Results 3,801-3,820 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will take eight minutes. I ask the Acting Chairman to tell me when there are four minutes remaining.

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know that, but I need eight minutes.

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will look for the indulgence of the Chair.

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome the publication of the report of the Moriarty tribunal and commend Mr. Justice Moriarty on the detailed and considered work that he and his team have done in producing a report of such depth and scope. This is a serious report with strong recommendations which need to be assessed and implemented. I accept the...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: It was Fianna Fáil, not Fine Gael, that cut secret deals with Deputy Lowry. It was Fianna Fáil, aided and abetted by the Greens, which cobbled together secret arrangements and kept that information from public view to keep a discredited Government in power beyond its expiry date. I hold no truck for those found to have behaved as described by Mr. Justice Moriarty and they should be...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: It is interesting that none of them is here today.

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: The experience with the Moriarty tribunal has shown that this system of inquiry is by its nature deliberative and slow as well as being costly for the taxpayer. The scale of legal fees has been a national scandal for years and despite promises to tackle the problem that they present, legislative action on this front has been slow to take off. I have every confidence that the Minister for...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station staff in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (30 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a fair funding model to deliver reliable water services. The programme also proposes the establishment of a new State-owned water utility company and the installation of water meters in individual households and introduction of water charges based on usage above a free...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (31 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: Under the terms of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) a person's pension contributions and benefits are based on the pensionable pay appropriate to the pensionable local authority post. Earnings in respect of a position, other than the person's local authority pensionable post, do not count for pension purposes and, equally, contributions are not payable in respect of such...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (31 Mar 2011)

Phil Hogan: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 enables eligible persons engaged in the provision of architectural services to register for the use of the title architect. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has been designated as the registration body for the purposes of Part 3 of the Act. To date the registration body has established an Admissions Board and a Technical...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Farm Plan Scheme is currently closed to new applicants. Further access to the scheme will be subject to the availability of funding during 2011 and beyond. Any decision to invite new applications will be publicly announced. In such an event, applications to join the scheme will be assessed on the basis of conservation priorities, biodiversity added value and value for money.

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: In 2002, the Report of the Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland was published by my Department. The principal recommendations included more focus on fire safety, including the introduction of community fire safety initiatives; the enhancement of fire safety legislation, the adoption of a risk-based approach to determining emergency cover as well as new approaches and structures...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the local fire authorities through setting of general policy, training...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: No funding has been available from my Department for any groups for the purpose indicated in the question. The provision of funding by local authorities is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to complete ratification of the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Delivering on this commitment by addressing the remaining legislative requirements to allow ratification to proceed is a high priority for the Government. The three pillars of the...

Written Answers — Fuel Quality: Fuel Quality (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department has responsibility for fuel quality standards from the perspective of ensuring that petrol and diesel sold in the State meet prescribed environmental specifications to reduce the polluting effect that certain substances have on the environment when emitted to air as part of the fuel combustion process. Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels is...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 266 together. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €231 million in the county...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 62, 63 and 64 on 24 March 2011 which addressed comprehensively the concerns regarding the inappropriate use of pyritic material as hardcore filler in underground foundations in buildings.

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The numbers of permanent and temporary, whole time equivalent, staff employed in local authorities for 2008, 2009 and 2010 are set out in the table. Permanent Temporary Total December 2008 31,843.93 3,163.6 35,007.53 December 2009 30,561.86 1,690.78 32,252.64 December 2010 29,563.16 1,378.88 30,942.04 Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is...