Results 18,521-18,540 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: That is what is in the proposed legislation.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputies for their comments. On the issue of the bogs, I assure Deputy Stanley that we will look into that. On the issue of the Doha Amendment ratification, I would point out to Deputy Murphy that we are one of the first countries to engage in the ratification process. We are one of the early movers, which sends a signal out to the rest of the community. If we benchmark...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I presume we can come back to it at some point.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: If Members do not mind, I shall amalgamate my comments on their concerns as there was a bit of overlap. I shall first address a very real issue. I accept there is genuine concern about the legislation. My plan is to publish it next month, if at all possible, and I believe we will meet that deadline. As Members are probably aware, it is on the priority list of all legislation with a view...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol: Motion (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I thank the sub-committee for its invitation. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention is an international agreement which committed certain parties to internationally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets during the period 2008 to 2012, inclusive. The EU and its member states, including Ireland, made reduction commitments in respect of this first commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The draft operational programme for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which includes LEADER, was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014. The approval of the Programme involves an iterative process between Ireland and the European Commission and it is hoped that the Programme will receive final approval before the end of 2014. In anticipation of Commission approval, my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water's costs in the coming years will be funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. Following a recent consultation process the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) announced its decision on the Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Remuneration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The appointment to an Irish local authority of persons who are not serving employees of an Irish local authority on or after 1 January 2011 must be at the minimum point of the scale.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I understand that Mayo North East Leader Partnership ( MNELP ) is awaiting additional information from the project promoter in relation to the project mentioned in order to process the claim for payment.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change. The establishment of a high performance utility will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment. Details of Irish Water’s costs are outlined in its...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: In April 2014, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. The Bill is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Session,as part of the Government’s Legislation Programme. Drafting of the Bill is currently being finalised within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I intend to seek Government approval to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 493 together. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489, 510 and 515 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1024 and 1057 of 4 November, which sets out the position on the public ownership of Irish Water. I will keep the provisions of the Water Services Acts in relation to the critically important issue of public ownership of Irish Water under review. An Independent Assessment published...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I have asked Irish Water to compile the information requested and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change. The establishment of a high performance utility will lead to lower costs and improved services in the future, providing much better outcomes for customers and the environment. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) reviewed the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 12(b) of the Water Services Act 2013 provides that Irish Water may borrow money for the purposes of carrying out its functions under the Act but before borrowing any money the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Communications and Natural Resources and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Eligibility criteria for social housing are provided for in Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. In order to qualify for social housing support, applicants who are not Irish or UK citizens must have a legal right to reside in the State. The detailed requirements in this regard are set down in Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Irish Water's costs in the coming years will be funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. The Government have decided to provide the following subvention to Irish Water in 2015 and 2016: - An average subvention...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums. This includes, in accordance with section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (11 Nov 2014)

Alan Kelly: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates of duty applicable for half yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge respectively. This additional cost element takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and the National Vehicle and Driver File unit, and the resultant administrative costs and printing costs...