Results 9,601-9,620 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: An effective basis for addressing our waste management responsibilities has been put in place through the Changing Our Ways policy statement on waste management, the Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change policy statement, the waste management plans, largely prepared on a regional basis, adopted by the local authorities, and the comprehensive regulatory framework now in place...

Written Answers — Playground Statistics: Playground Statistics (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Comprehensive statistics on the number of playgrounds in the State are not available in my Department. However, under my recently announced initiative, Delivering Value for People: Service Indicators in Local Authorities, local authorities are required to report annually on their performance against 42 service indicators. Two of those indicators relate to playgrounds, and those will enable...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 202 together. There are seven cases in respect of which the European Commission has initiated legal action on grounds of non-implementation of EU directives in areas for which my Department has responsibility. Six of the cases relate to directives concerning dangerous substances in water, protection of water against pollution by nitrates from...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 183 together. Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that the Minister may, at any time, issue guidelines to planning authorities regarding any of their functions under the Act and requires planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to such guidelines in the performance of their functions. Work is under way in my...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer to the reply to Question No. 81 of 26 November 2003. Kyoto obligations arise in the commitment period 2008 to 2012. Ireland has embarked on a challenging programme to limit the growth in greenhouse gas emissions through vigorous implementation of the Government's national climate change strategy published in November 2000. This comprises a systematic programme towards meeting these...

Written Answers — Development Levy: Development Levy (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 167, 209 and 488 together. The development contribution system was significantly revised when the Oireachtas, with cross-party support, brought in a new, transparent system in the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under section 48 of the 2000 Act, planning authorities must draw up a development contribution scheme in respect of public infrastructure and...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I assume the question refers to targeted reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, which the European Union and its member states ratified in May 2002, the EU has committed itself to reducing its combined emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 8% below 1990 levels during the period 2008 to 2012. A subsequent burden sharing arrangement resulted in different...

Written Answers — Electronic Voting: Electronic Voting (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: It is of paramount importance to ensure the integrity of the electronic voting system. For this reason, my Department has engaged extensively in the independent checking and validation of all aspects of the voting equipment and software. The testing regime includes certification of the voting machine by a German test institute and by two test institutes from the Netherlands. The system...

Written Answers — Development Levy: Development Levy (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with the requirements of section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, my Department was consulted by Wicklow County Council on its draft development contribution scheme. My Department forwarded comments on the draft scheme to Wicklow County Council on 6 January 2004. A copy of these will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Any possession by a company of a draft report, in preparation to inform Government decision-making on emissions trading, is unauthorised. This matter is under consideration in my Department and a decision as to any necessary action will be taken as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is a statutory consultee on any proposed development which may have an impact on the natural or built heritage. In accordance with the relevant planning regulations, Trim Town Council forwarded to my Department on 6 March 2003 a...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I intend to appoint consultants shortly to carry out this review and the value of the contract will then be determined on the basis of the relevant tender. The terms of reference of the review are set out in the request for proposals document which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. I anticipate that the review will take nine to 12 months to complete.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I intend to bring draft legislative proposals to Government in the coming weeks to streamline the consent process for major infrastructure projects. I will be seeking priority for the drafting of the legislation, once approved by the Government, to ensure the Bill is published at the earliest possible opportunity this year. In advance of the Government considering these proposals, it would be...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Commission has proposed two draft directives setting out the basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations, and on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, which together comprise proposals for a nuclear safety package. Discussions on the directives, which began last year, are continuing in the European Council's atomic questions...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Draft regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area were published jointly by the Dublin and mid-east regional authorities on 19 December 2003. The draft guidelines are on public display until 5 March 2004. In accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a copy of the draft guidelines has been formally submitted to my Department. The draft guidelines...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department is co-operating actively with the decentralisation implementation committee and the Department of Finance with regard to the decentralisation programme announced in the budget for 2004. This envisages the decentralisation of all Dublin based functions of my Department, with the exception of Met Éireann and some local based services, to Wexford which will serve as headquarters,...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: On 24 October 2003, in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service performance verification group, CSPVG, my Department submitted a progress report on the commitments set out in its action plan under Sustaining Progress. Supplementary material sought by the group was submitted on 25 November 2003. Following assessment of the progress reported by my Department, the CSPVG decided that...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer to the reply to Question No. 100 of 26 November 2003. A further report was made to the tribunal on 28 November 2003. The position is otherwise unchanged.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Recent years have seen a major local government modernisation programme with: constitutional recognition and guaranteed local elections; record levels of funding; strengthened political and management structures; an updated legal framework along with legislation last year to end the dual mandate; and an efficiency agenda focused on improved corporate planning, IT, human resources and customer...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Inventory of Dioxin and Furan Emissions to Air, Land and Water in Ireland for 2000 and 2010, published by the EPA in December 2002, provides a useful indication of the relative significance of various emission sources for dioxins. As regards the nine hazardous waste incinerators in operation in the year 2000, the report estimated these to have contributed a fraction of 1% of national...