Results 9,701-9,720 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: It is not right to require a local authority to continue to collect household waste from a person if that person fails to pay relevant waste charges, nor is it right that people who comply with the law and pay the charges should subsidise neighbours who refuse to comply and that is what the Senator proposes in this amendment. The polluter pays principle underpins this legislation and it is...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: I want to arrive at a situation where waste is charged for by weight because that will overcome the differences. We are moving towards that and it will be a major step forward because everyone will pay the same by weight and it will encourage people to recycle, minimise and compost. I take the Senator's point but we are moving in the right direction. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: We discussed this at some length on Committee Stage and I do not propose to accept an amendment that would compel any local authority to provide a mandatory system of waivers in respect of all or part of waste charges. I am maintaining the status quo that works extremely well across the State. The local authorities are not currently under an obligation to provide for waivers in respect of...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: The exhibition of advertisements and articles is already subject to development and control under section 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. They already require planning permission. The amendment, as drafted, would have the effect of removing planning controls from advertisements as these would now be subject to the exemption in section 19 of the 1997 Act, in respect of articles and...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: I am happy to accept Senator Bannon's amendment. It is a worthwhile improvement to the Bill. If I am presented with a good idea, I am always happy to accept it.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: This technical amendment makes a drafting change to clarify that the obligations on owners or managers under the by-laws made by local authorities under the section can be met by their arranging for the exterior of their premises to be washed and cleaned in the manner required in the by-laws. Amendment agreed to.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: I am surprised at Senator O'Meara's seconding the amendment. I do not believe that it follows the Labour Party approach. The Senator's colleague, Deputy Gilmore, might be aghast. I will take it that the Senator has seconded the amendment on a purely technical basis to get the discussion going as it is not primary Labour Party policy. Senator Bannon's amendment touches on issues that have been...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: That is an agricultural issue.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: The purpose of the Third Schedule to the Waste Management Act 1996 is to transpose the provisions of Annex IIA of Council Directive 75/442/EEC – the framework waste directive – which specifies waste disposal activities for the purposes of the directive. Similarly, the Fourth Schedule to the 1996 Act is intended to reflect waste recovery activities specified in Annex IIB of the directive....

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: I will not get into the Fischler proposals with the Senator.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2003)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Senators for their remarks. This is a very important Bill, which makes a substantive contribution to Ireland's environmental legislation. I hope that it signals my determination, which has been recognised on all sides of the House, to keep environmental issues at the top of the agenda. We disagree on various issues from time to time, but that is the business we are in.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: It was the General Council of County Councils.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: It was the local authorities' own organisation.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: I respect the points both Senators have made on this subject which we have debated in great detail, not only on Second Stage but also on Committee Stage. The termination of the dual mandate is the stated official policy of practically all the political parties, including the Labour Party and Fine Gael. It is important to keep this at the forefront of our minds. Senator Tuffy's amendment...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: Including the Senator's party.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: That is a different argument.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: That is an extraordinary assertion that more people should not be involved in public life.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: The Senator did. The Senator said, "That is more important than getting more people involved in local government."

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: I have dealt with this issue. I am not preventing anyone from running for local government. One presumes if a Senator or Deputy has made the decision to run for local government and wants to be part of that structure in the future they will have no difficulty in resigning their Oireachtas seat to do so. It is as simple as that.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: That is entirely a matter for the political parties.