Results 7,761-7,780 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Water Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised at the Deputy's lack of confidence in a decision made by the Government to charge a semi-State company with what is the largest project since the establishment of the ESB, namely, to ensure the provision of water supplies in adequate quantities and quality for the people of this country. I would have expected him to support that objective.

Water Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: I expected his support given that scheme is in line with a decision made by the previous Government in 2009.

Water Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is no need for a plan B. We have made the decision to charge a semi-State body with carrying out this important work for the benefit of the people of this country. Let us give it an opportunity, through an implementation plan, to do so. Any talk of a plan B amounts to scaremongering. We are proceeding with plan A.

Water Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: They will have certainty.

Water Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: Some €200 million has been spent in the past six or seven years on the rehabilitation of mains and pipe networks, with an additional €120 million allocated for this purpose this year and next. I am surprised the Deputy is not supporting this water conservation programme. I am in support of clean water, but one can only conclude, on the basis of his attitude to the septic tank...

Building Regulations (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Control Acts 1990 to 2007 set out a clear statutory framework for construction activity based on legally enforceable minimum requirements, as set out in the Building regulations. Detailed technical guidance documents, TGDs, accompanying each part of the building regulations outline how compliance can be achieved in practice. The regulations and relevant TGDs first came into...

Building Regulations (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: As the Deputy is aware, there was court action in regard to this matter and the Department was exonerated of any particular responsibility. The pyrite symposium to which the Deputy referred was organised by Professor Brian Hawkins, a former member of staff at the University of Bristol. He has an engineering and geological background and has been involved in a number of isolated...

Building Regulations (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: As Deputy Daly should acknowledge, I have done everything possible to engage with Oireachtas Members and people through this pyrite panel to ensure solutions are on offer, not a blame game. If the Deputy wants to go down the road of a blame game, she will not find solutions for ordinary people. In recent litigation that led me to establish this pyrite panel, it was clearly stated the...

Household Charge (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: There is a range of options available for persons to pay the household charge. An online system, www.householdcharge.ie, is in place in the Local Government Management Agency to enable homeowners to pay the household charge by credit or debit card. In addition, homeowners can make payment by cheque, postal order, or credit or debit card by completing the relevant payment details on the...

Household Charge (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: So far 57% have paid.

Household Charge (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: All the doomsday people on the back row opposite said only 20% would pay. I know it does not suit Deputy Daly's argument but 57% have paid.

Household Charge (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: We had no comprehensive database of property, which meant we could not send a bill to people. An Post did not win the tender to deliver the leaflet, another company won it, although I have concerns about the manner in which it did that, which I will deal with in another way. The extension of the deadline to September was proposed by Fianna Fáil and I rejected that. I operate on the basis...

Household Charge (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: Everyone knew what the deadline was and if people wanted to pay before the deadline, they would not have any penalties to pay. I will not extend any exemptions for people who have not paid to date. They will continue to pay in line with the legislation that was passed by the Oireachtas in December and in line with what I have said on all occasions, that there would be no more exemptions for...

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 17, 20 and 44 together. The online and written facilities for the registration of domestic wastewater treatment systems are being developed by the Local Government Management Agency on behalf of local authorities. My Department is also examining a number of payment options to facilitate householders to the fullest extent possible in the registration...

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: That was our-----

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: Arising from the good decisions and progress made with the European Commission, which was very different to what was proposed by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party when in government, I was in position not to have universal inspection of septic tanks or compliance with a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, code of practice. Instead, I was able to get a risk-based approach and a solution...

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: The draft regulations were published.

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: Whenever we have the approval by the Oireachtas of the commitment I gave.

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is doing the opposite, however.

Local Authority Charges (3 May 2012)

Phil Hogan: We have come a long way when we do not have people suggesting we are going to have to buy land to comply with these regulations, have planning permission or the 2009 EPA code of practice. We have come a long way from Deputy Ó Cuív and others-----