Results 3,541-3,560 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: In fairness to the Taoiseach, he said something similar before the last election and he is going through with it and giving the people an opportunity to have their say.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Seanad reform has been the subject of much debate over the years, principally from Fianna Fáil Leaders of the House in the Seanad, and nothing has happened. As the Taoiseach said in opening this debate, the correct approach is to start by asking whether we need a second House at all. That is what we are asking the people to decide. The contention that a second House is crucial to...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government believes that a second chamber is no more necessary here in Ireland than it is in other small unitary states. In addition, the Seanad is an outdated institution. The theory on which it is based is no longer relevant and its composition does not reflect modern society. Maintaining a House of Parliament that is produced by the electoral and nomination system that produces the...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: That is not the case.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am in the Chamber regularly for the Topical Issues debate. The Deputy should submit matters for discussion more often.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Action Programme Review (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: In accordance with the Nitrates Directive, Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme is due for review this year and this is currently under way. As part of the review a public consultation process was initiated and closed on 12 June 2013. All submissions received on foot of this consultation are being considered by myself and my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Collection (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect the Non-Principal Private Residence...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I understand that Fingal County Council intends to seek sanction for a number of Library Assistant posts in the coming days. My Department will consider the matter in due course once such a request has been received.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 made under section 1(11A) of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 provide that, where a vehicle has been stolen and not recovered, a refund may only be given in respect of the vehicle licence if it is surrendered to a licensing authority not less than three months before the expiry of the licence.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Yield (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. I understand that the Non Principal Private Residence Charge has raised €73.2m in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Negotiations are on-going at European level, under the current Irish presidency of the EU, to determine the final regulatory framework for the delivery of Rural Development Programmes for the next EU programming period 2014-2020. The finalisation of the regulation that deals both with Rural Development and the LEADER elements of Rural Development (European Agricultural Fund for Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Policy (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney and I established the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) in September 2012 and tasked it to investigate the opportunities and challenges facing rural populations in the current economic climate. Since then the Commission has been working towards the publication of a report that will inform policies...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Development Companies (LDCs) are independent companies with their own board of management and memoranda and articles of association. My Department has no role in the internal operations of LDCs and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. The LDCs deliver both the Local and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Projects (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Elected Mayor for Dublin Metropolitian Area (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The specific question of introducing an office of directly elected mayor for the Dublin Metropolitan Area is considered in the Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government in the context of other governance issues. A key conclusion in that regard is that such an office should not be simply inserted as a further layer of governance and administration in addition to the current...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Registration of Architects (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 sets out the statutory arrangements for the registration of architects. A variety of routes to registration are provided for in the Act, including specific provision (under section 22) for the registration of practically trained persons who may have no academic qualifications or formal education in the discipline of architecture but who had been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Funding (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Substantial funding towards local authorities’ water conservation programmes is being provided under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013. Watermains rehabilitation is a key priority under the Programme which includes the County Cork watermain rehabilitation Programme valued at €23.21 million. My Department has not received a submission from the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme Issues (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons, without sufficient means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (25 Jun 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have accepted in full the recommendations in the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report 2013 and I will be making the necessary local electoral area orders to give effect to these in due course. The local electoral areas specified in these orders, and the number of members to be elected for each electoral area, will apply at the 2014 local elections.