Results 4,981-5,000 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (18 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department, in conjunction with the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB), is commencing a review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B (2006). An initial public consultation process will take place to ensure all relevant matters are covered in the review and this process will commence shortly. There will be a further...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (18 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation on the issues involved, designed to inform the policy development process, has recently...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Based on the latest full year for which figures are available, 2010, fees totalling €428,605 were payable to board members in State agencies under the aegis of my Department. On the basis that all fees were paid it should be possible to save the entire amount through the abolition of fees. Where public servants are appointed to Boards, no fees are payable. In this regard, public servants...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (19 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Following the serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in March 2011, the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change requested the UK's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, to examine the circumstances of the Fukushima accident to see what lessons could be learned to enhance the safety of the UK nuclear industry. The Inspector's final report was...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (19 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 explicitly prohibit a holder of waste from disposing of it by uncontrolled burning. The burning of uncontaminated wood, trees, tree trimmings, leaves, brush, or other similar waste generated by agricultural practices is exempt from the burning prohibition but only as a last resort following efforts to either...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (19 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation on the issues involved, designed to inform the policy development process, has recently...

Local Authority Funding (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each local authority. The annual rate on valuation applied to the valuation of each...

Local Authority Funding (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree totally with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Niall Collins on the small business sector. Those in the sector are under pressure from a variety of areas and the cost base of surviving in business is a legitimate concern for them. However, given that 29% of local authority income is from the commercial rate base one can understand how important a source of income it is for local...

Local Authority Housing (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: With the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle, the Minister of State will leave the Chamber when the reply concludes.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Waterford Local Government Committee is a statutory committee established under the Local Government Act 1991 to carry out a review of local government arrangements in Waterford and submit a report containing recommendations on whether the county council and city council of Waterford should be unified. The appointment of members to the committee was undertaken in accordance with, inter...

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I cannot appoint local representatives to this group because it would be illegal to do so. I am sure the Deputy does not advocate that I should do something illegal.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I will not meet any representative of any local authority until such time as the group reports. It was set up to ascertain the position regarding possible synergy and efficiencies in the Waterford local government system. That will mean reduced charges and reduced waste of resources which occurs because of current duplication. The group is looking at all these issues and its terms of...

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy should wait for the outcome of these deliberations.

Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy may say they were Government appointees. They are, but they are very independent-minded people who are able to make up their own minds, based on the terms of reference laid down for them. I have full confidence that these people will produce a report by the end of February. Let us then discuss the contents of that report. We will give them that chance.

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: In October 2009, the European Court of Justice ruled that Irish legislation does not adequately provide for domestic waste water from septic tanks to be recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes which could harm the environment. Accordingly, the ECJ found that our legislation is, therefore, not compliant with the waste directive. I expect to bring...

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I certainly have heard nothing of that kind said in the Department. If the Deputy is advocating that proposal, fair enough.

Grant Payments (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: No, I have not heard anything about it. It is certainly not my intention to do that. Water charges by metering will be introduced in due course, as a separate charge from the household charge, as the Deputy knows. We always stated that would be the case. The registration charge is a nominal amount. Some septic tanks date back pre-1963. We must ensure we catch everybody in the sense of...

Building Regulations (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: Following an application by Dublin City Council, a High Court Order was granted on 14 October 2011 for the evacuation of the development at Priory Hall on the grounds that it is unsafe. My Department understands that, following a further hearing on 17 October 2011, a stay has been put on the evacuation order until 20 October 2011, and that the developer has committed to carrying out a...

Building Regulations (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: A robust system of controls does exist. That is why Dublin City Council has been trying for two years to oblige the developer involved in this case to carry out certain works in order to ensure the building met fire compliance standards. The developer chose to ignore the council's directions in this regard. As a result, the latter had no option but to take the matter before the courts in...

Building Regulations (20 Oct 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree with Deputy Ellis. It is important that such inspections should take place. That is why, before any of the difficulties relating to Priory Hall began, I was taking action under the Building Control Acts. I am changing the system as quickly as possible but there is a need for some consultation with the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure we get it right. We are determined to...