Results 8,501-8,520 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: —— of the national average.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: This scheme is working very effectively. Local authority costs are driven by economic and population growth, the costs of maintaining an expanding public infrastructure, community and social needs, higher environmental standards and higher quality of life expectations. The Government is aware of the demands on the commercial sector and the need for continued and improved competitiveness to...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Longford County Council increased its rates for 2006 by only 2%.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I hope the Senator agrees with me that this was largely due to the increase in funding from the Government.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: In any debate on the contribution by the commercial sector to local government, we must not lose sight of the fact that this Government has reduced the corporation tax rate from 40% in 1993 to 12.5% today.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Local authority charges take account of local circumstances and priorities.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: We can anticipate Senator Bannon.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Senator Kitt asked whether local authorities would have their central funding cut if the BID scheme got up and running. A key to the success of a BID is that the projects, works or services are fully additional to any such projects, works or services that are carried out by a local authority and that the relevant responsibilities of both parties to a BID agreement — the proponents of a BID...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Senators Tuffy and O'Rourke asked what happens when a business does not want to pay. The concept behind BID schemes is that they proceed when the majority of the business community votes for it to proceed. Once it commences all businesses in the area must pay their fair share based on valuation. There can be no room for free riders or otherwise the ethos of the proposal would be breached and...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to have the opportunity to open the debate in this House on the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006. The primary purpose of the Bill is to provide the legislative framework for the operation in Ireland of business improvement district schemes, or BIDS as they are more commonly known. The Bill also proposes to make two technical amendments to the rating and...

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Green Party for the opportunity to comment on the increasingly successful approach to waste management that has been taken by this Government since it came into office. Notwithstanding some of the negative and not very well informed comments we have heard over two evenings——

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——I am certain that real progress is being achieved. This is being greatly facilitated by some €90 million which the Government has committed since 2002. That is done to co-fund recycling infrastructure.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The dramatic growth in recycling and segregated household collections is ample testimony to that.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Last evening the Minister, Deputy Roche, outlined that in 1997 we were at9%, 166,000 tonnes and today we are at 34%, 920,000 tonnes, which clearly indicates there has been major progress. In regard to the heavier waste structure, including waste to energy, we are beginning to see progress at last in respect of public and private projects. During the debate the need to move segregated...

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——including the recovery of energy from waste. This is obviously a coherent integrated approach and the proper one to take. It is the course being followed by the environmentally most progressive societies including those where a Green Party is or has been in office. This sustainable approach to waste management requires that the necessary infrastructure is put in place including thermal...

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: This is an outstanding opportunity for the Green Party to outline its policy clearly for constituents. They deserve an answer and should be given one.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Incidentally, it is quite wrong to suggest that use of incineration militates against best practice in recycling.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The continental EU member states who achieve very high levels of recycling also rely heavily on incineration, with energy recovery. These approaches are not mutually exclusive, but complementary.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Those who raise concerns about the health or the environmental impact of waste infrastructure conveniently ignore that Ireland has one of the most stringent regulatory systems in the world. These projects require both planning permission and waste licences. These are matters for the agencies, An Bord Pleanála and the EPA, which have demonstrated their independence.

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I stress in particular that both the health and the environmental impact concerns have been addressed. In the case of incineration, for example, EU standards which are the benchmark are devised with absolute regard for the best available scientific standards. I will refer to two important statements by Deputy Quinn, who questioned the Poolbeg incinerator. The test of value is whether the...