Results 2,081-2,100 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

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

Phil Hogan: Without having further details on the facility, I am not in a position to determine whether any funding has been made available to it under any of my Department’s Programmes.

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

Phil Hogan: There are no proposals under consideration to amend the Building Regulations to extend the range of persons who can sign Certificates of Compliance in the role of Designer and Assigned Certifier along the lines suggested. Architects, Building Surveyors and Chartered Engineers are the construction professions typically involved in the design of construction works in Ireland and reference to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (12 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013, I released Outline Heads of a Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht and by stakeholders. The Outline Heads set out, inter alia , institutional and other arrangements for the development of national low - carbon roadmaps between now and the year 2050. Following a...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am aware of Deputy Stanley's view on this matter but the effect of his amendment would not be to in any way change any substantive provision within the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 but rather it would create an anomaly in the legislative code where the definition of a sanitary authority would be outdated.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I think we have already discussed that.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Acting Chairman and the Members who have been very interested in this legislation, Deputy Cowen, Deputy Stanley and Deputy Murphy in particular. I thank them for their contributions to the debate. I hope we will see even further improvements made in the other House and that we can come back to this House in January to resolve those outstanding issues. This Bill has been in...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Stanley will recall the very valuable discussion on this issue on Committee Stage and I indicated there is scope to increase the number of members in the regional authorities without making them unwieldy. At the moment, there are 290 representatives on regional authorities. The policy document recommends that number be reduced to 62. We have in mind a number around 78...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: We looked at this matter in the spirit of what Deputy Catherine Murphy said on Committee Stage. We discovered the sentiment she wishes to include is already included in the Planning Acts which are updated in this Bill.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: It has to be consistent but the consistency is already included in the Planning Acts which are updated in this Bill.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The provision for a plebiscite in Dublin is an important element of empowering locally elected councillors in Dublin together with the electorate to decide on a key element of future governance for the capital city. As such, any proposal will not be my model nor the Government's model for a directly elected mayor but rather it will come from the elected members so that it can be put to the...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Stanley is aware that on Committee Stage I reflected on this proposal and indicated that I would bring forward another amendment to change this provision in subsequent Stages of the legislation. Consequently, I will bring forward an amendment in the Seanad, requiring a two thirds majority of those present and voting for passage of the resolution leading to a suspension, rather than...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: They will be there. I usually do what I say.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The proposed budget process is intended to clarify the approach to be taken by the chief executive in providing for a general municipal allocation. The Members of the municipal district will be centrally involved in the local authority budget process. The municipal district representatives on the corporate policy group, CPG, will have a direct input in the initial discussion on the framing...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: While cultural change cannot be enshrined in legislation, one can be definitive about the additional powers one gives to elected members and one can then train them and provide resources to them to ensure they are able to understand and implement those powers. I acknowledge that at times, there are difficulties with certain local elected members, particularly people who are new and who may...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: One should not be so sure.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: There is a precedent for a service delivery plan under the old health board system. It worked rather well contrary to what people might have thought about the regional health boards. It was one aspect of it which definitely worked well and I know as much from many years of experience. It was the only time that councillors had a chance to scrutinise exactly where the money was going and the...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I genuinely believe that this is an important provision. Deputy Murphy's concerns about this provision are, with all due respect, not well founded. If a local authority is getting more money at local level for the provision of services, the people will demand to know where the money is going. They need authorities to be explicit, more than ever, in respect of what services are being funded...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: The 80% objective is still there from 1 January 2015. Therefore, many local authorities will be winners. Equally, a number of local authorities will continue to require equalisation from the 20% tranche. These are the types of decisions that will be made all the more explicit and transparent through the service delivery plans.

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: These amendments require that reports and reviews required of the chief executive by the elected members be prepared in writing. The current provision provides flexibility for the report from the manager to be in writing, which is the norm. Where a formal request for a report or review is made by the elected members by way of a resolution, it would be expected that an appropriate future...

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have no difficulty with providing for reviews of legislation on a regular basis. Under the new Dáil reform measures and as provided for in the legislation, the Minister is required one year following enactment of this Bill to report to a committee on whether the measures laid down therein are working. In that context, I will be happy to do so. I do not want to provide for this in...