Results 11,821-11,840 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: As indicated in the reply to Question No. 100 of 23 October 2012, local authorities have extensive powers under the Building Control Acts which they can use to enforce compliance with the building regulations. However, there is a time limit of five years after a building has been completed during which an enforcement notice may be served by a local building control authority. I can give the...

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: No loss of life has occurred but undoubtedly it has been a traumatic time for the people involved. A report in the matter is being sought and I will let the Deputy know in due course when I get it.

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I can give the Deputy more information on it.

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have changed the Building Control Regulations, as the Deputy is aware. It is the first time in many years that all of this has been revamped to make sure that the residents, the people in the apartment block or in the house, are on a risk-based approach being able to ensure that we have good, sound, heavy-handed regulation this time rather than light-touch regulation. The building control...

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I cannot be responsible for the sins of the past, and I am sure the Deputy would not expect me to be.

Other Questions: Fire Safety Regulations (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: There are many legacy issues that we have to try to resolve, and we have a lot more to do.

Topical Issue Debate: Security of the Elderly (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The seniors alert scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons of limited means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and...

Topical Issue Debate: Security of the Elderly (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputies. There is an appreciation of this scheme on both sides of the House. It is a community-based initiative which promotes independent living for older people, and I am a very strong supporter of that. Under the scheme to date, grants have only been provided for landline solutions. Mobile solutions, which are being examined by the Department, have additional advantages...

Topical Issue Debate: IBRC Mortgage Loan Book (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am standing in for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, who is overseas on official business. I am sorry he is not able to be here to answer the question with more knowledge and detail. I will give the Deputy the benefit of the information with which I have been furnished. The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Act 2013 was introduced to enable the liquidation of the IBRC to proceed...

Topical Issue Debate: IBRC Mortgage Loan Book (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: There is no easy way to maximise the return for the taxpayer from the sale of a loan book, especially at a time when the pillar banks in this country, like society in general, have very few options when trying to access credit for people who wish to retrieve their loans from those institutions. Those who wish to buy products from NAMA or the IBRC or from loan books generally, which is...

Topical Issue Debate: IBRC Mortgage Loan Book (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I suppose the Deputy's point is that she does not want to see corporate greed entering into this situation and taking advantage of the problems I have mentioned.

Topical Issue Debate: IBRC Mortgage Loan Book (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Minister for Finance thought about this long and hard before putting in place a process, including an Act of the Oireachtas, to ensure we maximise the return for the taxpayer. The judgment calls have to be made. We will see the outcome of those calls in November, when we will know what value we will get from the sale of the loan book in the first instance.

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy might go himself.

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Or Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Maybe Vincent should stand as well.

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Sinn Féin is doing the opposite in the North.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 29 together. Following from Government consideration of the funding of a pyrite remediation scheme through the imposition of mandatory levies on the quarrying and insurance sectors, work commenced on the development of a Pyrite Remediation Bill. However, legal difficulties arose during the drafting process and it was not possible to proceed on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 43 together. On 25 June 2013, I signed the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library. The Regulations brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Reform (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government Bill 2013, published on 17 October, provides, in Part 10, for a plebiscite to be held in the administrative areas of the four Dublin local authorities in respect of a directly elected mayor for the Dublin metropolitan area on the same day as the local elections 2014, should the four local authorities concerned pass a resolution in that regard by 31 March 2014. In...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (23 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 45 together. The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy, which is published on my Department's website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective of the reform programme is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more...