John Gormley

Below are edited extracts from the debate on the proposed Poolbeg incinerator in the Dáil on Thursday February 22nd. The full debate is available on the Oireachtas web site.

Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government’s position on incineration and, in particular, the proposed incinerator for the Poolbeg peninsula; the status of the procurement process; if, in his view, Dublin City Council can proceed with the incinerator, which up until now has been supported by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (more…)

Speech to Dáil Éireann, 6 December 2006, by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman

I’m glad to have the opportunity at last to speak in the House on the issue of the running down of our Post Office network. As you know, Ceann Comhairle, I have repeatedly submitted questions, motions and requests for adjournment debates on this issue over the past few months. On each occasion, the matter was ruled out of order on the basis that the Minister is not responsible for An Post. However on the 11th of May this year, Minister Seamus Brennan told my colleague Dan Boyle in the House that “The Government is committed to maintaining a viable network of post offices throughout the country”. How can the Government be committed to an objective, and yet refuse to take action on it, and refuse to even answer questions about it in this house? (more…)

Mr. Gormley: It is important that we debate this issue and I am glad that the Government has put forward this motion.  My colleague, Deputy Boyle, has previously suggested that we use our pension funds in ethical ways and this may have been alluded to earlier, but certainly the suggestion that has come from our AWEPA group is worthy of consideration.  What AWEPA has suggested, and what the Green Party has previously suggested, is that we look at the pension funds in a creative and constructive way and that we should not use our pensions money to invest in harmful products such as tobacco, alcohol and armaments.  AWEPA is suggesting that we divest Irish pension funds from Sudan.  It is a suggestion which the Government Deputies ought to consider.  AWEPA states clearly that while the diplomatic deadlock persists, this is a means of applying extra pressure on Khartoum and that President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has rejected the plan to allow the African Union UN force to be deployed in Darfur by 1 January next.  If we were to take the action AWEPA is suggesting, it would be a small step, which perhaps some would regard as insignificant but which would set the ball rolling for a much wider campaign at European Union level.  We can light that torch.  If that is done and all of the European Union countries were to act together on this, the effect would be significant.  That is why it is important that the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, takes that initiative to his colleagues in the European Union as a way forward. (more…)

I am currently distributing a newsletter in the constituency which makes reference to our recent Private Member’s Bill on noise pollution. If you wish to read this bill in full, it is available for download from the Oireachtas web site.

Some background to the Neighbourhood Noise Bill is available here. You can also find some audio links about the bill at the Green Party web site.

Speech delivered during an adjournment debate in the Dáil today by John Gormley, TD for Dublin South East:

I would like to thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to once again raise the ever increasing problem of graffiti in our city. You may recall, Ceann Comhairle, that at the beginning of the summer I raised this issue in the hope that the Government would take action to deal with the problem, but sadly very little has been done and the complaints from constituents about this problem continue.

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76. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the impact the US mid-term election results will have on efforts to legalise Irish immigrants in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39577/06] (more…)

Mr. Gormley: Does the Minister of State agree that Self Help is doing outstanding work in Uganda, Ethiopia and elsewhere?  I assume this is the reason that he initially accepted the organisation into the multiannual funding programme.  Will he explain why its funding has now been cut? (more…)

3. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, the Government will reconsider its decision to allow the US military to use Shannon Airport; his views on whether the war in Iraq has destabilised the country and been counterproductive and that the coalition forces should set a deadline for withdrawal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39807/06]

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35. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on the proposal by the Polish President, Mr. Lech Kaczynski, for a 100,000 strong European Union army linked to NATO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38107/06]

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Mr. Gormley: I thank the Minister of State for outlining these proposals in detail.  He will have the full support of the House for this Bill.  I will not speak for long because most of the issues have been covered.

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