Results 8,781-8,800 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Social and Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Put it in as part of the development plan.

Waste Water Treatment Plants. (19 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy Gormley for raising this matter which is of major concern to people in the Ringsend area. The European Commission's proposed legal action concerning odours from sewage plants arose as a result of a complaint about the Greystones waste water treatment plant which, I understand, has long since been resolved. The Commission's concern is no longer particular to any sewage treatment...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (19 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 478 together. The fire services capital programme for 2005, which I announced on 16 April 2005, includes provision for new fire station projects at Drogheda and Moville to be advanced to construction stage in the period up to the end of 2006, subject to final agreement on scope and design.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (19 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are no proposals before my Department from Kildare County Council for the provision of new or improved fire station accommodation.

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (13 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ireland supports the EU Clean Air for Europe, CAFE, programme and the development of a thematic strategy which is due to be published later this year. The strategy will establish interim environmental objectives for air pollution for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment in the period to 2020, with an emphasis on particulate matter and ground-level ozone pollution. Other...

Environmental Policy. (13 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Total receipts for the plastic bag levy on disposable shopping bags for 2004 amounted to €13,498,491. Receipts from this levy are remitted to the environment fund, which is also funded by the landfill levy. The purposes for which payments may be made from the environment fund are prescribed in legislation. In 2004, €49 million was spent from the environment fund on a wide range of...

Environmental Policy. (13 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I take Deputy O'Dowd's comments on board and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is reviewing educational programmes relating to this area.

Environmental Policy. (13 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not have the figure with me but I will make the figures available to Deputy Gilmore. It is interesting to see the attitude of people to the levy. When the possible introduction of the levy was first examined by the Government in 1999, it was found that 40% of people opposed it. In our last attitude survey, conducted in 2003, it appeared that 91% of people strongly supported the levy and...

Environmental Policy. (13 Apr 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I do not have the specifics relating to the Deputy's question available today but I assure him that we welcome valuable contributions and that I will keep his comments in mind.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (23 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for raising this issue which I know is of great importance to the people of Rathmore and of south-east Kerry generally. I am aware of their concerns andhave been taking a personal interest in this scheme. A major focus of Government spending over the past number of years has been the provision of modern environmental services to support social and economic objectives. This...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (23 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important to state that there has been no delay from the Department's point of view. The submission has been made to us in recent weeks. Obviously, the Department must examine the submission. We have given a commitment that we will deal with this in all due haste because it is part of an infrastructural programme that we are very anxious to bring on-stream.

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (22 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 648 together. I am satisfied that local authorities have adequate powers under sections 19 and 20 of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003 to tackle the problem of defacement, by writing or other marks, of property that is in, or visible from, a public place. Accordingly, it is not proposed to amend the legislation on the lines referred to in the...

Written Answers — Fire Services: Fire Services (22 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the fire services capital programme my Department assists local fire authorities in the provision of fire services infrastructure, including the purchase of fire appliances and equipment. On 10 March 2005, the Department approved the purchase by Cork City Council of a combined aerial appliance and a class B fire appliance, at a total cost of some €786,000.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: That is something new for Deputy Gilmore.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputies for their contributions, which I have noted. I also thank Deputy Gilmore for introducing the Bill. It presents an opportunity to highlight deficiencies relating to planning and development issues within housing estates. It gives Deputies an opportunity to highlight the fact that there are inefficiencies within the system and that non-cooperation in terms of the proper...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the law, local authorities are obliged to pursue these issues. Under the Act, members of local authorities must ensure that, if complaints are lodged, city and county managers must ensure this happens.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I say to Deputy Gilmore that the debate is worthwhile. Serious legal and constitutional issues will have to be considered when examining this Bill but we can make progress on these matters on Committee Stage. At the same time, it is an important exercise that we send a clear signal from this House that there must be compliance with the Planning and Development Act.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Sinn Féin seeks devolvement of power and then blames the Government for local authorities carrying out their functions.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy cannot have it both ways. This is typical of Sinn Féin. It has a hand here, there and everywhere.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy should not make me go into the relationship between Sinn Féin, the IRA and criminal activity in this country.