Results 9,041-9,060 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The regulations I have outlined will not change. In respect of compliance with the European Court of Justice judgment, which I inherited and which is costing €26,000 a day and €3.7 million as a lump sum fine, these regulations will not change. In reply to Deputy Wallace, there is personal responsibility. If people are in the business of contaminating their own or their...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: We went into a lot of detail about the minutiae of the issue. If Deputy Wallace had attended the committee he would have learned much from the Deputies on his side of the House and on ours as to how to deal with these issues. We have agreed with the European Commission that we would inspect our waste water treatment systems on a risk-based approach. It is the responsibility of everyone to...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 55 and 67 together. The development of a system of local government funding which is fair, stable and effective and brings greater local responsibility in relation to financial matters is an essential feature in the reform programme for local government. The EU-IMF programme of financial support for Ireland contains a commitment to introduce a property...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I subscribe to the principle outlined in the document that local government funding should be raised locally for local priorities. Councillors should also have an opportunity to vary this tax, upwards or downwards as the case may be, in the context of proper devolution of responsibility. This could be done in the same way as commercial rates levied on small businesses can be varied upwards...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: That is a separate issue. The equalisation fund will continue for the moment. The matter for the Government to decide in due course-----

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Irrespective of what will be the position in the future, the Central Fund will continue in its current form in 2013. Revenue from the household charge will go into the fund and an equalisation measure will be applied in addition to motor taxation. This revenue will replace the Exchequer contribution which we no longer have the luxury of being able to make to the Central Fund. Some €1...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: No, it is a separate fund. Under a community initiative provided for in legislation implemented by Deputy Cowen's party in government, it will be possible to raise money locally. There is nothing new in this.

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: No.

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I realise full well that people are under pressure and this will be taken into account in any budgetary proposal that will be made by the Government. We are obliged to deal with a highly difficult situation and doing so is not easy on families, particularly people who have mortgages they are unable to pay. It was for this reason that I exempted from the household charge people in receipt of...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am glad the Deputy remembers him.

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Many of the suggestions made by Deputies Mick Wallace and Finian McGrath could be brought forward as valid proposals once the issue of the budgetary position has been resolved. The Deputies will be able to make these points and have an opportunity to reflect on what is or is not in the budget based on the assertions they have made today. We are striving to introduce an equitable property...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy should not be hypocritical on this issue. Sinn Féin cannot have it every way. It seeks to have the household charge abolished, while imposing a charge of €1,400 per household in Northern Ireland. This shows its hypocrisy on the issue of a united Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 61, 64, 80, 91, 92 and 98 together. The questions tabled cover a range of issues related to the Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First which I published on 16 October 2012 following Government approval. This is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. The Action Programme sets out Government policy for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Priory Hall Development (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The resolution process, which I understand is ongoing, arose in the context of legal proceedings which were adjourned to afford relevant parties the opportunity to work together, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Finnegan (retired President of the High Court), to identify a way forward in relation to the complex problems at Priory Hall. Given that the matter is before the courts, it would...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced by a new disbursement scheme to be created in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012, which was enacted in July 2012. The 2012 Act, inter alia, amends Part 6 of the Principal Act, which relates to disbursement of monies from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Section 42 provides forthe...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 74 together. Following receipt of the pyrite report in June, I requested the key stakeholders urgently to consider the relevant recommendations in the report and respond to me with their proposals by the end of September. While I have received the responses, they do not provide any definitive proposals that would lead to a voluntary solution for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations in an independent assessment, to establish a public water utility company to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government also decided that the question of whether the role of Irish Water should be assigned to an existing State Agency merited...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: The establishment of Irish Water is a key element of the Government’s policy for the water sector and the series of reforms designed to provide a better organisational and funding model for the sector to address the challenges of the future. There are essentially three inter-related components to the reform programme and to date decisions have been taken by Government to: - establish...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: Expenditure provisions for my Department will be published as part of Budget 2013. These provisions, consistent with the allocations decided by Government in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011 and the associated capital spending review process, will reflect the critical need for further reductions in public expenditure in order to address the major imbalances in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development (23 Oct 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. The primary outcome from its implementation is the provision of a comprehensive, integrated and adequately resourced, world class outdoor recreation product. This will significantly enhance job creation and retention in the sector, support economic and community development in rural areas and boost GDP...