Results 10,981-11,000 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Other Questions: Water Meters Installation (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Stanley has a lot of experience of these matters in Northern Ireland-----

Other Questions: Water Meters Installation (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am learning from him all the time with regard to the charges and what they provide in terms of public services in Northern Ireland. I am also learning that he is against all of that in the Republic of Ireland. However, I will convey the positive suggestion he has made. I will not be in a position to micro-manage the metering programme.

Other Questions: Water Meters Installation (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I say to Deputy Stanley that if he has queries or suggestions about implementation, he should write to the managing director of Irish Water, Mr. John Tierney, who will be in a position to take them on board if appropriate. I say the same to Deputy Lawlor with regard to the surveying that is being carried out at the moment in each local authority area. Approximately 350,000 households are...

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Under the dormant accounts legislation, balances in dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fun, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. I know that Deputy Ó Cuív is familiar with this reply from a previous occasion, so I will cut to the...

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I did not give the Deputy the history. I cut all of that out. I spared us all.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I did cut it out.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I gave the Deputy the figures.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Due to decisions Deputy Ó Cuív made when he was a member of government, it is part of the general Government debt, which has a ceiling set by the EU, the IMF and ECB. It is counted as part of our national debt and we cannot breach the ceiling because of the activities of Deputy Ó Cuív's party when in government. Unfortunately, for accounting purposes, as the Deputy well...

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am not sure about Prize Bonds, but I will check that out for the Deputy. If there is a pot of gold there, I would be glad to avail of it. However, on the Dormant Accounts Fund, it is not a simple matter of €100 million being available, as Deputy Ó Cuív is trying to imply. I can assure all Deputies that if €100 million were available to me, I would be spending it.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I cannot make it available and the Deputy knows that.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy knows that better than most, given the time he spent in government. He knows it must have the approval of the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, but he chooses to ignore that now that he is in opposition. This is not unusual for Deputy Ó Cuív. He has changed his mind on many issues in opposition.

Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: It cannot be done without the approval of the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is counted as part of the general Government debt and I am not in a position to amend that.

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 22 and 27 together. HomeBond is one of the construction stakeholders which has agreed to set up a not-for-profit entity to implement a programme of remediation in accordance with the pyrite remediation scheme drawn up and published by the Pyrite Remediation Board, PRB, on its recently launched website. Work is progressing on the establishment of the...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I share a lot of the concerns of Deputy Daly in regard to HomeBond. The fact it did not assist customers when they had problems with pyrite in their homes is disappointing. It is a private company which was set up in 1978 for the purpose of giving structural guarantees. Deputy Wallace will be familiar with its role, as will others who have been involved in the CIF. It did a reasonably...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I set up the PRB to do things right. I have put people on the board who have expertise and credibility to make sure the job is done right. We have to set up a special purpose vehicle to draw down money from the banks, on which stakeholders are represented. I have to establish a private entity in order to bring money into the system to use for remedial work on houses. I want to see those...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Any work carried out under the scheme will be certified by the Pyrite Remediation Board to ensure it meets the highest possible standards. Deputy Mick Wallace can be assured that the days of jobs for the boys are over. That type of carry-on is what caused the problems in this country in construction, including the shoddy workmanship we have seen. I am depending on Mr. O'Connor and his...

Other Questions: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Yes.

Topical Issue Debate: Leader Programmes (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Leader elements of the rural development programme 2007-13 commenced in February 2009 after a delay of more than two years which reduced the time available to allocate funding to less than five years rather than the original seven. Two main issues have impacted on the revised allocations notified to local development companies last month. The first relates to overall programme...

Topical Issue Debate: Leader Programmes (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I cannot be responsible for the Connacht Tribune.

Topical Issue Debate: Leader Programmes (12 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The rationale behind the alignment of community projects and local government is to reduce administrative costs and provide more money for front-line services and projects for individuals and communities. I am sure the Deputy shares my objective in doing this. Some €32 million has been requested by local development companies out of a total of €90 million to be allocated this...