Results 201-220 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I have no doubt Deputy Gilmore will sit in my place next year, looking up at the Sinn Féin Deputies who will be criticising him non-stop. All Deputy Gilmore will be able to say in reply, just as we have said, is that he has no choice but to act.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: There is nothing worse in a democracy when a politician must act in a way because his or her choices are limited. Deputy Gilmore will be faced with that lack of choice which will eat him up inside. I wish him well but there is much awaiting him.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: For too long, we have engaged in auction politics and soft choices in this country. Fundamental reforms are required in our taxation and levy system to move it away from the boom-and-bust cycle of the past. Our economy must become more competitive so that we can export goods and services that will bring in the foreign earnings needed to restore the economy. Fundamental mistakes were made as...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: As well as grappling with the problems of the past, we have worked hard to create the economy of the future, one in which our goods will be digitally traded and the energy balance of payments deficit of €6 billion – mostly through the import of fossil fuels - will be rectified in our favour. Such an economy will be created by a baseline electricity and broadband infrastructure. They are...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Mountjoy Square Park is a fine example of an 18th century Georgian urban park and is of significant architectural importance not least because it is the focal point of the only surviving Dublin square that is actually square being an equal length on each of its four sides. The square lies at the northern end of the eighteenth-century core of the city and was one of the great set-pieces in...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: There are currently thirty seven employees in Dublin City Council in receipt of salaries in excess of €100,000. Information regarding potential cost savings which could arise if these salaries were reduced is not available in my Department.

Written Answers — Local Government Elections: Local Government Elections (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Under Regulations made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a gratuity is, subject to certain conditions, payable by a local authority to a councillor in the event of retirement (whether voluntarily or due to not being successful in an election), death or ill-health. The amount of gratuity payable is four-twentieths the amount of a councillor's Representational...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: A number of my Department's main offices are participating in the Optimising Power @ Work campaign. This campaign, run by the Office of Public Works (OPW), aims to reduce the level of carbon emissions in approximately 250 large buildings owner or leased by the OPW for use by Government Departments. In addition to a staff energy awareness campaign, it also monitors the energy usage in these...

Written Answers — Local Government Funding: Local Government Funding (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The renewed Programme for Government contains commitments to introduce a new system for the financing of local government, ensuring the viability of local services, and that Government policy for the reform of Local Government is implemented. The Programme further commits to the introduction of charging for treated water use that is fair, significantly reduces waste and is easily applied. ...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: The State has a legal obligation under the Habitats Directive and under the Wildlife Acts to protect sites that it has designated for conservation purposes. In Ireland a number of sites have been designated for the protection of raised bog habitat within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). These make up just over 4% of bogland in the State where...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. Housing authorities are making the necessary arrangements to make the scheme fully operational. Meeting the legitimate aspirations of many households for home ownership has traditionally been a key component of housing policy in Ireland. The Government's housing policy statement, Delivering...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) required each Member State to introduce measures to provide for producer funded take back of end-of-life WEEE for consumers. The Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 came into effect on 5 July 2005 and completed the transposition of Directive 2002/96/EC. These Regulations were...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: On foot of a commitment made in the Programme for Government, I initiated a review of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February 2010. Under its terms of reference, the Review Group has been asked to review the legislation governing the EPA; assess performance against its mandate and evaluate the scope of that mandate; review the resources allocated to it; assess the structures and...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 39 together. As outlined in the Government's National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014, it is intended that water charges for domestic customers will be introduced from 2014. This will be preceded by the rollout of a national metering programme to install meters in all households connected to the public water supply. The metering programme is likely to take...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 39 of 8 July 2010, which outlined the position in regard to the provision of waste water treatment works.

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: A dedicated Cabinet Committee has been engaged in finalising the policy decisions for inclusion in the White Paper on Local Government. I intend to publish the White Paper as soon as possible following completion of the Government's deliberations.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Directive 2003/35/EC ('the Public Participation Directive') provides for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and for access to justice in certain environmental matters. It amends both Directive 85/337/EC on Environmental Impact Assessment and Directive 96/61/EC on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)....

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: I refer to the reply to Question No. 115 of 19 October 2010. Since then, the closing date for the public consultation on the next National Biodiversity Plan has passed and a large number of detailed submissions were received and are under consideration at present. In addition the draft plan is being reviewed in light of decisions made by the recent Conference of the Parties of the Convention...

Written Answers — Commercial Rates: Commercial Rates (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purpose in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. That Act and matters relating to valuation generally come under the remit of the Minister for Finance. The body of legislation governing...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Nov 2010)

John Gormley: While the Programme for Government included a commitment to introduce a scheme of support for the replacement and upgrade of septic tanks older than 15 years with newer systems, it is no longer feasible to introduce such a grant scheme in the light of budgetary constraints. Under my Department's Rural Water Programme, grants are available to provide groups of households with the...