Results 7,081-7,100 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 to 473, inclusive, together. I am aware of Dublin City Council's transfer of household waste collection services to a private sector partner. However, the operational and legal implications of the transfer of waste collection services are a matter for the City Council itself. Queries on the matter, including in relation to the tendering procedures...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. Local authorities work individually, jointly and at sectoral level to achieve savings in the procurement area, as recommended by the Local Government...

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

Phil Hogan: Article 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 deals with the pension entitlements of city and county managers. My Department has examined the new pension terms for secretaries general to assess how they apply to city and county managers. The implementation of new pension terms will require legislation. The precise detail of this is currently being examined....

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department, in conjunction with the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB), has commenced a review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B (2006). An initial public consultation process, commenced in November 2011 is due to conclude shortly and a workshop for stakeholders was held in January. Both of these consultation...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Panel is due to submit its report to me shortly. In advance of receiving the report I am unable to say what recommendations it may contain. However, on receipt of the report I will give careful consideration to its content and any recommendations it may include.

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

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the charge on non-principal private residences. The Act places the charge under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and...

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. The Act places the household charge under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter...

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

Phil Hogan: Neither I nor my Department have had any communication with Meath County Council regarding the provision of a new graveyard in Stamullen. Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) in Gaeltacht Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. MFG received an overall RDP allocation of €17,278,809 which covered all the Gaeltacht areas under the remit of the groups. The table below details by County, the current...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: This amendment will provide for decreases as well as increases in Civil Service pay to be applied in future to the fund disbursed annually under the Electoral Acts to qualifying political parties. Part 3 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for payments to be made to qualifying political parties from the Central Fund. Given that changes are being made to section 17 of the Electoral Act 1997...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: This amendment in the names of Senators Mac Conghail and van Turnhout and others relates to section 27 and proposes changing the requirement which we have been discussing for political parties to have at least 30% women and 30% men to 40% men and 40% women. The section to which the amendment relates facilitates the general increase in participation of women in national politics. Ultimately,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Senator Mullen was very academic and theoretical regarding the argument but he does not understand the practical realities on the ground facing political parties and how difficult is sometimes is for a large party to enhance the number of female participants in the political system. It is not as easy as the Senator believes. This Bill is about enhancing the opportunity of women to become...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The State funding provided to political parties under the electoral legislation is to be used, in part, to enhance and promote participation by women in political activity. The taxpayer is already doing a bit, although it may not be noticed. It is a matter also for the political parties to do more. I do not want to be prescriptive in legislation and hammer political parties financially in...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am a member of a political party; the Senator is not.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am trying to impart some information to Senator Mullen, who is not a member of a political party. The provision in question is a significant part of the political reform agenda, which I assisted in drawing up and which was approved by my party. The electorate has already cast its judgment,-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: -----not in any narrow sense-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: In the programme for Government, the Senator will see the consequences of having a very strong mandate for a political reform agenda, including on this issue. Both parties signed up to the programme and we are going about implementing it. Senator Norris should note there is no promise to be broken on this occasion.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator will see a lot of political reform over the coming years and may judge it-----