Results 9,341-9,360 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I do not agree with the Deputy's view. Our planning process involves An Bord Pleanála and the EPA. The Deputy has suggested that a further organisation, which is independent of the EPA, should be established. I do not consider that to be the position. The Minister, Deputy Roche, has said he is aware of the concerns of local communities about the development of thermal treatment and other...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister has said he will examine best practice as part of the ongoing environmental monitoring of projects. In particular, he will ensure that local communities are involved in overseeing such monitoring. The EPA does not just operate on the basis of its own rules, guidelines and standards.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It also follows the relevant EU directives, which are enormous, as Deputy Sargent will agree. The EPA follows such standards. It is not simply ignoring protestors and listening to developers.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It considers the WHO standards. The EPA estimates that the 11 waste incinerators in operation in this country — Deputy Sargent would refer to them as hazardous — have contributed a fraction of 1% of national dioxin emissions to air.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I have given the facts, as outlined by the experts. If one assumes that 1 million tonnes of municipal waste are managed by means of incineration over the coming decade, the EPA projects that dioxin emissions from waste incineration could account for less than 2% of national dioxin emissions to air.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The EPA has said that opponents of incineration should examine other issues.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Experts in this area have said that issues such as burning waste in back yards is not regulated.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The effects of such activity can be far worse than the effects of the matters we are discussing. That is what the experts are saying.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I regret that the EPA has been rubbished to the extent it has been. The comments we have heard are unfair on professionals and experts who are working in this area. I do not believe that such people are a joke. The suggestion that certain issues should be reviewed after ten years is a fair point. I am sure the Minister will take it into account.

Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re leave to withdraw the Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 and the Law of the Sea (Repression of Piracy) Bill 2001 [Seanad]; No. 15, Health (Amendment) Bill 2005 — Committee and Remaining Stages; and No. 16, Disability Bill 2004 — Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business will be No. 35, Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005...

Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On the Law of the Sea (Repression of Piracy) Bill 2001, Deputy Kenny has given the reason for its withdrawal. It is because of the possibility, in the international context, of litigation against the State by other member states of the European Union which challenge the definition of piracy. Therefore, it was considered advisable to withdraw the Bill. If we do not do so, we will be challenged...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I made an official visit to China and Hong Kong from 18 to 22 January at the invitation of the authorities. The purpose of the visit was to enhance Ireland's strong economic and trade links with China. I was accompanied by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Communications, Marine...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It would make sense to use the existing rail lines but we will have to await the completion of the studies in order to ascertain the viability of the various issues. When I met representatives of the groups involved, they told me they knew there were issues concerning the viability of all the lines. It is important to be supportive of it. As we all know, rail makes enormous sense and that is...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Nine of the 12 projects are in the west. It was a positive decision to do that. As the Deputy knows, we have difficulties on a few of the other major projects we wanted to start because of environmental issues but rather than arguing about them we will invest moneys in other areas. That is the plan. The ten-year programme certainly allows us to make progress. As we finish some major road...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The challenge for the State is to keep such expenditure at 5% to 6% of GDP. Recently, the engineers said that regardless of what happens to the economy we should be able to do that. I do not think any politician — certainly not myself, or any Taoiseach — would make that claim. If we can do it, however, there is agreement that in 2015 we could have a very modern system. It will have to...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: We have given Knock Airport €3 million which is part of what it requires. It is the biggest slice that any such project has received, although I know the airport is seeking more. I have spoken to the airport's representatives twice in the past six months. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, has provided the allocation of €3 million. I agree that the potential is there. It is the...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I am advised that the report by the chairman will be ready in April. The Minister, Deputy Cullen, tells me he believes it will be in early April. We have been supportive of this all the way through. The report is to identify how it can best be achieved. There will probably be arguments about the viability of where the western rail corridor starts and ends. I have heard the arguments about...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Generally the policy is that 10,300 public servants will move to the 50-plus locations in 24 counties. The process will take longer than originally envisaged. The OPW and the group working on decentralisation have divided the move into three blocks. One block will move with the greatest speed. Regarding the second block, in some areas they are down to a number of sites and locations in terms...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The roll-out of broadband has intensified greatly in the 19 towns that were originally identified. It has continued into the next 38 towns and it will continue to be rolled out in up to 100 towns. There are also community broadband schemes. There has been an enormous acceleration of that activity. Eircom and others had reduced their programme because of losses on the 3G licence issue but they...

Regional Development. (2 Mar 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. Not to be parochial, which I know Deputy Ó Caoláin would never be——