Results 6,941-6,960 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I intend to provide extra staff for frontline duties. One cannot artificially divide capital investment from current spending. Once one invests in, say, a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant, which we require to comply with our EU commitments, one needs staff to run it. Ireland is ranked No. 1 in Europe for implementation of the water framework directive and I made that a priority. It...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Deputy Sheehan knows I have been a frequent visitor to west Cork and Goleen, but it is a matter for the local authority.

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I hope to visit again some time and I am sure Deputy Sheehan will welcome me. It is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. I am happy to see what can be done. Under the water investment programme over €4.5 billion has been committed and we must continue with that job because we require good quality water by 2015.

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I did not say I will lift any embargo, but there is a commitment to providing frontline staff where required. We are working towards this for the EPA, my Department, NPWS and some of the local authorities.

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Given the extent of the problems, 2015 is not far away. Our record on the implementation of the water framework directive is second to none. I have established a contingency fund under the water services investment programme so that local authorities can draw down funding if they have a problem with cryptosporidium or any other aspect of water quality. I agree with the Deputy and I have...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: My Department is currently in negotiations with the Department of Finance on this issue. I have highlighted the need for extra staff in the critical areas of compliance and enforcement. These are my priorities for the upcoming budget. There is a necessity for extra staff in certain areas, such as the EPA, the national parks and wildlife section of my Department, as well as compliance and...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The answer is that negotiations are taking place and I am confident that we will get people, but I am not yet sure of the exact numbers. I will be happy to get back to the Deputy when I have the final figures.

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I do not want to get into specific local authority areas. Members quite rightly have local concerns, but on a national level we are working towards achieving good quality water throughout the country by 2015. It was mentioned that such a date is a long way away, but I would be happy if we could get full compliance by that date. The water services investment programme that I outlined shows...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Yes it is. I recently visited the place and Ms Mary Kelly, director of the EPA, pointed out to me the section that needed an extension and the importance of it. I cannot give the Deputy a specific start date for the extension. I told Ms Kelly that I recognised the importance of the EPA and the need to extend the building, which I also emphasised to the Minister for Finance. Unfortunately,...

Environmental Protection Agency. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: No. Several players are involved, including the Department of Finance, my Department and the EPA. I hope we get improvements in capital spending which would enable the EPA to continue its work, as well as in current spending which would enable us to get more front-line staff. Both of these are equally important. Once we get more staff in, we will require more space. Sometimes when...

Waste Management. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I have not made any statement in regard to the number of municipal waste incinerators which may be developed. Such developments are matters for local authorities, in the context of their statutory responsibilities under the Waste Management Acts, and for commercial decision by the private sector. The Government's policy in regard to waste management is clearly set out in the programme for...

Waste Management. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Let us be very clear about what was actually said. I listened one morning to the Deputy's party leader quoting me directly, if you do not mind, as making reference to incinerators. What I actually said was that we would require thermal treatment for 400,000 tonnes of waste. The interviewer then came to the conclusion that 400,000 tonnes was the equivalent of two thermal treatment plants,...

Waste Management. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: The Deputy has, perhaps inadvertently, come across a figure of 1.3 million. I investigated in detail where the Deputy may have obtained this figure. It is the MBT capacity that would allow us to go further in dealing with waste as we would only have to send about 10% to landfill. The figures are available and they have been well thought out. The Department has done good work. When the...

Waste Management. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: It is regrettable if the Deputy believes all those things. The Deputy's own party in Fingal County Council actually voted for the incinerator in Poolbeg peninsula.

Waste Management. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: That is the inconsistency that I have to deal with from members of the Deputy's party. I do not know where they are coming from in the matter of waste management. The figures are very clear. We can treat 1.3 million tonnes through the MBT process. I have been to Austria, where I saw how MBT can work. It is not a high-tech solution, as is often thought — it is actually quite low-tech....

Sustainable Development Strategy. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Development plans, prepared by local authorities under Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000, provide the over-arching strategic framework for development within their areas, ensuring that all development is sustainable from an economic, social and environmental point of view. As such, the development plan must offer clear guidance on sustainable development policies and...

Sustainable Development Strategy. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: I must agree with the bulk of what Deputy Tuffy stated. Of course we require responsible planning. I listened carefully to what the chairman of An Bord Pleanála stated. He was simply echoing what I have stated. The planners in local authorities are getting clear directions, namely, that at this stage it makes no sense to build on flood plains. As Deputy Tuffy will probably be aware, as...

Register of Electors. (14 Nov 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 co-operation 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...

Register of Electors. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Deputy Lynch raised a number of interesting points. He is correct in stating that there is real inconsistency between many of the local authorities. I myself discovered that. Even in the compilation of the register, in whether it is available electronically and in how it is conducted, there is little consistency. I agree there is work for my Department in that regard. I hope many of these...

Register of Electors. (14 Nov 2007)

John Gormley: Yes, I will produce terms of reference. Because this is such an important issue I would like an all-party approach to be taken, in the same way as I sought an all-party approach to the Green Paper on local government. Many of Deputy Ciarán Lynch's colleagues sit on the consultative committee and do very good work. When drawing up the terms of reference I intend to consult broadly with...