Results 8,721-8,740 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Save County Roscommon and to hell with County Leitrim.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senators for their contributions, some of which were excellent. A number of issues were raised across the electoral horizon. While I wish to focus on issues arising from this Bill, I am happy to also address other issues raised by Senators. It is important to point out in the presence of Senator Leyden that the integrity of the Secretary General of my Department has been questioned,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important that I state categorically my belief that the commission acted with total impartiality. While I would be among the people who would not be happy with the outcome, I am completely satisfied with the independence and integrity of the commission. It is absolute. I want to make reference to Senators Bannon, McDowell and Minihan and to avail of the opportunity to address the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 1999 air quality daughter directive relates to limit values for various air pollutants in ambient air, including particulate matter, PM, and oxides of nitrogen, NOx. In accordance with Article 10, the directive was reviewed by the European Commission and a review report was issued in January 2005. The criterion for defining particulate matter in the 1999 directive is aerodynamic diameter....

Social and Affordable Housing. (28 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: They are certainly not in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown anyway.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Jun 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Finucane for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The 2004-06 water services investment programme of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which was published in May 2004, includes funding for more than 20 schemes in County Limerick. Towns and villages like Adare, Patrickswell, Athea, Askeaton, Foynes and Glin can look forward to new or upgraded...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (24 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: As stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 11 May 2005, Waterford County Council's proposals for a new fire station at Tallow are under consideration in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme. The project will be considered for advancement under future programmes having regard to the council's priorities and competing national demands for capital...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Air Pollution Act 1987, the occupier of any premises, other than a private dwelling, is required to use the best practicable means to limit and, if possible, to prevent emissions, including smoke emissions, from such premises. In addition, the occupier of any premises is prohibited from causing or permitting an emission in such a quantity or manner as to be a nuisance. The Act...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are various general legislative provisions applicable to noise nuisance, as well as a number of practical arrangements to reduce the instances of unnecessary noise from alarms and to tackle persistent incidence of such noise. Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. In...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for enforcement of the litter laws, including section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, which relates to dog fouling, rests with the local authorities. I am satisfied that the Acts give adequate penalties and enforcement powers to local authorities to deal with the problem of dog fouling.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is always a pleasure to come to the Seanad. As the saying goes, I lost my feet and found my feet in this House. I welcome the opportunity to address Members on the important issues of competitiveness and tourism. I will begin by discussing tourism with particular reference to the latest American Express holiday cost of living index. This document is essentially a table of the reported...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I visited there last week.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I agree.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: We grace the Chamber together for the first time.

Register of Electors. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Significant measures are already in place with regard to voter identification and the prevention of personation. The returning officer or the presiding officer may, of his or her own volition, or if required by a personation agent, request any person applying for a ballot paper to produce a specified identification document. The range of documents includes a passport, a driving licence, an...

Register of Electors. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: We all take this matter seriously. Deputy Gregory should consider the changes brought into effect since 2002. Section 111 of the Electoral Act 1992 has been updated. There has been a change in the electoral amendment regulations of 2004. We do not regard passports, driving licences or employee identity cards as items which can be overlooked by anyone. Deputy Gregory raised a fundamental issue...

Register of Electors. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I commend Deputy Gregory on what he is trying to achieve, but there are substantial practical difficulties in getting around this issue.

Register of Electors. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Everybody is concerned about probity in the system. I indicated in my reply that we are examining ways of ensuring it. We are certainly examining the registration. I am not sure what can be done at voting level. That is not to give a commitment that we will change the system because it is only a new system. It was in place for the Údarás elections. However, there will be ongoing review.

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Necessary enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. Part 5 (a) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as inserted by section 44 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, explicitly provides for the following: producer responsibility for the free deposit of ELVs at authorised...

End-of-Life Vehicles. (18 May 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important to state that meetings were held over the years with the previous Minister and that the current Minister, Deputy Roche, has been particularly active in bringing this to a conclusion. He met the SIMI in November 2004 and met the metal recyclers association and the motor vehicle recyclers a week after the SIMI meeting. He met the SIMI again last week. The meetings are ongoing...