Results 7,041-7,060 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: These amendments address the provisions in the Bill dealing with the disclosure of political donations and political funding and relate to sections 9, 18 and 26 of the Bill. Section 9 provides for a significant lowering of the thresholds at which donations must be declared and the threshold for disclosure by a political party to the Standards in Public Office Commission is being reduced from...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: As I have stated previously, 14 years is a long time to wait for it to happen, but it is happening now.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Amendment No. 29, tabled by Senator Fiach Mac Conghail and others, seeks to extend the provisions dealing with the submission of political party accounts by all independent and non-party Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. I believe I have mentioned how this is likely to be dealt with, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, intends to bring...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: A reduction in the declaration thresholds is a highly significant measure. It can be seen as part of a range of measures included in the Bill that will have the cumulative effect of providing for a more open and transparent system of political funding in Ireland and a severe limitation on the scope for corporate influence on politics arising from funding and contributions made from that...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: During the debate on section 2, I dealt with many of the points that have been raised by Senators Mac Conghail, McAleese and others. I have taken on board the matters to which they refer. I indicated on Second Stage and reiterated the point earlier that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, will be addressing these matters and that he has them under active...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: This is a technical drafting amendment to rectify an incorrect reference in the Bill as published. The reference to the principal Act should have been to the 1997 Act. The intention is to refer to the Electoral Act 1997 and this intention is given effect through the amendment. The substantial revisions in the Bill are not altered as a result.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes a contract for wastewater treatment plants and associated networks for the Belmullet, Foxford and Charlestown Sewerage Scheme to advance to construction during the period of the Programme at an estimated cost of €14.3 million. I understand that Mayo County...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, and 164 together. As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: Category one, where the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation and the introduction of domestic water charges. To meet these commitments, the Government intends initiating a water metering...

Written Answers — Domestic Fire Statistics: Domestic Fire Statistics (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations 1997 - 2002 apply to the construction of new buildings, to extensions and material alterations to existing buildings, and to certain changes of use of existing buildings. Statistics on fires and other emergency incidents dealt with by local authority fire brigades are forwarded by fire authorities to my Department and are published annually on my Department's...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements for the design and construction of new buildings, including houses, extensions and material alterations and certain changes of use of existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents provide technical guidance on how to comply with the Regulations. Compliance with the Regulations is the responsibility of the owner or...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are existing requirements on quarries to carry out testing of aggregate materials. The Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) provides for a system of harmonised technical specifications for construction products. IS EN 13242:2002 is a harmonised European Product Standard for "Aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials" for use in civil engineering work and road...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The key requirements relevant to the use of hardcore material for buildings are set out in Part C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) and Part D (Materials and Workmanship) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. Part C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for Site Preparation...

Written Answers — Property Tax: Property Tax (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have recently established an inter-Departmental expert Group to design an equitable property tax having regard to its terms of reference. This Group has been asked to report to me by end April, 2012. I will then bring proposals to Government for decisions on the structure and modalities of the property tax.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are currently 805.21 staff employed in my Department. The information requested is set out in the following table: Salary Range Number of Staff (FTE) * €150,000 1.00 Total 805.21 * Figures indicates full time equivalent. In relation to state agencies, my Department collects information on numbers employed within defined salary bands. The most recent data collected in respect of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in the local government sector require sanction from my Department. Under section 159 of the...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are no plans to introduce a direct debit standing order payment option for motor tax. Under the current system, motorists may tax their vehicles on an annual, half-year or quarterly basis. The half-year and quarterly rates of motor tax are set in law at a higher rate than the annual fee to take account of the extra workload for motor tax offices and the resultant higher...

Written Answers — Countryside Recreation Strategy: Countryside Recreation Strategy (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Primary responsibility for tourism matters rests with my colleague, Mr. Leo Varadkar, TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, in the context of my responsibility for rural development, my Department has overall responsibility for the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. My Department will consider the implications of the High Court decision in...

Written Answers — Waters and Sewerage Schemes: Waters and Sewerage Schemes (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 - 2010 provide for an authorisation system for all wastewater discharges to waters from treatment plants or collection systems owned or controlled by local authorities. The purpose of the authorisation system is to prevent and reduce pollution of waters by wastewater discharges....

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Declaration forms for the purposes of the household charge are available in local authority offices, libraries and from citizens information offices. In addition, persons may contact their local authority or the Local...