John Gormley

Green Party Chairman, John Gormley TD has described an anti-incinerator leaflet distributed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell, in Dublin South East as “disingenuous nonsense”.

Speaking after reviewing the leaflet Deputy Gormley said: “Today I discussed the leaflet with my constituency colleague, Ruairi Quinn TD. We are both agreed that Michael McDowell cannot be allowed to get away with this propaganda. Unlike Michael McDowell, we both live in the area affected and we’ll have to suffer the consequences of hundreds of extra trucks passing by our front doors. (more…)

Just after 9am this morning I spoke to workmen from the City Council who were cutting down trees in Ringsend Park. I asked them to stop as there hasn’t been proper consultation with residents about phase two of the park development. I know this because I am a resident. I was involved from the beginning in the phase 1 development - the refurbishment of the playground, and most residents are very pleased that this is going ahead. However, nobody that I know has seen the plan for phase 2. I rang Kevin Humphreys of the Labour party to arrange a meeting for early on Saturday morning. I hope the matter can be resolved to the satisfaction of all the interested parties.

I put out a statement on Judge Harding Clark’s criticism of the HSE.

I’m trying to catch up with constituency work from home. This evening I will attend a graduation ceremony in Clanna na Gael for Ringsend District Response to Drugs (RDRD). Minister Noel Ahern is the guest of honour.

I intend to do a major revamp of this site in the coming weeks. Watch this space.

Speaking at an anti-incineration march in Ringsend, Co. Dublin today, Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD said, “At the last election, Michael McDowell said he would stop the Ringsend incinerator if elected to government. Since his elevation to the Justice portfolio he has done nothing to fulfil this promise. (more…)

On Saturday 8th April 2006 we are holding a one day conference in the Kingston Hotel in Dún Laoghaire to raise awareness of, and debate the issues surrounding the future of Dublin Bay.

Statutory Agencies, Stakeholders, Interest Groups, NGOs and the public are invited to attend.

Issues to be discussed include the following:

• Dublin Bay’s qualities, value and future potential.
• Best practice in cities abroad.
• Agreement on the development that should be considered around the Bay.
• Changes in the management of the Bay.

Full details are available at http://www.dublinbayfutures.org/

227. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the discussions he has had with the management of Dublin City Council concerning the Strategic Infrastructure Bill, 2006 and the possibility that the Ringsend incinerator project might be delayed to take advantage of the proposed new planning process; the powers he has to prevent the city council management from delaying the project in this way; the assurances he may have received from the city manager in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/06]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): As I have previously stated, my Department’s role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with public policy on procurement by way of public-private partnership, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance.  Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council, and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department is satisfied that the project is designed to provide value for money within the parameters of the above guidelines and certified its compliance accordingly in September 2005.
  It is now a matter for Dublin City Council to finalise contractual arrangements with the private partner and advance the project through the statutory physical planning and environmental licensing process.  My Department is precluded from involvement in these processes and has neither sought nor received assurances from Dublin City Council in their regard.
  The regulatory processes to be applied to the project will be those in force at the time the approvals are sought.  I expect that approval will have been sought for the facility before the Bill becomes law.

Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman, on Michael McDowell’s proposals for PoolbegPeninsula, unveiled last night in the Mount Herbert Hotel.

Any contribution to the debate on the future of DublinPort and DublinBay is welcome, but this proposal represents a rather late entry on the part of the PDs. The future of Dublin Port and the Poolbeg peninsula is being decided now, with the high-level review of state-owned ports, the Poolbeg Framework Plan, and the plans to locate a municipal mass-burn incinerator in the heart of the ‘new quarter’ proposed in the PD plan. As a partner in this government, the PDs have the power and indeed the responsibility to take action on these issues rather than attempting to distract the electorate with sketchy long-term plans. (more…)

1109. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the increase in vandalism and intimidation around the Ropewalk Mews area of Ringsend; the steps he intends to take to deal with same; if closed circuit television will be installed in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/06] (more…)

453. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to a parliamentary question of 2 November 2005, the reason he decided to approve a public private partnership for the design, building, operating and financing of an incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula in Ringsend; if he will make available documentation from his Department relating to this decision; and the reason to date in 2005, he has refused all requests to make information on this important decision available to Dáil deputies. [39966/05]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): As I have already indicated, my Department’s role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with PPP procurement norms, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance.  Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department was satisfied that the project is designed to provide value for money within the parameters of the above guidelines and certified its compliance accordingly. 
  My Department is not the promoter of this project and will not hold all documentation on it.  I am satisfied that it would be inappropriate at this stage, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, to circulate publicly the documentation provided to my Department on this project.  However, I understand that Dublin City Council is preparing a summary of the contractual arrangements which will be issued for public information purposes.

 639. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the documentation he signed for a public private partnership for an incinerator on the Poolbeg Peninsula in Ringsend will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31874/05]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): The public private partnership, PPP, concerned is for a waste to energy plant which will be procured by Dublin City Council on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, in accordance with their joint waste management plan.  Under guidelines issued by the Department of Finance, my Department is required to monitor compliance by local authorities with public policy in regard to PPP procurement.  Following submissions from Dublin City Council, and consultation with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department has now issued the necessary certification of this compliance to Dublin City Council in the present case.  It is now a matter for Dublin City Council to enter into resulting contractual arrangements with the preferred private partner.  Pending the conclusion of these contractual arrangements, it would not be appropriate for my Department to make available information which is commercially sensitive or which might prejudice the conclusion of the arrangements.