Results 8,661-8,680 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan
- Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: Deputy Stanley will be aware that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources recently published an energy policy setting out the milestones through which he is seeking to implement a more robust regime for renewables. Targets have been set for energy policy for 2020 and 2050. The Minister is conscious not only of his EU obligations, but also of the importance of reducing...
- Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: When I set out a roadmap in January the Deputy opposite did not believe it would happen and now it is going to happen, she wants to bring forward the timeframe for the sake of bringing it forward. We are going to try to get it right on this occasion. My predecessor tried to bring forward climate change legislation but encountered enormous difficulties not only within his own Government, but...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 56, 69 and 74 together. The Government’s broad policy approach in this area was set out in the programme for Government. In line with this, I intend to publish shortly a detailed policy statement and action programme for the reform of local government. The programme will set out a clear vision for the future of local government and proposals to...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I am glad Deputy Cowen has decided to acknowledge that the decisions I make regarding my Department are not made for any populist reasons.
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I am doing what I believe is right and it does not matter to the members of the public if the public or private sector delivers services as long as they get a good quality service. The public wants services from local authorities that are delivered effectively and effectively. Over the last three years, 8,000 staff have left the local government system, with numbers falling from 37,000 to...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: The proposals on local government are before Government and I hope we will be in a position to clear them in the next week or two. The efforts being made to achieve this, because it is so important, are significant. Deputy Cowen mentioned the level of savings that could be achieved through doing things better and differently. In the last two and half years in local government, €553...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: The policy statement will be implemented between now and the 2014 local elections, that is the timeframe for the enactment of the legislation and the establishment of the new structures. The Boundary Commission must be established and report in good time to allow people to decide which electoral area they wish to stand in and to allow candidates and parties to get organised. On the last...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: The Deputy must wait until I get Government approval for the suite of measures on local government reform before I can answer that question.
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I agree with Deputy Wallace and I was taken with Deputy Cowen's remarks earlier that we are removing functions from local government when we have the most centralised system in the world thanks to his predecessors in Government taking away powers from local authorities and giving them to agencies and quangos. I want to see the reorganisation of local government structures resulting in more...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I will retain local knowledge and the involvement of the local government system in Irish Water, as I said earlier. I will devolve as many functions as I can with the agreement of my colleagues. The agreement of Cabinet colleagues and agencies is needed on such issues. I intend to ensure devolution as far as possible. In response to Deputy Daly, I am in favour of greater devolution. If...
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I am anxious to ensure we have sufficient representation, greater democratic input and greater decision making at local level, as I said in reply to Deputy Wallace. I expect to bring forward a Boundary Commission report in March or April next year. With regard to Deputy Griffin's questions, local councillors make representations. As a former councillor, I made many representations on...
- Other Questions: Water Meters (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: The programme for Government and the memorandum of understanding with the EU, IMF and ECB provide for the introduction of domestic water charges and the establishment of a new State-owned water utility. The Government considers that charging for water 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...
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I assume the question refers to general purpose grants from the local government fund. As indicated in the reply to Questions Nos. 37 and 41 , the two principal sources of revenue for the local government fund are the proceeds of motor tax and the income from the household charge. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides that income from the household charge be paid into...
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: The property tax report, or the Thornhill report as it is known, has been with me since June and I will bring it to Government in the context of the budgetary matters that will be under discussion over the next few weeks.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: It is a budgetary matter.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: I have read it.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: It goes back to-----
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen will be aware that as part of the negotiated agreement, with which he is well familiar----
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: -----a property tax was in the text. The EU-IMF require us to implement such a tax. The interim tax was the household charge, which will help to develop the database to ensure people get a bill in 2013 and beyond. The Minister for Finance will bring forward the property tax and it will be part of the Budget Statement.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Phil Hogan: As Deputy Higgins is aware, the Government is trying to broaden the tax base from a standing start with no database and it will do that.