Results 1,241-1,260 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 39 together. There is currently no limit imposed by either my Department or the local authority on the removal of sea lettuce from the areas in question. I understand that the local authority has invited expressions of interest from parties for proposed solutions for the collection and disposal of the sea lettuce. The closing date for receipt of these...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: The European Communities (Environmental Liability) Regulations 2008 which came into operation on 1 April 2009, transpose the EU Environmental Liability Directive into Irish law. Primary legislation is however required to deal with a number of discretionary provisions contained in the Directive that could not be enacted by way of secondary legislation at the time of making the 2008...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: Road safety is a matter for the Minister for Transport and the Road Safety Authority and one in which I have no function. In relation to motor tax, liability on a vehicle arises when the vehicle is first used in a public place following registration of the vehicle by the Revenue Commissioners and assignment of Irish number plates. It is an offence to use an untaxed mechanically propelled...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government, agreed in 2007, contains a commitment to the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission which will take responsibility for electoral administration and oversight, implement modern and efficient electoral practices, revise constituency boundaries, take charge of compiling a new national rolling Electoral Register, take over the functions of the Standards...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: The ten-year derogation has come to an end for 32 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. The derogation will end for further sites at the end of 2011 and 2013. It is clear from the scientific evidence available to me that there has been a continued loss of protected habitat on these bogs that can only be effectively halted and reversed through further restrictions on turf cutting and...

Written Answers — Capital Investment Programmes: Capital Investment Programmes (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: In the renewed Programme for Government, the Government undertook to publish its revised investment priorities within the overall exchequer capital expenditure ceilings, set out in Budget 2010, of €6.43 billion for 2010 and €5.5 billion per year from 2011 to 2016. Substantial work has been undertaken by the Department of Finance, in consultation with other Departments, to review capital...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 209 together. Following the Government decision not to proceed with implementation of electronic voting in Ireland, an Interdepartmental Task Force, chaired by my Department, was established to bring the project to an orderly conclusion and to oversee disposal of the equipment and termination of storage arrangements. To date, the Task Force has met...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: The Programme for Government 2007 - 2012 contained a commitment, re-affirmed in the renewed Programme for Government in October 2009, to update and consolidate the law on national monuments to improve the protection of our archaeological heritage. The Government has approved the detailed legislative proposals which I brought forward on foot of a comprehensive review of archaeological policy...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC, which were transposed into Irish law by regulations made by the Minister for Finance, allow for environmental and social criteria and conditions to be integrated into public procurement procedures. Such criteria and conditions may, therefore, be included in the selection of technical specifications and award criteria, and in contract performance clauses....

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: Recognising that people with disabilities have particular needs, my Department endeavours to ensure that the voting process is as accessible and inclusive as possible. Currently there are two options available to assist voters with a visual impairment to vote at their local polling station; they may avail of companion voting or they may seek the assistance of the presiding officer. Other...

Written Answers — Illegal Dumping: Illegal Dumping (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE). The 2005 report of the OEE, The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identified the unauthorised collection and fly-tipping of waste as a problem area which needed to be further tackled. The extent of fly-tipping is not, however,...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: On 22 February 2010 I appointed an authorised person pursuant to section 224 of the Local Government Act 2001 to prepare a report in relation to the nature and extent of the financial and related risks and consequences which may be faced by Dublin City Council in connection with its participation in, and performance of, the Agreement with Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd in a changing policy, legal...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: River basin management plans are currently being adopted, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, for each of the seven river basin districts in the State. The plans will set out the current status of waters, the environmental objectives which are to be achieved in the first planning cycle to 2015 and the programmes of measures which will be required in order to...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: During 2007, water services authorities were asked by my Department to review the operation of all water treatment plants (and associated infrastructure) and to ensure that the installation of continuous chlorine alarms and turbidity meters at appropriate locations at the treatment plant or in the distribution network (including at reservoirs) is progressed without delay. This request was...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: My Department understands that lead water distribution mains do not constitute a significant portion of the overall supply networks nationwide. At issue are lead connections to individual premises and internal lead plumbing that could affect drinking water quality and, therefore, have public health implications, necessitating replacement of the pipes involved. Only the replacement of lead...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: I am committed to the establishment of a GM free zone in Ireland as set out in the Programme for Government. No GM food products are currently cultivated in Ireland. In respect of the cultivation and sale of GM products, there is a community authorisation procedure in place, enabling the competent authority of each Member State to contribute to the decision-making process. In Ireland, the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: Meeting the requirements of the Landfill Directive is a key national priority in respect of waste management and I am committed to implementing the measures necessary to ensure that Ireland meets the 2010, and subsequent, EU landfill diversion targets. Data from the National Waste Report 2008, published by the EPA, show that the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste disposed of to...

Written Answers — Carbon Fund: Carbon Fund (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together. Under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, a carbon fund mechanism was established to facilitate the purchase of carbon units and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) was designated as purchasing agent for the State. The cost of carbon units purchased under this mechanism is met by the NTMA from the Central Fund and each drawdown must be...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: My Department operates 32 websites. Maintenance costs for 2009 were €84,124.08. Information relating to the websites operated by Agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (27 May 2010)

John Gormley: In order to be able to vote at elections and referenda in this jurisdiction, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for postal voting...