Results 12,641-12,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: All I can say is that councillors have powers if they wish to use them.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My experience is that businesses profit where councillors are strong, where they take on the manager and the system and where they find savings elsewhere. That is why Kilkenny has the lowest rate in the country.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Senator Landy and others mentioned the considerable concern of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities regarding the need for greater constitutional protection for local government. The changes in the Bill do not impinge on the constitutional position. The Constitution does not specify the details of the type of local government structures we must have in this country. Those details...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I will conclude.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Senator Mac Conghail was very concerned about the fact that there was no significant devolution in the legislation. In respect of local authorities, members now have power to vary the local property tax and have a source of income at local level that will be enshrined on 1 January 2015 due to this power to vary rates plus or minus 15% of the national central rate. This is fundamental to...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: No, I said the councillors-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The power to set rates and the ERB is in the hands of the councillors and I am not taking away that power. The ARV will be frozen during the harmonisation of rates process. I mentioned the Council of Europe report. Unfortunately, Senator Norris was reading an earlier version of the report. I clarified that in the context of their positive contribution. The selection of local community...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I do not propose to make any changes in respect of mayors in counties. We struck a balance in consultation with the Association of County and City Councils and the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland. Their representative bodies had a working group working out the details of these issues for the past year. That is the conclusion it reached and I certainly do not want to unravel...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce the Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 to the House. It represents an important milestone in the quest to provide sustainable and practical solutions for home owners affected by pyritic damage, many of whom have had to endure the hardship of living in pyrite-damaged homes for some considerable time. Developing the structures necessary to...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Not true. The Senator does not have her facts right.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I will.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank all Members of the House for their support of the legislation. I thank the Pyrite Action Group who lobbied, through their public representative across the various counties and the wider public, because of the serious concern that individuals had for the plight of the homeowners who ended up with a pyritic problem, through no fault of their own. I thank all of the public...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am not into speculative figures or figures off the top of one's head remarks. I am considering, in a qualified way, the type of categorisation that the panel put on the extent of the problem. It said there is between 850 to 1,000 homes in urgent need of remediation and that is what the scheme is about. The quality of the built environment affects the quality of everyday life, as Senator...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Perhaps we can discuss the matter on Committee Stage. I shall return to the matter then.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I agree that it is unreasonable to expect dwellings not exhibiting damage to be remediated. There are limitations on the funds available so we must have some restrictive scheme in place, as a last resort, to help the people that are in urgent and immediate need of remediation. I am concerned about problems relating to insurance cover and, more correctly, the restrictions that are being...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: It would be easy to say that the regulatory system was deficient but that is not true. Builders and developers are obliged under building regulations to use proper materials. There is an obligation on suppliers to supply materials that are fit for purpose. I agree with everyone in the House who said that the people that caused the problem should pay but we ran into legal difficulties under...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have just explained to the Senator the legal complications I face. The Senator may be an expert on law but I have to deal with the Attorney General and the legal resources in my Department to advise me. I gave her the background in terms of the difficulties that arose. I do not want the unfortunate home owner to be put into a protracted legal issue again. We cannot say how much it will...

Planning and Development (Transparency and Consumer Confidence) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Was the Deputy talking to the architects?

Planning and Development (Transparency and Consumer Confidence) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy has taken the side of the architects.

Planning and Development (Transparency and Consumer Confidence) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to share time with Deputies Paul Connaughton and Joe Carey. I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill, which contains many interesting proposals pertaining to planning, and which are intended to improve transparency and consumer confidence in the planning system. The Government and I subscribe to these principles and, accordingly, the Bill...