Results 1,461-1,480 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I have indicated previously that the potential for further added value from the establishment of a Commission on Climate Change was being considered. I have also outlined the various structures that have been put in place since publication of the National Climate Change Strategy in April 2007, including the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, and it is important to note...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 39 together. On foot of my request to the Chair of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority last Autumn, to undertake a review of corporate governance within the Authority, two comprehensive independent consultants' reports were commissioned by the Authority to assess its planning and financial procedures. One of the reports, prepared by Declan...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (22 Apr 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 cultivated in Ireland and I do not anticipate that the genetically modified potato in question, known as Amflora, will be cultivated here. This particular product was developed for branched starch production, for use mainly in non-food products, such as in the...

Written Answers — Water Meters: Water Meters (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: In December 2009, following a decision by Government, I informed the House that I would be bringing forward proposals for the installation of water meters in households served by public water supplies. These proposals, which my Department is now finalising, will give effect to the commitment in the renewed Programme for Government to introduce charging for domestic water in a way that is...

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: On foot of a commitment contained in the National Climate Change Strategy, my Department is currently in the process of developing a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. This work is proceeding in parallel with development of the Climate Change Bill which will provide a statutory basis for the national response to climate change, including specific provisions on both mitigation and...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: Management and enforcement responses to litter problems, including graffiti, are a primary responsibility of each local authority to be met from their existing resources. However, to assist local authorities in this matter, my Department has allocated €1 million in 2010 under the anti-litter & graffiti awareness grant scheme to raise awareness of the damage caused by both litter and graffiti.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 31 together. A dedicated Cabinet Committee is finalising the major strategic directions for inclusion in the White Paper on Local Government and the Paper will be published as soon as possible following completion of the Committee's deliberations.

Written Answers — Electoral Management System: Electoral Management System (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 171 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 — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 6 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 61 together. Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the...

Written Answers — Dublin Docklands Development Authority: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 48 together. I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 1 April 2010. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority is a commercial semi-State body established under the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997. The Act sets out the oversight functions of the Minister, including the appointment of the Chairperson, the Directors and...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (22 Apr 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 — Water Services Regulations: Water Services Regulations (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions No. 41 and 53 together. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, it is the duty of suppliers of drinking water "to take the necessary measures to ensure that water intended for human consumption is wholesome and clean and meets the requirements of [the] Regulations." Statutory controls were strengthened under the Regulations to...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The existing regulatory framework governing the waste market requires modernisation in a number of respects, particularly in relation to the dual role of local authorities as regulators and service providers, the need to ensure that waste services are provided in a manner consistent with the achievement of national and EU environmental objectives and targets, and the importance of ensuring...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The EU report in question is a summary report based on returns from Member States in accordance with Article 10 of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). Article 10 requires Member States to submit a report every four years which, inter alia, must include a summary of the monitoring results at representative and other water monitoring stations. Ireland's return was prepared by the EPA and...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The renewed Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a scheme for the licensing and inspection of septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems. In October 2009, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that Ireland failed to make adequate legislation for dealing with domestic wastewater from septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems. In...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: The National Climate Change Strategy signalled the possibility of supplementing greenhouse gas emission reductions with the purchase of up to 3.6 million carbon credits on average each year in the five-year Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012 or 18 million credits in total, costing an estimated €270m. Under the Carbon Fund Act 2007, the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: In response to commitments in the Programme for Government and the National Climate Change Strategy, my Department developed a scheme to offset greenhouse gas emissions from official air travel. The scheme applies to all Government Departments and Offices, and covers all flights by Ministers and officials on both commercial airlines and Government passenger aircraft. It also applies to...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: Good progress has been made in recent years by local authorities in the provision and management of wastewater services in their areas. This progress has been possible through high levels of investment coupled with new legislation on the licensing of wastewater treatment plants. The process of finalising river basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive is underway at present...

Written Answers — Litter Pollution: Litter Pollution (22 Apr 2010)

John Gormley: In 2009 local authorities expended €1.004 million of the €1.070 million allocated to them under the anti-litter & graffiti awareness grant scheme. Not all local authorities took up their full allocation. A total of €1 million will be made available in 2010 for the anti-litter & graffiti awareness grant scheme, and allocations at individual local authority level are currently under...