Results 13,241-13,260 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is dealt with in the next amendment.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: As other Deputies have said, this particular provision was introduced in Dublin, Limerick and Cork with the objective of mobilising properties where landlords were sitting on them. There is a difference of opinion on this, and the circumstances of each of the local authorities will determine how they might implement such a scheme. There is a provision in the development contribution scheme...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is a refund scheme and in theory the letter of the law means that one must apply a refund to something that has already been paid. In practice, there will be engagement with local authority officials where there is no difficulty in entering into arrangements with the landlord in question in the event of difficulties with cashflow or where he or she may not have the money, depending on...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is a decision made by the council which might decide to change it on a reserved function basis from year to year or every couple of years or it might not decide to change it at all. It is a matter for it to decide. I want to give maximum discretion to the elected members to decide the matter for themselves. It will be done on a local electoral area basis, namely, a county basis. There...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: They are merging authorities. The Deputy’s is not.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Paudie Coffey was concerned about the fact that this provision could become a revenue-raising mechanism for local authorities. That is the price one pays for democracy when devolving functions. It is up to the local authority membership to decide, most of whom I expect to be pro-enterprise and practical individuals elected by the people to present initiatives that will be...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: It is also gratifying to hear the concerns Deputy Billy Timmins has about how one cannot depend on councillors to have a discretionary basis between Arklow and Greystones. I agree with him as there are particular instances in this regard that we both share. As regards interfering with an independent Boundary Commission's report, the Deputy knows me long enough to know I would not do that....

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: As Members are aware, rates are a stable source of financing for local government and make an important contribution for the provision of local services. I have been concerned with an aspect of rating legislation that in my view gives rise to an unfair burden on new occupiers of rateable property, be they companies that wish to expand, relocate or start up. The subsequent occupier...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: In response to Deputy Dowds, I note that Ministers make decisions based on advice from all sources, political and otherwise. I will take responsibility for my actions in respect of the contents of this Bill. Certainly, I seek to ensure that discretion is given to local authorities as far as possible and that barriers to economic activity are removed, wherever they may be. This was...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: This is a technical amendment that addresses an omission in the list of consequential provisions in Schedule 4 to the Bill that shall not apply in the case of the dissolution of county and city development boards. Schedule 4 is primarily designed to provide for transitional arrangements as between local authorities that are being dissolved, such as town councils, and their successors...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: The amendments to be taken in this grouping relate to the establishment and functions of the local community development committees. Amendment No. 19 addresses an omission in the published Bill. It proposes that section 45 of the Local Government Act 2001, relating to the attendance of the media and public at local authority meetings, shall not apply in the case of local community...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Some groups expressed concern that because they are not listed in the Schedule to this Bill they were being excluded. That is not the case. All we have on the Schedule is the people with whom we are contracted. That does not exclude anybody in the future in terms of the relationships that will be developed between the community and voluntary sector and local government. We have the Father...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: We are conscious of the experience of the front-runners on alignment and will be having another meeting of the alignment group in approximately three weeks' time. Hopefully we will be able to reflect on and iron out some of the issues that have arisen in the context of the front-runner groups.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am trying to bring the community and voluntary sector into line with the democratic structures at local government level. For the first time, the community and voluntary sector will now have a statutory remit and relationship with local government, which it does not have currently. Companies operate on a stand-alone private company basis or they expect to get money from various...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I said earlier that I had not encountered the procedure for the Clerk's correction previously, but I have another correction to be made now. I request the Clerk's correction to the listing in the Bill, consequential on amendment No. 34, in order to correct a drafting error. On page 215, line 5, I ask that the reference to 128G be changed to 128F. I am sure this change will not impinge on...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Amendment No. 61 is the most crucial amendment in the grouping. Under the new section 66A to section 66H provisions, local authorities and the local community development committees are to be tasked with preparing integrated local economic and community plans for their areas. These plans will have economic and community elements, which will be prepared separately but in parallel. The local...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Yes; I request the Clerk's correction to the text of amendment No. 61 in order to correct a drafting error. In the new section 66H proposed to be inserted by amendment No. 61, in subsection (1) the reference to 128E should be changed to 128F.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Yes, or they are included in it.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: We will deal with that in the next amendment.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: We will have a look at it.