Results 2,061-2,080 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: I thank all the Senators who have contributed to this debate. I agree with Senator Bradford that there is a special relationship between 43 of the Members of this House and those who are elected at local authority level. I am willing to take on board the spirit of what people have implied in their contributions today. I will ensure, as far as possible, that we have a good and sound Bill....

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

Phil Hogan: I hate to say that to the Senator because he is a good friend of mine.

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

Phil Hogan: When Fianna Fáil was in power, it centralised everything in quangos at national level. It abolished any powers of particular significance that were held at local government level. As a result of what happened in 1977 and thereafter, we have local administration but we certainly do not have local government. I remind the House that the Bill provides that in future, no separate...

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

Phil Hogan: The councillors adopt the commercial rate at budget time every year. The Senator might not realise that because she was never a member of a local authority.

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

Phil Hogan: Senator Wilson will tell the Senator about it.

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 propose that Senator Mullen be the next Commissioner.

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

Phil Hogan: The Senator knows all about the guillotine.

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

Phil Hogan: It is working well in Waterford.

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

Phil Hogan: I am privileged to bring the first ever local government reform legislation before this House. It began life in October as simply the "Local Government Bill 2013" and it will, I hope, enter the Statute Book as the Local Government Reform Act 2014, a title which reflects its true historic significance. It may not rank with what is sometimes referred to as the "Great" Reform Act 1832 in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in relation to specific enforcement activity under the Fire Safety Acts or the Building Control Act under which the powers of investigation and prosecution are vested in individual local authorities acting in their capacity as Fire Authority or Building Control Authority . Neither does my Department maintain statistical records of such activity. My Department continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. The Pyrite Resolution Board is in discussions with HomeBond with a view to agreeing an open and transparent process for them to make a positive contribution to the implementation of a pyrite remediation scheme. I have made my position very clear on the issue of responsibility for providing a resolution of the pyrite problem for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013 provides for planning of a large number of schemes and contracts, including a scheme to provide a new long-term water source to service the future needs of the Greater Dublin Area. There is limited potential to abstract additional water from existing sources in the region and it is necessary to consider new options for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme (Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Contract) is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to start during the lifetime of the Programme. In June 2013 I approved Kildare County Council’s proposals to commence the procurement process for increasing the capacity of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Rural Development Programmes are implemented through a strict regulatory regime which is set by the European Commission. Each Programming period has specific Commission and Council Regulations, to which the Programme must adhere, and these include the priorities and eligibility criteria for the Programme. These may change from one Programming period to the next. Applications under the...