Results 4,261-4,280 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Political Party Funding (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Private Members' Bill brought forward by Fianna Fáil would not have included all corporate bodies. There were loopholes to allow certain corporate bodies to continue to give donations without being subject to the new restrictions. There were flaws in the Bill. We got advice from the Attorney General on the constitutionality of corporate donations. We wished to proceed immediately to...

Political Party Funding (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: It will probably be the most speedy implementation ever of a proposal in a programme for Government. It will be published in July and enacted before the end of the year.

Community Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The community and voluntary fora carry out valuable work on behalf of their communities. They provide an important input to the work of local authorities, particularly in the context of their membership of local authority structures such as the strategic policy committees, joint policing committees and county and city development boards. I recently approved allocations totalling €587,000...

Community Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Does this question refer to the Family Support Agency or the family resource centres? Are they linked?

Community Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, has a role and responsibility in that area.

Community Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes, that is a separate issue. I have been engaging with the community section, which was subsumed into my Department. We are examining where services are provided across a range of Departments and agencies. We want to eliminate duplication and triplication, which is unsustainable. We want to ensure that core funding for these community organisations being assessed at the moment is...

Building Regulations (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am acutely aware of the difficult and distressing position faced by many homeowners and tenants who have been affected by the pyrite problem. In this context I welcome the judgment issued by the High Court on 25 May 2011 in the case of James Elliott Construction Limited v. Irish Asphalt Limited. The judgment in that case found Irish Asphalt Limited liable for the supply of defective...

Building Regulations (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is no liability on the part of the State.

Building Regulations (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The case outcome vindicates the position taken by the Department as far back as 2007. In accordance with technical guidance documents published to accompany Part D of the building regulations, the material used as infill should be proper material fit for purpose and the conditions for which it is used. I can understand people are worried, particularly with regard to funding, but HomeBond is...

Political Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: 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. I am committed to working with my Government colleagues to implement these measures in full. On 8 June 2011, I published the general scheme of the Electoral (Amendment)...

Political Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy may not understand that it takes time to agree a policy position, debate the issues in Cabinet and draft and publish the legislation. In the area of political reform, we have done more in 100 days than any other Administration in the history of the State. I look forward to the Deputy's support when these matters are brought before the Dáil and I hope the proposals I outlined...

Political Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: Better value can be obtained on the open market than through the affordable housing scheme under Part V. It does not make sense to continue the scheme in those circumstances. The Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, is working assiduously with the National Asset Management Agency, a quango we would prefer not to have inherited, to roll out the social dividend in terms of providing housing to...

Political Reform (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am happy to take that on board.

Rural Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The programme for Government and the 2010 report of the local government efficiency review group both outline the need to develop and improve the synergies between the programmes and plans of local development bodies and the work of local government. Increased co-operation will provide qualitative and quantitative efficiencies and should improve the impact of relevant programmes and plans of...

Rural Development (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion about aligning the Leader groups and local development companies generally with county boundaries and local authorities. I have an open mind on the matter and will consider it in the context of our discussions. The rural development programme was slow to give itself up and there is a significant underspend at present. We are encountering...

Local Authority Services (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003, provide, inter alia, for the supply of specified documentation to Oireachtas Members by the local authority such as the local authority budget, draft development plan, etc. It is a matter for each local authority to deal with requests for access to information by a parliamentary representative as expeditiously as possible and in...

Local Authority Services (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand the Deputy's concern. I have not received any representations about a problem in that regard. If Deputy Durkan has information to that effect I would be pleased to receive it to ensure compliance with the operation of the regulations as set out in the legislation. I understand local authorities are responsible for delivering a range of essential services to the public. It is...

Local Authority Services (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I do not know where Deputy Durkan was referring to if it was not Kildare.

Local Authority Services (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will look after Kilkenny.

Waste Management (16 Jun 2011)

Phil Hogan: I stated in the course of the Second Stage debate on the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on 14 April 2011 that I will announce my decision in respect of the waste facility levy provisions of the Bill on Committee Stage. The Bill is a very important component of the national approach to waste and in the course of the Second Stage debate I outlined the guiding principles which...