Results 7,081-7,100 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Waste Recycling: Waste Recycling (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland has seen dramatic improvements in municipal waste recycling over the past decade. The most recent National Waste Report, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states that the recovery rate for municipal waste in 2005 was 34.6%. This was almost four times the equivalent figure for 1998, which was 9%. These increases in recycling rates were achieved through a range...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I made the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 on 27 September 2007 to provide for the authorisation by the Environmental Protection Agency of discharges to waters from local authority waste water treatment works and collection systems. These regulations implement Article 6(2) of Directive 2006/11/EC (which replaced Directive 76/464/EEC) on pollution caused by certain...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The position in this case is that a judgment against Ireland was made by the European Court of Justice on 14 November 2002 in relation to the quality of over 1600 public and group scheme drinking water supplies. Since then, my Department has put in place an extensive programme of remediation measures for both the public schemes and the group water schemes cited in the judgment and has...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Part 10 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended implements the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, 85/337/EEC, as amended. The prescribed classes of development that require EIS are listed in Schedule 5 of the Regulations. Schedule 6 of the Regulations sets out the information to be contained in an EIS and specifies that it must include "a description of the...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 89 of 10 October 2007. In early August concerns were raised with me about the potential for damage to the national monument known as Rath Lugh in the townland of Lismullin, Co. Meath. Having investigated the matter, and given its archaeological importance, I placed a temporary Preservation Order on the monument on 28 September 2007. Prior notification of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy including a commitment to undertake an international review of waste management plans, practices and procedures and to act on its conclusions. As I announced recently, I have already directed my Department to commission such a review, to commence as soon as possible and to conclude in the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) gives 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. Implementation at local level is a matter for local authorities concerned, Dublin...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the...

Written Answers — National Heritage Issues: National Heritage Issues (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the replies to Questions No. 188 of 27 September 2007 and No. 488 of 2 October 2007. The position remains unchanged. The expert advice available to me is that the erection of a cover over the Stone would not be adequate to address the serious deterioration in its condition in the longer-term and that it is essential to move it to an environmentally controlled indoor location,...

Written Answers — Management Companies: Management Companies (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 95 and 142 of 10 October 2007. The introduction of legislation in relation to the governing of management companies is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to question No. 305 of the 10 October, 2007. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: On 17 September 2007, when publishing the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009, I outlined the measures being taken by my Department, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to develop a systematic and accelerated response to the cryptosporidium risk, as well as to persistent E-Coli failures, in public water supplies. These measures include a new contingency...

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I welcome the opportunity to address the House in this debate on the pre-budget outlook. Before I deal with the spending profile of my Department, I wish to acknowledge the new and innovative approach of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in publishing, before budget day announcements, expenditure profiles based on existing levels of service. This provides greater...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Primary responsibility for the protection and improvement of water quality is assigned statutorily to local authorities, which in the case of Meath's rivers and lakes is the responsibility of Meath County Council. In this regard local authorities act under the supervision of the EPA. Measures for the protection and improvement of water quality are being progressed on a systematic basis, in...

Written Answers — Aarhus Convention: Aarhus Convention (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I have no statutory remit in relation to the approval, or otherwise, of a road development, such as the M3. That is a matter for An Bord Pleanála, whose decisions in this regard are subject to challenge only by way of judicial review. Following the approval of a road development by An Bord Pleanála, section 14A of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended, provides for two situations in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 621 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 121 of 10 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: The Department's Annual Output Statement for 2007 has not been published on the Department's website but copies have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and have been made available on request. I have now asked that the Annual Output Statement be put on the Department's website.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 509 and 510 of 2 October 2007. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 Oct 2007)

John Gormley: Sections 34(4)(g) and 180(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide that a planning authority may attach a condition to a planning permission requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of a development, and, if the development is not subsequently completed satisfactorily, may apply the security to that satisfactory completion. The determination of...