Results 7,641-7,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Environmental Regulations: Environmental Regulations (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Dry cleaners are regulated by the Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Organic Solvents Regulations 2002, and are required to demonstrate compliance with the Regulations and hold a certificate of compliance from their local authority to this effect. The certificate of compliance must be renewed annually. In order to obtain a certificate of compliance, a dry cleaning operator must...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Apr 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 household...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 146, inclusive, together. I have established an Inter-Departmental Group on Property Tax to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The overarching objective of the water reform programme is to put in place structures and funding arrangements that will ensure we have a world class water and wastewater infrastructure that meets all environmental and public health standards, can attract foreign direct investment and support job creation and maintenance in key sectors such as pharma-chem, IT and food and drink. It is...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (19 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), for which my Department has responsibility, continues to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities. In general, the rates of grant aid available under the measures of the RDP are 50% for private promoters and 75% for Community promoters with some higher rates available for specific activities such...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: On 15 December 2011, I published the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill. In developing this Bill I have had particular regard to recommendations made in the Moriarty Tribunal Report, published in March 2011. The Bill has passed all stages in the Seanad and is currently before the Dáil at second stage. It will, when enacted, fundamentally change the way politics is funded and...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is estimated that the annual loss arising from vehicle owners declaring their vehicles off the road is in the region of €84m. Currently, owners declare vehicles off the road for the purposes of motor tax after the fact, which is effectively unverifiable and open to abuse. I intend to provide that drivers will be able to declare their intention to keep their vehicle off-the-road in...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: A wide range of measures and support/promotional structures are already in place across the local government system to engage with local business and to encourage enterprise. Practices can vary depending on local circumstances, needs and opportunities. The recently established CCMA sub-committee on economic development has met with my Department on a number of occasions. The identification...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 509, 510, 512, 515, 531 to 538, inclusive, and 546 together. The Programme for Government includes a proposal to establish Irish Water, a State-owned water company that will take over the water investment and maintenance programmes of the 34 city and county councils who act as water services authorities. The Programme of Financial Support for Ireland with...

Written Answers — Burial Grounds: Burial Grounds (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The rule that I believe is relevant to the issue raised in the question is rule V of the Rules and Regulations for the Regulation of Burial Grounds, provided under the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, and issued in 1888. My Department will consider the basis for the rule and determine whether a review of the rule would be beneficial.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: On 22 March, the day that the Final Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (Mahon Tribunal) was published, I referred the Report to the Garda Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners and the Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission for their consideration and for such investigation or...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government considered the findings of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal at its meeting on 27 March and agreed that the relevant Government Departments, working with associated agencies under their aegis, as appropriate, should consider as a matter of urgency the recommendations contained in the Report and revert to my Department by the end of April with proposed actions to be taken...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 544 together. Since the national water conservation programme was rolled out in 2003, over €208 million has been specifically invested in water conservation measures by my Department. In addition, local authorities fund active leakage control, detection and repair from their own operational budgets. Most of the effort to date has been focused on...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 498, 508, 511, 513, 539 and 542 together. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: In my capacity as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I sit on the European Council of Environment Ministers. In the period from 9 March 2011 to date, the European Council of Environment Ministers met formally on five occasions and informally on three other occasions, the latest of which took place in Denmark last week. I attended all of these meetings. In general,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Leases: Local Authority Leases (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 493 together. The entering into leases by local authorities and the terms and conditions of such leases are matters between the parties to the leases concerned. I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Commercial Rates: Commercial Rates (24 Apr 2012)

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 individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 500, 518 to 522, inclusive, and 530 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service, a system otherwise known as...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: Arrangements for the appointment of the Chairperson and the nomination of the majority of non-architect members to the Professional Conduct Committee in line with Section 23 of the Building Control Act 2007 are currently in hand and I expect this matter to be finalised in the near future.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (24 Apr 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Control Acts 1990 to 2007 set out a clear statutory framework for construction activity based on: clear legal standards as set out in the Building Regulations; detailed Technical Guidance Documents to outline how these standards can be achieved in practice; the burden and responsibility for compliance resting first and foremost with developers/builders; a statutory responsibility...