Results 3,841-3,860 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 21, 27, 29 and 32 together. Between 1997 and 2005 Ireland designated 55 special areas of conservation and 75 natural heritage areas for the conservation of raised bog habitat. In 1999, the then Minister announced a ten year national derogation during which domestic turf cutting could continue subject to certain restrictions. This applied to 31 raised bog...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand the confusion about these matters, particularly in the run up to elections, when these matters become clouded. We are dealing with the EU habitats directive that is the law of the land and that must be implemented to preserve biodiversity and meet environmental obligations. We have been in the courts, and will be brought before them again unless we deal with this issue as soon...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Fleming for his remarks. We enjoyed a good working relationship when he was chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the last Dáil and I look forward to working closely with him again. I have a great deal of sympathy for his comments on scientific data. In the national heritage areas, in particular, there is scope to look at the...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am in a position to inform the Deputy that we will make an announcement on these matters shortly. I am coming to conclusions on these matters in terms of mediation. I am keen to see stakeholder involvement in respect of devising management plans for each bog with an independent chairman, as outlined in the programme for Government, and I am keen for this to take place sooner rather than...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish climate legislation to give certainty and clarity with regard to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved in line with EU targets. In progressing this commitment, I intend to follow a transparent process which will provide an avenue for engagement for all stakeholders. My priority in the climate area is, in the...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I expect the Bill to be published in 2012. I cannot anticipate whether it will be early or late but I have obligations from the EU environment perspective to have targets put in place, not in prescriptive form, like the previous Government, but in respect of the sectoral policies that must be deployed to meet our Kyoto objectives which we are likely to meet, but equally the 2020 objectives...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: It will be in 2012.

Planning Issues (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Eoghan Murphy for raising this matter and I will give him information regarding the issues he has raised. My Department has made inquiries of Dublin City Council on this matter and I am informed that the Marine Terminal Limited site on Pigeon House Road has a long established port-related industrial use dating back to 1975 or thereabouts. Dublin City Council received a...

Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Healy for his remarks and for raising the position regarding the Fethard regional water supply scheme. The scheme in question is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 as a contract to commence in the lifetime of the programme. As the Deputy noted, the Department is waiting for further information and tender documents from South Tipperary...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The current system of rating and non-rating authorities is long-established. There are 54 rating town councils (including the five borough councils) and 26 non-rating town councils, previously known as town commissioners. The Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group published in July 2010 includes a recommendation to transfer responsibility for planning, roads and housing...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: My predecessor as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, appointed Mr. John Hennessy, SC, as an authorised person under section 224 of the Local Government Act 2001, to examine various financial matters arising in relation to the Waste to Energy facility proposed for Poolbeg. I am considering the Hennessy Report in consultation with the Attorney...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The extent of the radon problem in Ireland has been assessed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) over a number of years. Between 1992 and 1999, the RPII carried out a comprehensive National Radon Survey to measure radon concentrations in Irish homes. The principal objective was to assess the scale of the radon problem and, in particular, identify areas at higher risk of...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 49 together. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. I am prioritising this commitment, as I am anxious to provide early regulatory certainty, in the form of both policy and legislation, to...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: In February 2009, my Department set out details of the financial requirements for local authorities relating to their overall management of capital and current accounts. These requirements flow directly from the requirement for Government finances as a whole to be managed in accordance with the Stability and Growth Pact established under the Maastricht Treaty, and the associated limitation on...

Written Answers — Election Management: Election Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to having spending limits for all elections and constitutional referendums, including for a period in advance of scheduled local, European, general and presidential elections. Part IV of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for an election expenses regime to be applied to candidates at a presidential election. While the monetary amounts in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department. This is part of the Government's wider commitment to a radical overhaul of the way Irish politics and Government work. An Electoral Commission will be an important element in a reformed and revitalised electoral system. In developing proposals...

Written Answers — Library Services: Library Services (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001 deals with the functions of library authorities. Section 78 (2) (a) of the Act provides that a library authority may, in particular, arrange for the provision of premises and facilities (including mobile facilities) for the borrowing of and reference to books and other printed matter, tapes and discs (being audio, video or both) slides and such...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The OSPAR strategy with regard to radioactive substances (RSS) has as its objective the prevention of pollution of the OSPAR maritime area by radioactive substances. This is to be achieved by the contracting parties to the convention, which include Ireland and the UK, through progressive and substantial reductions in discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances, with the...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together. A range of work relevant to local government reform is under way or in planning arising from the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group and I am reviewing the next immediate steps to augment this work. I will also be considering wider proposals to renew and develop the local government system in line with the Programme for...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together. The Programme for Government commits to a radical overhaul of the way Irish politics and Government work. It sets out a wide-ranging series of commitments to this end, a number of which are within my areas of responsibility as Minister. I am committed to working with my Government colleagues to implement these measures in full. The...