Results 8,601-8,620 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table: Service provider Public service Cost OKI Resources ICT helpdesk support €300, 011 Various Local Development Companies Implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy & The Walks Scheme €746,663

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012 , published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in February 2012, detail a gross current expenditure provision of €467 million in 2012 in respect of my Department. Current expenditure to the end of June 2012 is €204 million which is less than 2% behind the spending profile for mid-year.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Agencies currently operating under the aegis of my Department are as follows: · An Bord Pleanála · An Chomhairle Leabharlanna · Dublin Docklands Development Authority · Environmental Protection Agency · Housing Finance Agency · Irish Water Safety · Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency · Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency · Limerick Southside...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 539 together. Retired civil and public servants are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period, and relevant retired officials provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such requirements. The abatement principle, which ensures that the fee paid plus...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The allocation for the telecommunications budget in my Department for 2012 is €1,095,000. Expenditure from this budget covers the costs of telephony services such as rental of fixed voice and data lines, connections to the Government Virtual Private Network (VPN), broadband, mobile voice and data, telephonists, upgrading and replacement of telephony equipment and the maintenance and support...

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

Phil Hogan: The Water Framework Directive requires Member States to coordinate their efforts in relation to international river basin districts with the aim of producing a single international management plan. Work on development of the international river basin management plans for the North-Western and Neagh-Bann districts was marked by close coordination between the authorities in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Marine Resources: Marine Resources (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for marine matters is spread across a number of Departments and agencies and, in recognition of the need for better coordination on marine matters, a Marine Coordination Group comprising senior civil servants from the relevant Departments and chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been overseeing the development of an integrated marine plan for Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Information in relation to number of sick days taken by staff, the average number of sick days per employee and the median number of sick days per employee across my Department is set out in the following table: 2009 2010 2011 Days lost due to sick leave 9,231 8,466 7,304 Average no of sick days per employee 8.15 7.58 7.79 Median number of sick days per employee 2 1 2 Figures for 2011...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the €100 household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (19 Jul 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. I am informed that between 2 and 13 July, reminder letters in respect of 101,284 non-compliant addresses were issued by local authorities nationwide. It is intended that a second reminder letter will issue between 7 and 20...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the table below. Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (NPPR)As at 17 July 2012 Number of persons who have paid charge Income € 2010 185,796 72,866,840 2011 186,357 69,559,840 2012 to date 158,927 54,802,160

Written Answers — Non-Principal Private Residence Charge: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the table below. Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (NPPR)As at 17 July 2012 Number of persons who have paid for two or more properties 2010 48,693 2011 48,106 2012 to date 40,791

Written Answers — Property Taxation: Property Taxation (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation-based property tax. The Group has recently completed its work and submitted its report to me. The approach to the report will be considered by the Government in due course.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 1 and 24 are technical provisions in sections 1 and 21. It is fitting we are back discussing amendments to a Bill that was commenced in the Seanad on Second Stage earlier this year, on 2 February. We have come full circle. Most Members will be familiar with the main provisions that were already contained within the Bill, having considered them in some detail here in the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 will make the organisation and structure of political parties more transparent. These amendments will require that information on what are called the accounting units of political parties be included on the register of political parties. These are the local branches of parties. This information will then be made publicly available. These will address the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The accounting units already have to make donation statements available to the Standards in Public Office Commission and to their parent political party's head office in order to have a comprehensive picture of the donations that came in during election time. I do not propose to have the accounts of each branch of each political party made available. That would be to engage with a lot of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 15, 19, 20, 23, 27, 29, and 30 refer to sections 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 16, 20, 24 and 25 of the Bill. These 12 amendments will have the effect of reducing the threshold for the receipt of anonymous donations to €100, reducing the threshold for opening a political donations account to €100 and reducing to €100 the threshold whereby a third party is recognised...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Senator Cáit Keane's comment indicates exactly what I do not want to do, that is, have a witch-hunt against an individual who is not a member of a political party but who wants to express his political preference in a bona fide manner or support the political process anonymously. A balance must be struck in allowing this practice to continue but we must not create an administrative...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 6, 17 and 25 deal with banning cash donations over €200 and they pertain to sections 6, 14 and 21. Donations made up of large amounts of cash not only look wrong but are wrong. Currently, there is no prohibition on the acceptance of cash donations. The Mahon tribunal recommended that this be addressed. The limit of €200 is reasonable and ties in with the issue...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will be working next week.