Results 11,281-11,300 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to191, inclusive, together. The information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department provides funding to national organisations towards core costs (salary and related overheads) associated with the provision of services through the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community & Voluntary Sector.  There are no plans, at present, to establish a grant scheme to assist voluntary organisations, or any other organisations funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: The specific question of introducing an office of directly elected mayor for the Dublin Metropolitan Area is considered in the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government in the context of other governance issues. A key conclusion in that regard is that such an office should not be simply inserted as a further layer of governance and administration in addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Elections (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: Policy in relation to democratic representation in local government is clearly set out in the Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government . I have no proposals in relation to the matter referred to in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Registration of Architects (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with section 62(4) of the Building Control Act 2007 the amount of a fee specified for the purposes of the Act is not in any case to exceed the total of the costs of providing the service to which the fee relates together with reasonable costs incurred by the registration body in collecting, accounting for and administering the fee. On this basis the fee for technical assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. In addition, Ireland must comply with strict limits under the Landfill Directive for the volumes of material which are landfilled. I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Cross-Border Co-operation (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: On 6 May 2013, I announced a joint North-South study on all-island air quality to examine air pollution from residential solid fuel, in particular ‘smoky’ coal, and to consider the potential policy options to reduce such emissions with consequential environmental and human health benefits. The joint North-South study was agreed with Alex Attwood M.L.A, Environment Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: On 6 June 2013 I signed the Referendum Commission (Establishment) Order 2013 which established a Referendum Commission for the referendum on the proposal in the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Chairman for the invitation to participate in the stakeholder debate the committee is facilitating on national climate policy and associated legislation. I greatly appreciate members' work and look forward to receiving their report in due course. Substantial progress has been made in terms of developing the national climate policy agenda since I met with the committee in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: Senator Fiach Mac Conghail asked some general questions on our approach to climate change policy. The best example I can give the Senator is that during our Presidency we did an enormous amount of work in completing files in the European Parliament process which were lying around for a considerable period and which we prioritised. We got conclusions on priority substances - water, CO2...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: He will be aware also that we are signed up to the European Union-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: I do not believe that we need any duplication of targets. I am aware of a mantra going about that we should sign up to a 2050 target before anyone else, that we should demonstrate that level of ambition. We are a competitive, open economy and we will work in conjunction with our European Union partners. The European Union states are the leaders in trying to do something about this issue in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: No. It is feeding into the process in agriculture from the point of view of the sectoral roadmaps. The study being done is on boglands and peatlands.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: While I do not wish to pre-empt what studies will be undertaken in each Department, as one would expect, Teagasc obviously is involved in agriculture. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is undertaking its own boglands study. I understand that study has been under way for a considerable time and I hope it will come to a conclusion by the end of the year. This is something I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: We are in discussions and I believe Ireland was not fairly treated on the last occasion in respect of land use, land-use change and forestry, LULUCF, and we are seeking some changes in that regard to take account of the particular issues the Deputy has identified.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: On the question of the definition of low-carbon targets, we have defined it as an ambition to have near-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 in the case of energy, buildings and transport, as well as carbon neutrality in the case of agriculture. That is the working definition we are using. I refer to Deputy Humphrey's suggestion. We will be establishing the expert advisory council before...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: We did get a bit of publicity for it in April but we will send details around again if the Deputy believes it is necessary. I am prepared to consider changing the review period from seven years to five years. Seven years seems a little long. We have an open mind on it. If the committee includes the matter as part of its recommendations, I am sure it might be considered.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy should note what was arrived at in that regard by the constitutional convention, of which the Deputy is in favour.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: Structures are being established to help countries to draw down that fund. The process has been quite slow. A small number of projects have been approved but we hope that between now and the meeting in Poland at the end of the year, there will be a lot more progress. The process has been frustrating for potential recipients of the funds, which are to promote the green economy while...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Phil Hogan: There is a policy conflict that arises regularly and which raises heads, namely, the conflict between the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the need to produce enough food to feed the people of the world. That tension will always exist. Companies such as Glanbia or Kerry Foods, which are major exporters from this island, are now demanding certain practices on the part of...