Results 9,241-9,260 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: He wants the County Cavan experience in the entire country.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Senator should table an amendment.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I suppose we have a good deal of misinformation about this legislation, starting with a €300 annual inspection charge. It is a while ago since we heard that but it was dropped. Now we have the Cavan Fianna Fáil €200 inspection charge, arising from an amendment tabled by the Fianna Fáil Party, whereas I am seeking no more than €50 for a registration charge. At least we have clarity...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes, for the purpose of complying with the judgment.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will answer that in a minute.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: If I am making a matter like this exempt from planning, then there are no fees. I must apologise to Senator Mooney for doing a very unusual thing. I have ensured in the primary legislation that the registration fee will be no more than €50, so that will reassure Senator Mooney, whatever about Senator Ó Domhnaill.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: It will require an amendment to the Act in these Houses-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I might not be around to reduce it. Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked about guidelines. These are listed in Section 70C of Part 4A of the Bill, which states the following. The owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system shall— (a) comply with regulations made under section 70L, (b) ensure that the system does not constitute, and is not likely to constitute, a risk...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The regulations will subsequently be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Senator will then have an opportunity to debate them.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Bill comes first, then the regulations.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes. In answer to Senator Mooney's question, people will have 12 months to register. They have the entire year in 2012 to register. I am sure that when public representatives, community groups and neighbours get notification of this particular matter, they will be able to assist the people next door. Some 475,000 people seem a lot but they are scattered around the country. For example,...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am only introducing what is standard practice in legislation. In addition, all matters relating to regulations are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and each House has an opportunity to accept or reject them within 21 days.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Houses will have an opportunity to accept or reject it.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Please do.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I knew if I waited long enough in this debate that Fianna Fáil Members would eventually contradict themselves and that has happened with this amendment.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have now discovered a total lack of sincerity on their part about doing anything on this legislation. They started out totally opposed to the Bill, inspections, charges and compliance with the European Court of Justice judgment and in favour of desludging as long as somebody else paid for it. Senator Wilson did not outline what people are paying in Cavan for an inspection. They pay...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under the by-laws in Cavan, it costs €200 per household for every septic tank to be inspected every seven years and desludging is paid for by the homeowner. Am I right or wrong?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am including County Cavan in the legislation because we need to know the location of the septic tanks and the Bill provides for a register of them. According to Senator Ó Domhnaill's amendment, it will cost householders €4,000 on average to improve their septic tanks if they have a problem under the 1996 guidelines and there will be a €200 inspection charge every seven years.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The cat is out of the bag once and for all. Fianna Fáil want us to adopt the 1996 EPA guidelines and by-laws in Cavan County Council, which provide for a €200 inspection charge on all households every seven years and a charge of €4,000 on average to upgrade septic tanks if people have a difficulty.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: What was the grant scheme-----