Results 8,821-8,840 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 112 together. The policy of my Department, continuing that of successive Departments which have held responsibility for nature conservation, is to prohibit, on properties acquired for conservation purposes, any activities that would adversely affect the purposes for which the lands were acquired or would interfere with the enjoyment and safety of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is in the process of determining the grant allocations for a number of national anti-litter initiatives from the environment fund for the current year, including the An Taisce led national spring clean campaign of 2005, due to take place during the month of April. An Taisce, which organises the campaign, will submit details of the estimated costs of the 2005 campaign to my...

Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Air quality assessment is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency and air quality management a matter for local authorities informed by air quality measurement data. The extent of local air quality monitoring and the adequacy of monitoring equipment is a matter for the relevant local authority in the first instance and in consultation with the agency in the overall national...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. Under this provision, licences have been issued annually to the...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: In its 1998 report, the Heritage Council recommended that the legal status of the deer be determined in accordance with section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976. The Department sought the advice of the Attorney General on foot of that recommendation. The effect of the advice was that the Act applies to the hunting of deer by the Ward Union Hunt and that the Minister should interpret the...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister and the officials in the Department do not know who is involved in the Ward Union Hunt.

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: There is certainly no suggestion that they are interested in who is involved in the hunt. The Deputy raised a valid question about the series of questions asked by officials within the Department. I accept that the officials from the Department's wildlife section were carrying out their responsibilities in a conscientious manner by asking such questions and expressing their views.

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The questions they raised were carefully examined within the Department. The conclusion that was reached was that because the term "wild animal" was not found in section 26 of the Wildlife Act 1976, the operation of that provision could not be considered to be affected by the definition. When considering the issuing of licences, the Minister has no choice but to grant licences when it is...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The first thing I will say is that the Deputy will not interpret for me. The question he has asked, whether the animals are wild or tame, does not arise——

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——within the 1976 Act. If the Deputy had listened to my initial response, he would have——

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: So do I.

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It does not arise within the terms of the 1976 Act. The Attorney General has expressed the clear opinion that the Ward Union Hunt is entitled to apply for a licence and the Department is entitled to issue a licence. There is no problem if the hunt stays within the remit of the licence under the Act, as it has done. It is important to note that the hunt has been monitored and it has been...

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: If the Deputy had listened to the earlier statement, he would have heard his question answered.

Hunting Licences. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: If the Deputy wants to be deaf to the actual answer, that is fine.

Environmental Policy. (9 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The June 2002 voluntary agreement between my Department and the solid fuel trade group provided, inter alia, for the delivery of significantly cleaner standards for bituminous coal and petcoke on a phased basis. The agreement encompassed the extension of the coal ban to four new areas from October 2003 and an increase in market penetration of smokeless fuel in a further four areas. It was...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (8 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. An application from Sligo County Council for funding for improvement works to Sligo HQ fire station is being considered in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme having regard to the overall availability of resources and priorities under the programme. There is no formal application before my Department at...

Written Answers — Solid Fuels: Solid Fuels (8 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The June 2002 voluntary agreement between my Department and the solid fuel trade group, which represents the principal importers and distributors of solid fuel in Ireland, provided, inter alia, for the delivery of significantly cleaner standards for bituminous coal and petcoke on a phased basis. The agreement also encompassed the extension of the coal ban to four new areas from October 2003...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (2 Feb 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 3 December 2004 Donegal County Council submitted a revised application for approval in principle for a new replacement fire station at Moville. This is being considered in my Department in the context of the fire services capital programme having regard to the overall availability of resources and priorities under the programme.

Written Answers — Schemes of Letting: Schemes of Letting (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The revised scheme of letting priorities submitted by Dublin City Council is subject to ongoing discussions between my Department and the city council. A decision will be made on the matter as soon as possible.

Seanad: Hazardous Waste. (27 Jan 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The subject of the proposed plan for the rehabilitation of old mine sites in Silvermines, County Tipperary, was covered in some detail in a previous Adjournment debate on 24 November 2004. Since that date, a summons for failure to deliver on its clause K liabilities was served on Mogul of Ireland in early December 2004. However, by...