Results 4,641-4,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: We are doing better in that respect.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: We have burned a few bondholders for the Senator.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will bring the matter Senator Mooney has raised to the attention of my Department but I do not have a response at this stage. Senators raised the increase in the landfill levy. The indication for the next three years will bring certainty to the market and eliminate the confusion that has existed for some time. It is appropriate to do so given the low level of gate fees at present....

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: It was dealt with by the people in the past in Dingle. Senator Harte mentioned the naming of estates. Local authorities can attach conditions to planning conditions regarding the appropriate naming of estates. They do not do so often, but they can do it. Many local authorities have naming committees comprising local people, officials and elected members. It is a matter that I would like...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: No, that is not the one. The T90 case is a separate issue about which I have met recently with officials of Leitrim County Council. To the best of our ability, we are pursuing a resolution to that matter, which is not confined to Leitrim but affects other areas of the country as well. Senator Quinn mentioned electronic waste and its reuse. That matter will be addressed as part of the...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: Even before Mr. John Gormley became Minister for the Environment, the former Minister, Mr. Dick Roche, made sure that the Poolbeg project would go ahead and that Mr. Gormley could not do anything about it. I have an option. I can put my head in the sand, which I am not prepared to do, and expose the taxpayer to a €357 million breach of contract or fines imposed by the European Commission....

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: No. Hold on Senator. I did not interrupt you.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will pursue whatever policies are required, at the cheapest possible option, to ensure that we have an effective waste policy. In addition, we must not expose the taxpayer, unwillingly or unnecessarily, to fines which have to be imposed in general taxation ultimately on the citizen.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil]: Second Stage (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: I commend the Bill to the House.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: The amendment proposes that the monetary amounts of fines for penalties under the Air Pollution Act be further increased beyond the significant increases that I have already announced. Paragraph (a) refers to fines on summary conviction and proposes that a larger increase than that proposed by the Government be introduced. This is not necessary as I propose to align them with the 2010 Fines...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: The amendment proposes to insert in section 9 a new provision regarding the sealing and labelling requirements for fuel bags under fuel regulations. As I stated this morning, turf and timber are exempt from the regulations. In section 10, the ban on the sale and marketing of certain fuels in restricted areas applies to coal with a gross calorific value of less than 24 megajoules -...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: Senator Ó Domhnaill knows the plastic bag levy has nothing to do with raising revenue. Rather, this environmental measure was introduced to dictate consumer behaviour. I congratulate the former Ministers, Mr. Noel Dempsey and Mr. Dick Roche, on introducing and increasing this levy, respectively. They had good reasons for doing so. We want to divert plastic from landfill and every other...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: It is interesting that in respect of the previous amendment Senator Ó Domhnaill stated that the plastic bag levy is a revenue-raising measure. He is now stating that what is involved here is not a revenue-raising measure.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Senator said the opposite a few moments ago. He may or may not realise that the gate fees relating to landfill sites have decreased to such a degree that materials which could be recycled are being placed in landfill. I do not believe that is in the interests of environmental or waste policy. By increasing landfill levies to such an extent, I am giving an incentive to people to move...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Senator contradicted himself on several occasions. We cannot enhance the prospect of recycling if it is more attractive for people to put waste in landfill. Regardless of whether the Senator likes it, that is what is happening here.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: One cannot change consumers' behaviour without providing fiscal instruments to assist them.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: The country will have to meet its obligations under the landfill directives to which the Government led by the Deputy's party signed up. If we do not hit the relevant targets in 2013 and 2016, we will be obliged to pay fines to the European Commission. Ordinary people will be obliged to pay those fines through their taxes. Is that the proper way to proceed in respect of waste policy? I...

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes, they have a free option. The Senator wants that waste to go to landfill.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: What the Senator is proposing will cost the consumer more.

Seanad: Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 [Dáil] : Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Phil Hogan: There must be options.