Results 361-380 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: European Parliament Elections (4 Jun 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish citizens, who meet the age and residency requirements, can vote in all elections and referendums in the State provided they are registered in the register of electors. The letter ‘L’ placed against the name of an elector in the register indicates that the person concerned is registered as a local government elector and is entitled to vote at local elections only. Presiding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (29 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: 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 assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Volunteer Strategy (29 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Government continues to advance a range of measures that support volunteering and active citizenship. My Department funds a network of twenty one volunteer centres. It also provides funding to Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency. The focus of Volunteer Ireland is to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. The further progression of all water services capital projects and issues pertaining to them is now a matter for Irish Water. Irish Water has recently published its proposed Capital Investment Plan 2014 – 2016 and this is available to download from the Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Governmentsets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Irish Water is the only commercial semi-state company under the aegis of my Department. Irish Water does expect to seek a standalone credit rating in due course as a track record in revenue collection is built up.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Projects (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. My Department provides capital funding towards approved new library projects carried out by local authorities subject to availability of resources. All available funding under the Library...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service (28 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013 I published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS)as the national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. KCS sets out an overall systemic approach to the objective of reducing the number of fires and consequent annual loss, based on a risk management approach to fire safety. Following an in-depth examination of a number of different service delivery options,...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thought I gave a reasonable and positive response to the Deputy. I said I was prepared to examine these issues. I am concerned about the fees that are being quoted by some existing members of the statutory bodies, particularly for self-build projects. It seems they have developed into a cartel, particularly in rural areas where they are actually talking to each other about the level of...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised that these professional bodies have done that, because all we are trying to do here is protect the consumer from some of the practices the Deputy knows about, which I have dealt with in many cases. The building regulations will ensure that these issues will not arise again insofar as I have anything to do with it. I am dissatisfied with the level of fees being quoted. I am...

Topical Issue Debate: Building Regulations Qualifications (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Wallace for raising this important matter. The Deputy knows the Building Control Act 2007 is not working satisfactorily for the people we are all trying to help, namely, the person who is going to be the owner of the property and the consumer. There are hundreds of problems around the country arising from the implementation of the present building control regulations,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function s in relation to procurement of legal advice by the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department had ongoing engagement, both formal and informal, with the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) relating to the implementation of the Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentand the drafting of the Local Government Reform Bill 2013 . The information sought is not readily collated and the collation of all the documentation as requested would involve a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Usage (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 518 together. The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's 3 rdNational Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral Reform (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections and referendums . EU citizens may vote at European Parliament and local elections; non-EU citizens may vote at local elections. In addition, British citizens are also eligible to vote at...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Scheme Grants (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 489 and 490 of 13 May 2014 , which sets out the position in this matter .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: When a vehicle is being permanently exported from the State the registered owner is required to inform the licensing authority. The vehicle continue s to be recorded in the current owner ’ s name until confirmation is received from the export destination that the vehicle has been re-registered there. If this procedure is not followed the vehicle owner continues to be liable for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Election Management System (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 540 together. Section 140 of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he or she prints or publishes a notice, bill, poster or similar document relating to a Dáil election which does not show upon its face the name and address of the printer and of the publisher of such document. Similar provisions apply in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Noise Pollution Legislation (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Governmentincludes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia, through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines).  The development of new noise legislation by my Department is being considered in the context of this commitment. However, as indicated in the Government Legislation Programme published on 15...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (27 May 2014)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. I n order to qualify for the goods rate of motor tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use and used solely for the conveyance of goods in the course of trade or business, including agriculture. Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment)...