Results 7,241-7,260 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Waste Management (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, particularly the conditions attached to each waste collector's collection permit issued by the relevant local authority under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended....

Waste Management (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I do not intend to nationalise the household waste collection system.

Waste Management (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: That is Deputy Collins's opinion. I am telling her what I am doing. I do not intend to make that recommendation to the Government. People have several opportunities to have their waste collected. Some people choose not to pay or not to have it collected. Such people are open to challenge under the waste collection legislation. Fewer than 18,000 people have refused to sign up to having...

Waste Management (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: As I stated, I do not subscribe to the view that we must have a nationalised household waste collection service. People have many choices with regard to recycling and civic amenity centres, and they also have a choice with regard to who will collect their waste. I agree with the Deputy that it is not acceptable to have five different collectors going into one housing estate. We are seeing...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: In December 2011 NAMA identified more than 2,000 properties as being potentially available for social housing. While most of these are located in the greater Dublin region and in Cork, properties are identified in a total of 15 local authority areas throughout the country. A steering group was then established to monitor progress, identify and address any obstacles that arise in particular...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Arising from the intervention of me and the former Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, with the National Asset Management Agency, we were in a position to secure agreement on the provision by the agency of 2,000 units of accommodation. This is a major boost towards the social dividend we expected from NAMA and will assist those on the housing waiting lists, which are, I regret, growing. The...

Social and Affordable Housing (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: It will not be possible for local authorities to engage in the traditional approach of direct building. The amount available for construction, direct purchase or to assist voluntary housing bodies in acquiring housing has declined from €1.5 billion to €353 million over the past four years. This is a substantial reduction and I do not know where we would obtain capital resources to go...

Local Government Reform (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Work is proceeding with a view to bringing policy proposals to Government at an early date on the reform and development of local government in accordance with the programme for Government. Decisions have already been taken to merge the authorities in counties Limerick and Tipperary and implementation work is proceeding. Progress reports have been submitted in both cases which present a...

Local Government Reform (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I fully concur with Deputy Wallace on the centralised nature of government here. This is not acceptable, which is the reason I am doing something about it. In view of the Deputy's stance on the household charge, I would welcome his proposals on financing local government. Where will we obtain money at local level to contribute to the effective running of local government and the provision...

Local Government Reform (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I accept the household charge is not progressive or fair and one needs to have a property tax in place, as most socialist parties in Europe would agree. I intend to bring forward proposals later this year to achieve this outcome in 2013.

Local Government Reform (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The United Left Alliance opposes the concept of a property tax.

Local Government Reform (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I want to ensure the principles Deputy Wallace outlined are implemented. I refer, for example, to the proper devolution of functions to local authority level and the proper provision of local services which can be delivered by people at local level as close as possible to the people. However, these services must also be funded at local level, which is what I am striving to do.

Retail Sector Developments (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The draft guidelines for planning authorities on retail planning will be finalised by April 2012. The guidelines are aimed at ensuring the planning system plays a key role in supporting competitiveness in the retail sector, advancing choice for the consumer while promoting and supporting the vitality and viability of city and town centres, and contributing to a high standard of urban design...

Retail Sector Developments (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is correct that we were obliged under the EU-IMF agreement to carry out an independent study of the retail sector from the point of view of competitiveness. We did so and we submitted a draft proposal to the EU-IMF, which did not take into account all the recommendations made by Forfás. I am conscious that balanced development is needed, as the Deputy said, and I am equally...

Retail Sector Developments (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I would be glad to hear from the Deputy if he has a methodology that would allow for the free market to operate while, at the same time, preventing the abuses to which he has referred. I am strong on ensuring that in the scheme of development contributions, we err on the side of ensuring we protect and enhance town centres. We all know that there has been a reduction in footfall and...

Local Authority Charges (8 Mar 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. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The Local...

Local Authority Charges (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The household charge will go into the local government fund and will be disbursed among local authorities. If the estimated amount is not collected, the local authorities will have to examine their service plans for the remainder of the year. The Government has no additional money. If the €160 million is not paid into this fund, there will be an impact on services and local authority...

Local Authority Charges (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The tax is legally liable. It is the law of the land and the case of any person who is taken to court in breach of the law and how the payments are collected are matters for the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Fines Act 2010.

Local Authority Charges (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will not develop any method. My methodology is to ensure people understand the law and understand they are liable for this charge and have to pay it. The late payment interest will be 1% per month and late payment fees will apply in the case of a household charge. If the Deputy is advocating that people should not pay, he is telling them that they should pay late payment fees and mount...

Public Service Staff (8 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is an ongoing moratorium in the public service which was introduced as an emergency measure in response to the financial crisis. Under the terms of the moratorium all local authority staffing requests must be sanctioned by my Department. In accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for each local authority, in the first instance, to ensure that the...