Results 4,001-4,020 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Household Utility Charge (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The EU-IMF programme of financial support for Ireland commits to the introduction of a property tax for 2012 and 2013 under its fiscal consolidation measures. The programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing...

Household Utility Charge (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is no confusion on this side of the House. The schizophrenic confusion is due to the fact that the then Government, of which Deputy Collins's party was a member, negotiated with the EU-IMF programme-----

Household Utility Charge (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and with Mr. Chopra to introduce a household charge.

Household Utility Charge (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: We are introducing what Deputy Collins's party negotiated. It is disingenuous of him to try to infer that there is a new charge. It is the same charge his party negotiated in Government.

Household Utility Charge (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: We will come forward with details on the implementation of the scheme. Water metering will have to be paid for. The roll-out of metering will start in 2012. It is a water conservation measure. A lot of water is wasted. The lack of water conservation is now coming home to roost. Following the past two winters people now appreciate more than ever the importance of having good quality and...

Fire Stations (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. Offaly County Council has adopted fire cover standards as part of its statutorily required fire...

Fire Stations (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the provision of fire services is a matter for the local authority. That there are eight fire stations in Laois and only five in Offaly does not mean they cannot co-operate with each other to deal effectively with fires. Nor does it mean that counties cannot have a plan to ensure that every possible area is covered in the event of an emergency. The Department's role is...

Fire Stations (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree. However, Deputy Stanley, more than anybody, should understand that boundaries should not interfere with an effect response from fire and emergency services.

Waste Management (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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 policy and legislation, to ensure that the necessary actions and investments are...

Waste Management (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am sure the Deputy would not expect me to make a policy statement on waste management today when I have already stated I will consult parliamentary Members and agree a waste policy at the end of the year. If he is asking me to make a decision now, I will, but I would like to consult people about it. The Deputy was a member of a local authority which, in conjunction with others, had to...

Waste Management (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy might not have been a member of Roscommon County Council, but I am sure he has heard that local authority members at the time had the power to draw up regional waste management plans.

Waste Management (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Rome did not start six years ago either. The Deputy started late, but he is making up for lost time. I want to return what is a devolved function to local authority members to deal with waste issues. However, they will do so based on guiding principles for national waste policy which the Deputy will have an opportunity to discuss while he is a Member of this House in the near future.

Local Authority Staff (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The embargo on the filling of posts in the local government service was introduced on 24 March 2009 following a Government decision to implement savings measures across the wider public service. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of this general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts across all local...

Local Authority Staff (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium will not be lifted in the foreseeable future. It is clear that local authorities could not maintain key services with a blanket embargo on recruitment and for that reason they have the option of making representations and requests to the Department. These are examined on a case by case basis, particularly in the context of maintaining full front-line services. If the Deputy...

Proposed Legislation (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Enhancing equality and social development is central to the work of my Department, including, for instance, in the areas of housing and community development. The Department has a strong commitment to evidence-based policy formulation and uses the full range of tools and techniques to assess the impacts of policies and programmes at all stages of decision-making and legislative development....

Proposed Legislation (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department, together with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health and Children, is taking part in a pilot to test guidelines for proofing proposals regarding disability prepared by the Department of Justice and Equality, which is the lead Department in regard to equality issues. We will await the outcome of this pilot programme which involves...

Social and Affordable Housing (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was well looked after by Fine Gael in Roscommon in the past when it suited him.

Social and Affordable Housing (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Ellis had to make way for the Queen.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: The former 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 in February 2010, to examine various financial matters arising in relation to the Waste to Energy facility proposed by Dublin City Council, on behalf of the Dublin local authorities, for Poolbeg in...

Written Answers — Industrial Sites: Industrial Sites (17 May 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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. In that context, my Department arranged for the decontamination and demolition of buildings on the site and, post-demolition, for the procurement of a contractor to carry out site...