Results 681-700 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

EU Services Directive: Motion. (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: The EU ensured that we were not all just a collection of workers toiling to feed an economy but were rather a collection of citizens whose economy worked for our society. It was Europe that dragged Ireland into line on issues such as workers' rights, health and safety protections, equality for women and a raft of other anti-discrimination measures. That is what makes the country of origin...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 156: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his policy to reduce call or other service charges applicable to the electronic transfer of money, documents or messages with a view to bringing the charges here and the costs on the industry down to those applicable in other European economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Funding: Hospital Funding (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 407: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the criteria used for the recent allocation of finance to hospitals on the grounds of efficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1719/06]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 594: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason Ireland is second from the bottom of an EU league table in respect of the rollout of broadband services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/06]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 593: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason there is such a low roll-out of broadband services for rural villages in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1746/06]

Written Answers — Company Registration: Company Registration (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 733: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the Companies Office has refused a company name (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1134/06]

Written Answers — Sugar Industry Reform: Sugar Industry Reform (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 960: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when compensation will be paid to a company (details supplied) in County Carlow arising from closure of the sugar factory at Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1250/06]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 1147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a residency application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1482/06]

Written Answers — Development Charges: Development Charges (25 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Question 1485: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount levied in development charges in the various local authorities in the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1718/06]

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: I welcome the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005. Having listened to the Minister's speech, I notice he did not draw any conclusions about the impact this legislation would have on consumer prices, similar to the advice and submissions he received. The clear submissions, on which he relied mainly to make these changes, were from the Competition Authority and the Consumer Strategy Group. The...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: It is with a deep sense of irony that this House debates this Bill. The Government has done almost nothing to improve the lot of our consumers. It has presided over an appalling lack of competition in every area from energy to insurance, from transport to communications. It is only since the Government was stung by a TV series broadcast last August that it is attempting to pull the wool over...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: I read it carefully. This Bill was prepared by the Minister at breakneck speed, and he attempted to rush it through the Houses before the end of the year.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: The Minister did. Not surprisingly it has all the hallmarks——

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Not surprisingly it has all the hallmarks of having been hastily drafted and presented because there are many flaws in it. The abolition of the groceries order and the introduction of these changes are clearly meant to take the heat off the Government for its inaction towards Irish consumers for a long time. Faced with the ever increasing costs, particularly those in the State sector, and in...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: It was. No representative of the association was appointed to the agency.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Such people should have been appointed, rather than the friends of the Minister, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: I am being provoked.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: Perhaps the Chair will say something to the Minister about provoking speakers.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: There is some precedent in this regard. The National Consumer Agency can consider the Competition Authority's disgracefully low level of performance and output. Few entities established by the Oireachtas have made so much noise while doing so little for consumers over the years. The authority has failed to connect with the issues of utmost importance to people. It has preferred to concentrate...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (26 Jan 2006)

Phil Hogan: As the Department stated in its report, there is nothing wrong with people using the statistics which best illustrate their own case.