Results 6,461-6,480 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: With the prospect of a reasonably imminent conclusion of the tribunal's public hearings, and conscious that the bulk of its ultimate costs have already been incurred, the focus of the House should be to recognise and respond to the lessons that may be adduced from the experience with this and other recent tribunals. For that reason, the Government's amendment urges the early consideration...
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: The Bill does no more than make explicit the existing implicit entitlement of the Oireachtas by resolution to dissolve a tribunal that it had established. The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill is based to a significant extent on the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission, which carried out a comprehensive examination of tribunal legislation and in May 2005 published its report on public...
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: ââtribunal reports will be admissible in civil cases â the findings of facts in a report or the opinions expressed therein are prima facie evidence unless the contrary is shown; the position with regard to award of costs by a tribunal is clarified and co-operation with the tribunal remains the key determinant for an award of costs; and regulations, to be made by the Minister for...
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: Furthermore, a tribunal would be precluded from inquiring into a relevant matter unless it is satisfied the cost and duration of that inquiry are likely to be justified by the importance of the facts that are likely to be established in consequence of the inquiry.
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: I am happy to proceed. Overall, the proposed Bill will contribute positively to a more effective future operation of public inquiries. It provides for a comprehensive statutory framework governing all aspects of a tribunal, from the time of its establishment to the publication of its final report, and its enactment will further the public interest and public accountability, and underpin the...
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: ââand this Government will continue so to do. We look forward with anticipation to the publication of the tribunal's final report at the earliest possible date and to its subsequent consideration by the Oireachtas. In the meantime, as it is generally acknowledged that there is a need to comprehensively update and modernise the law on public inquiries, we should proceed to a constructive...
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: We have always had higher ethical standards than Fine Gael.
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: We have never had a member of the party before a tribunal. We have never accepted a penny from a bank or a builderââ
- Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2008)
John Gormley: ââunlike that party. Fine Gael should withdraw some of the stupid remarks its Members made tonight.
- Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: The Blanchardstown Sewerage Scheme (Network) is included in my Department's Water Services Programme 2007 â 2009 as a scheme to advance through planning at an estimated cost of â¬21 million. I understand that Fingal County Council has appointed consultants to prepare a Preliminary Report for the scheme, and information relating to the proposals being considered in the context of the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, together. Section 4(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that I, as Minister, may, by reason of size, nature or limited effect upon its surroundings, by Regulation, provide exemptions for a particular class of development provided that development is not contrary to the principles of proper planning and sustainable...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: My Department has prepared a Screening Regulatory Impact Analysis of the options for transposing the Environmental Liability Directive. This document is available on my Department's website (www.environ.ie), and the views of interested parties have been sought on it. Preparatory work on drafting the legal instrument for transposing the Directive is underway and will be informed, inter alia,...
- Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from commercial premises. This provision was enacted in an environmental protection context and was not, therefore, intended to apply to internal sound levels in any premises. Issues in relation to the impact of internal sound are, I...
- Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: In making a determination on any planning application, Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires planning authorities to be bound by the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard, inter alia, to: The provisions of the development plan; The provisions of any special area order relating to the area; Any submissions or observations received; and...
- Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) give effect in Ireland to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Environmental Protection Agency is the national authority with overall responsibility for implementing the Regulations. At local level, implementation of strategic mapping requirements is a matter for the...
- Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: Under Article 7(2) of the European Union (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, local authorities are responsible for monitoring and testing drinking water supplies and authorities make their own arrangements in that regard. Article 7(12) of the Regulations assigns responsibility to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for oversight of local authorities' functions in relation to...
- Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: Recent annual reports by the Environmental Protection Agency on the quality of drinking water in Ireland indicate a sustained increase in the overall rate of compliance with all prescribed standards, from 96.1% in 2003 to 96.4% in 2004, and to 96.7% in the most recently published report for 2005. Notwithstanding these high overall compliance rates, the reports, nevertheless, have drawn...
- Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (19 Dec 2007)
John Gormley: 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 newly imported cars. A public consultation process was held from December 2006 to March 2007 following press notices inviting public submissions. Both the...