that the necessary steps are being taken to meet the requirements of this lengthy Judgment. My Department will shortly meet with Commission officials to discuss the measures that will need to be taken to comply...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (31 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: When a water or sewerage scheme is first proposed it may take some time to be approved for inclusion in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme, depending critically on the priority afforded to it by the elected members of the local authority and the resources available for the overall Programme. In the case of a scheme included in the Water Services Investment Programme, my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1299 to 1301, inclusive, together. The Government has announced the provision of €270 million for the purchase of carbon allowances over the period 2007-13. This sum is in addition to €20 million provided in my Department's Vote in 2006. No additional funding was required or provided in Budget 2008. Following the enactment of the Carbon Fund Act in March...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The European Commission published a package of energy and climate change proposals on 23 January 2008. The proposals are intended to meet the commitments made by EU Heads of State and Government at the 2007 Spring meeting of the European Council that EU greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by at least 20% on 1990 levels by 2020 and that renewable energy contribute 20% of the EU's energy...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1305, 1364 and 1401 together. On 8 January 2008 I announced that I had established two committees to review local electoral areas. One committee will report on the areas of Dublin City, Cork City, Galway City, Limerick City, Waterford City, and Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils. The other committee will report on the electoral...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1306 and 1387 together. It is assumed that the questions refer to the efficiency review of all administrative spending currently being conducted arising from the Budget Day announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. The review is under way in my Department and the results will be communicated to the Department of Finance, as required, by March....

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307, 1308, 1319, 1326, 1342, 1343, 1351 and 1371 together. Budget 2007 announced proposals for new motor tax and vehicle registration tax (VRT) systems to reward low CO2 emitting and penalise high CO2 emitting, cars. It was made clear at the time that the new system would apply to new cars and pre-owned imported cars. A public consultation process was held...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: A list of the principal measures intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the projected average annual level of reduction for each measure in the period 2008-2012 is set out in tables 2.1 and 2.2 of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012. Annex 1 of the Strategy indicates that the combined effect of these measures is projected to result in net emissions of 66.216 million...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were published by my Department on 29 June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: The Broadford Sewerage Scheme has been approved for funding under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as part of the Rural Towns and Villages Initiative. My Department approved Clare County Council's revised Preliminary Report for the scheme in December 2006. In accordance with devolved procedures for schemes costing less than €5m, it is a matter for the Council...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jan 2008)

John Gormley: A successful producer responsibility initiative has been in operation since mid 1997 in relation to farm film silage bale wrap. My Department has been working with industry with a view to replicating this success for other waste materials arising on farms. These discussions are ongoing. The provision of environmentally sound recovery outlets for these materials, such as fertiliser bags and...