Results 13,781-13,800 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I understand that Senator Leyden has a very good Bill but it contains many weaknesses. I am sure he will strengthen the Bill before he publishes it.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Leader Programmes Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Ireland has agreed with the European Union funding to the value of €2.1 billion for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The governing EU regulations provide that a minimum allocation of 5% of that funding goes to the Leader programme. The Government has decided to increase that to 7%, which I welcome. Therefore, €153 million in EU funding will be available to Leader...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services.  The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: We have no difficulty with publishing the documentation that will be approved by Government in advance of any election. I know that the local elections are Deputy Cowen's primary concern, rather than the level of water charges. However, I would urge everyone to be patient. A lot of consultation is going on at the moment with regard to this matter. When I say "shortly", I mean that in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I must get Government approval first.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Cowen knows that it was his party in government which decided to introduce water charges as part of the memorandum of understanding with the troika. The timescale agreed between the troika and the previous Government for the metering programme and the establishment of a new company was very short. We have simply got on with the work. I can assure the Deputy that we will have the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that self-build and building by direct labour arrangements continue to be possible under the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into operation on 1 March 2014. The Building Control Act 1990 places a statutory obligation on owners, designers and builders to design and construct buildings in compliance with the requirements...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: On the question of whether it is necessary to be registered with CIF, the answer is "No".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy can do so provided he has an assigned certifier who is registered on the list of professional bodies to stand over the work. I am concerned about the potential for costs to be exploitative initially. The same thing happened in respect of the building energy regulations introduced several years ago by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. People were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Good.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: A lot of people in Priory Hall can tell the Deputy about him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The regulations deal with new builds -----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Building Regulations Application (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: Anything under 40 sq. m is exempt. That would be a significant extension. I am concerned about the possibility of customers being exploited by professionals under these regulations. I will monitor the situation over the coming weeks and if I detect that the professional bodies are exploiting customers to the extent that the Deputy alleged - he only mentioned one quotation - I am prepared...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The current value of the axes 3 and 4 Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is €370 million. In addition, €5 million has been provided for an axis 1 agrifood measure. Of this, up to a maximum of 20% may be spent on administration costs, leaving a minimum of 80% of the funding available for projects and animation expenses. Of the potential €300...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy asked for them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: As Deputy Ó Cuív knows I made every effort in 2013 and put enormous pressure on the local development companies to give us the necessary and true information on projects sanctioned from 2009 to 2012 and let us know whether they will not go ahead in order that we could examine reallocating the money. This process will be continued to ensure we have the maximum spend which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I do not believe Deputy Ó Cuív expects the type of smoke he got from the Minister from Agriculture, Food and the Marine on co-funding for the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: When Deputy Ó Cuív was the Minister he obtained 5% from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I obtained 7% as a good start, which is €153 million.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: I know that, but there was much more money to spend. In fairness to Deputy Ó Cuív, he had so much money he solved every problem by throwing money at it. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at the time, Michael McDowell, stated we did not need stamp duty. That was another era and I am in a different place, but I am working with the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Quality Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Phil Hogan: The matter raised in the question is an operational matter in relation to the provision of water services. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The Arigna, Boyle-Ardcarne, Roscommon central and south Roscommon regional water supply schemes were included as...