Results 7,441-7,460 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I also express my support for the amendment. It would free up the courts system to a greater extent.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: Section 86(1)(b)(vii) is more likely to impact upon and interfere with necessary commercial operations on a site than on emissions or environmental parameters. This subparagraph is quite unnecessary given the provisions already contained in sections 86(1)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v). Perhaps the Minister would comment on that. Section 86(1)(b)(xii) is also very open-ended and excessive...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: Section 86(1)(b)(xv), on page 29, is another very open ended provision.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I would appreciate a little more explanation from the Minister on what he has added to previous legislation.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: Is there any provision in the Bill for an independent appeal other than through the courts?

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The new section 86(2), as inserted by section 12 of the Bill, provides for recognition of the special needs of activities to which paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the First Schedule apply. The subsection states: "the Agency may". This should be amended to read "the Agency shall".

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I am entitled to make a point.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 35: In page 59, line 38, after "property" to insert "including pavements and streets". Reference is made in this section to "the prevention of danger to health or damage to property". This should also include streets and pavements because people who damage them in the course of their work often leave them in such a state that local authorities must repair them. The onus...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: Streets and pavements should be included because responsibility for the area between a street and a property is unclear. Perhaps the Minister would consider this.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I will raise the matter again on Report Stage. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 14 agreed to. Sections 15 and 16 agreed to. Amendments Nos. 36 and 37 not moved. Sections 17 to 20, inclusive, agreed to. SECTION 21.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister referred to the outdated systems in place perhaps 20 years ago. Recently, a large number of councillors from across the country were taken to Germany to view what is considered a state-of-the-art facility which uses the latest technologies. Those responsible for compiling waste management plans for a number of regions co-sponsored the visits. Is the Minister aware that, within...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: This was—

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: Senator O'Rourke referred to the quality of some of our landfill sites. It is recognised that there are serious problems in that regard. Some old landfill sites were nothing more than an add-on facility.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The more modern landfill sites work very satisfactorily in most cases. I have inspected sites on the Continent and in America and their operators and the general public are more than satisfied with the measured recycling facilities built in, etc. Some local authorities received grants at harvest time for recycling facilities but it was done on a piecemeal basis. I do not understand the reason...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: When it was closed down we had no communication from the Department of the Environment and Local Government to explain the situation and public representatives felt let down. Many of the representatives returned home with the view that the facility was state-of-the-art and that we should have something similar in Ireland. However, their confidence in the system was undermined when the...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister referred to County Longford, one of the counties in the midlands that did not adopt the regional plan. Emergency legislation was introduced that transferred powers to the manager. Elected representatives are not currently responsible for making the submission for funding for recycling.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: We have all come across hardship cases. The elected representative is the person who receives such complaints. We introduced the waiver system and inserted a provision for hardship cases. We are responsible to citizens and understand the situation. We must face the electorate. Circumstances come to our attention, not the Government, where a waiver should be applied. I am all for those who can...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: A recent report was published on the quality of drinking water. It is important to debate the issue in the House because the quality of water in 1,536 group water schemes monitored is less than satisfactory. It is important that we invite the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to the House to inform Senators of his plans in relation to the protection of public health. The State...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The Senator acknowledges that we were sold out.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: A Fine Gael-led Government introduced the Freedom of Information Act in 1997. Yesterday, the Taoiseach confirmed there would be a one-sided review of this Act and I understand the Ombudsman was not consulted on this. It is important that we debate this issue. The Act has served the interests of the State very well. The EU has found the €20 fee for making a submission on planning...