Results 6,501-6,520 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The current basis of assessment for goods vehicles is unladen weight. It is not possible at this stage to apply an emissions based motor tax system to goods vehicles given that data on CO2 emissions are not available or captured on the vehicle registration tax (VRT) or the national vehicle and driver file (NVDF) databases.

Written Answers — Electoral Area Boundaries: Electoral Area Boundaries (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Unlike for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there are no legal requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998; the next local elections are due to take place in 2009. I am at present considering the issues around a review of local electoral areas and I expect to be in a position to make...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Article 168 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 requires a fee of €20 to be paid to a planning authority by a person or body making a submission or observation to the authority regarding an application for permission. The primary purpose of the fee is to contribute towards the enhanced service provided by planning authorities to persons who make formal submissions. Many...

Written Answers — Hunting Licences: Hunting Licences (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 258 and 259 of 6 December 2007. I am completing any urgent consideration of this matter and will come to a definitive conclusion in the near future.

Written Answers — Codes of Conduct: Codes of Conduct (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 101 together. The ethical framework that applies to councillors and relevant employees in local authorities is provided for in the Local Government Act 2001 and the Codes of Conduct published under that Act. The framework requires councillors and employees to act solely in the public interest at all times and prohibits them from influencing or seeking...

Written Answers — Climate Change: Climate Change (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The information requested by the European Commission is being compiled by my Department and will be submitted by the deadline.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 121 together. Decisions regarding the zoning of land are a reserved function of the elected members under the statutory development plan and local area plan processes. In accordance with sections 12 and 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and section 9 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002, the members of a planning authority are...

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 103 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for a range of electoral matters including, inter alia, the functions currently exercised by the Standards in Public Office Commission relating to election spending; the Electoral Commission will...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 527 together. Responsibility at Ministerial level for coastal flood protection and relief currently rests with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In accordance with a recent Government decision, however, arrangements are to be made for the transfer of these functions to my Department. Dublin City Council has a policy objective in its...

Written Answers — Climate Change: Climate Change (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The position set out in the reply to Questions Nos. 253 and 261 of 6 December 2007 and Nos. 36 and 96 of 14 November 2007 has not changed. The National Climate Change Strategy which was published earlier this year 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...

Written Answers — Dublin Bay Task Force: Dublin Bay Task Force (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a Dublin Bay Area Task Force to maximise the potential of the Bay for the people of the capital city. I expect to finalise arrangements for its establishment early in the new year. Dublin City Council has a policy objective in its Development Plan 2005-2011 to prepare a plan for Dublin Bay from (and including) North Bull Island...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Decisions regarding the zoning of land are a reserved function of the elected members under the statutory development plan and local area plan processes. The Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the steps that must be followed by the Council, the requirements for consultation with the public and key stakeholders, including the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I understand that the survey which is the subject of the Question is an unpublished report which was completed for Sustainable Energy Ireland in 2005. My Department has not received a copy of the draft or final report, although it has been given access to an extract from the Executive Summary of the report. The implications of the issues which were raised in this extract have been considered...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: In law the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The compilation of the Register and the carrying out of a Census are different processes with different statutory requirements. In addition, there are...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-12 indicated a potential purchase of up to 18 million carbon allowances in part fulfilment of Ireland's obligations pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol. However, my intention is that Ireland will meet its Kyoto commitments as far as possible by emissions reductions through domestic action, rather than the purchase of credits, and therefore achieve the 3%...

Written Answers — Community and Recreational Facilities: Community and Recreational Facilities (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 191 of 12 December 2007. The closing date for submissions of proposals for funding under the Gateway Innovation Fund (GIF) was 15 November 2007 and proposals have been received from all nine gateways in respect of the €300 million Fund. These proposals are currently being evaluated by the GIF Management Committee (with appropriate input from other...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred by them in respect of the electronic voting machines and...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Government policy since 1998 has been to exempt from water charges water services used by households for ordinary domestic purposes. That policy has been accommodated in the wording of Article 9 of the EU Water Framework Directive, is reflected in legislation and was reiterated in section 105 of the recently enacted Water Services Act 2007. Accordingly, the extension to the domestic sector...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the Financial Resolution No. 3 on Excise Duties (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) taken in the House on 5 December 2007 and the Carbon Budget, which I announced on 6 December 2007. While the Financial Resolution provided for an across-the-board increase of 9.5% on motor tax rates for the existing fleet up to 2.5 litres and an 11% increase above that threshold, the Carbon Budget...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (18 Dec 2007)

John Gormley: Local authorities are responsible for the operation and maintenance of treatment plants for public water supplies. Earlier this year, I introduced new drinking water regulations and related monitoring requirements to strengthen controls in this sector. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now has direct supervisory responsibility for local authority water supplies and the regulations...