Results 3,821-3,840 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the table. Gross Motor Tax Receipts by Licensing Authority 2009 and 2010 Licensing Authority 2009Gross Motor Tax Receipts â'¬ 2010Gross Motor Tax Receipts â'¬ Carlow 10,934,896 10,083,670 Cavan 11,645,970 10,649,902 Clare 19,848,442 18,669,347 Cork 70,580,674 66,768,693 Donegal 27,349,899 25,979,094 Galway 37,495,688 34,801,297 Kerry...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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 Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme is included in the Programme as a scheme to advance through planning during the life of the programme. My Department has approved a...

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

Phil Hogan: The findings and recommendations of the Report of the independent Local Government Efficiency Review Group are for consideration by the Government in the appropriate policy and financial contexts. A Group, chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (who also chaired the Efficiency Review Group), is carrying out a review of the staffing complement and number of senior managers in Dublin City Council. The...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 271 together. From 2004 to 2009, my Department had an interim role in the management of the former Ispat site in a manner which is consistent with good practice and minimisation of risk to human health and the environment. My Department arranged for the decontamination and demolition of buildings on the site and, post-demolition, for the procurement of...

Written Answers — Fire Incident Investigation: Fire Incident Investigation (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I extend my deepest sympathies to the families and colleagues of Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy whose deaths occurred in such tragic circumstances in Bray in 2007. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), An Garda Síochána and Wicklow County Council, each announced investigations into the deaths of two firefighters. I cannot speak in relation...

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

Phil Hogan: There are 20 bodies under the aegis of the Department, mainly non-commercial, undertaking quasi-judicial/ regulatory, advisory and developmental functions. These bodies are of varying size and structure. There is an active consolidation programme in train that is reducing this number by six. Day-to-day operations, including payroll and other administrative systems, are a matter for the...

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

Phil Hogan: Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The State has limited resources to acquire, maintain, conserve and present heritage properties, in particular, in the current economic climate. In principle, normal planning procedures and the relevant legislation should be used to give adequate protection to the built heritage. The purchase of a heritage property by the State would only apply in exceptional circumstances, having regard, for...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: Ireland recognises the right of States to determine their own energy mix, including whether or not to develop nuclear power. It is our expectation that, where a State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection. Safety must be the first priority for all existing or planned...

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: First, I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his appointment and thank the Members opposite for their good wishes to me and the hardworking Ministers of State beside me, especially the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose. Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the local authorities and the office of environmental enforcement, OEE, within the Environmental...

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I would be happy to assist the Deputy with this serious problem, which I have been aware of outside my current position. More could be done by Fingal County Council and the EPA, as they have the legislative provision and back-up from the Department required to achieve success. Recently, the council took a court case in which it was successful for a change.

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes. A CCTV system has been put into operation. My policy is clear, in that illegal dumping should be dealt with by the relevant regulatory authorities in as strong a manner as possible. Activity that damages our environment physically or visually is not acceptable. I understand the frustration of Deputy Ellis and the area's law-abiding residents concerning this illegal activity and will...

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: As of June 2010, Fingal County Council had carried out more than 1,000 hours of surveillance by the regional enforcement unit-----

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and covert CCTV surveillance. There has been all sorts of interagency involvement. Deputy Ellis knows all about it and his expertise in that regard would be helpful. All of the agencies have come together to ensure compliance effectively. I assure Deputy Ellis that I will contact the local authority and the relevant agencies to determine how to resolve these issues once and for all.

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together. Ireland recognises the right of states to determine their own energy mix, including whether to develop nuclear power. It is our expectation that, where a state chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards in respect of safety and environmental protection. Safety must be...

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: There has been a great deal of rhetoric about this matter for a long time-----

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and much rhetoric on the part of political parties on what can and cannot be done. We are dealing with a sovereign state, the same as our own. The objective of the Government is to close Sellafield but we cannot force the British Government to do so without having its agreement. Essentially, there are two categories of concern. The first is the environmental impact of historic and...

Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints. In so far as support for the upgrading of septic tanks is concerned, this matter is under review in my Department, in the context of the finalisation of legislative proposals to respond to a 2009 judgment of the European Court of Justice. The court ruled that Ireland had failed to adopt...

EU Directives (6 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...

EU Directives (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have asked for this matter to be expedited and expect to have proposals very shortly as to how we can achieve that early in the legislative programme, between now and the summer recess. The main issues that remain to be addressed relate to Article 9 of the convention, on concern regarding access to justice. There is a need to ensure that all members of the public have access to review...