Results 281-300 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: The party across the way has indicated it will renegotiate the minimum wage.
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: That is nonsensical as this was the first demand by Commissioner Ollie Rehn and others. It had to be in the plan.
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: The Deputy's party will not do it.
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: It is all talk over there and no action.
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: Yes, it was one of the things he said.
- Local Government Efficiency (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: I can assure the Deputy that he will see it. The problem is we have had so many different initiatives to put in place. For example, yesterday the four year plan was published with significant proposals relating to funding for local government, including the local charge. All that must be consistent with the White Paper. We will now proceed with the White Paper, which will include those...
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: In response to its challenging financial position, the executive board of the authority has undertaken a major review and restructuring of its activities, cutting all discretionary expenditure and reducing staff levels from 55 full-time equivalents in January 2009 to 27 staff currently. Whereas the authority's 2009 annual report and audited accounts, which were published earlier this year,...
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: As the Deputy is aware, I appointed a new chairperson, Professor Niamh Brennan, to take control of the authority. She was instrumental in producing two reports which demonstrated exactly what had happened in the Dublin docklands. Recently I spoke to board members who feel the authority is now finding its feet again and I hope it will be in a position to do some very good work for the...
- Waste Management (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: I have always made clear that I want to see a sustainable, resource based approach to waste management. This involves a shift in focus from residual waste management options, such as landfill and incineration, to technologies such as mechanical biological treatment which can maximise the value to be extracted from what should be viewed as a resource rather than as a waste. On 15 July 2010,...
- Waste Management (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: As I have stated on a number of occasions, the Government does not determine matters of this nature, which in this case is one for a private consortium and the local authority. When one considers residual waste arisings and the decline in biological waste, which is the most important consideration from a landfill directive perspective, an incinerator with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes is much...
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: There are some 20 agencies under my remit, and as part of the rationalisation programme for State agencies I have an active consolidation programme in train that will reduce this number by six. In June 2009, I established the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to amalgamate the national agencies that currently support our social and affordable housing programmes. These are the...
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: We should pursue greater efficiencies wherever we can make them. However, I would point out that we are very much in line with the McCarthy report. The Deputy mentioned the efficiency review group, which is a group I introduced and which does very good work under Mr. McLoughlin. It has identified a number of efficiencies at local government level. My Department is on course with regard to...
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: I am afraid so. Recently, I had a meeting with some Fine Gael councillors who objected to the idea of having the managers come together for various discussions.
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: I pointed out to them that this proposal was in the Fine Gael document, but I do not think they were familiar with that document.
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: Unfortunately, that is what happens. It is all very well to be theoretical on these issues, but we must also apply some practical backbone and see whether we can carry out these recommendations.
- Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: Efficiencies have been made, in particular with regard to the organisation to which the Deputy has just referred and the authority has reduced staff numbers considerably. The other agencies mentioned will be kept under constant review. We are very cognisant of the fact that we are going through an unprecedented economic crisis and that we must, as a result, cut our cloth accordingly. I...
- Severe Weather Events (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: The response to a severe weather event generally involves cross-departmental co-ordination and collaboration. My Department undertook the role of lead Department by chairing national level co-ordination in the case of last winter's severe weather events with local responses being undertaken by the principal response agencies in accordance with the major emergency management framework....
- Severe Weather Events (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: The Deputy is correct. I have stated unequivocally that we missed the 1 November deadline. Despite the severe work pressures my Department faces, I hope we can complete the report in the next number of weeks. Once the report is completed I will have no difficulty meeting the joint committee, which I have already met on several occasions. I have discussed the issue with individual Deputies...
- Severe Weather Events (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: The Deputy made a number of charges which were completely without foundation. He claimed there is no likelihood that I will come before the committee but I have not said that. He then raised extraneous matters which I will have to address. He spoke about legacy issues but he voted against important elements of the planning legislation. I assure him that the measures to which he referred...
- Severe Weather Events (25 Nov 2010)
John Gormley: Parliamentary democracy is mocked when people act in that manner. I assure the Deputy I will do my best to ensure the report is completed in a timely fashion and I have no difficulty in appearing before the committee to answer any questions he and his colleagues may have.