Results 4,721-4,740 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: That Cabinet was always right.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy will have to deal with fewer local authorities next year.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The purpose of the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 is to provide for the number of Members of Dáil Éireann, to revise the constituencies in the light of the result of Census 2011 and to provide for the number of Members to be elected for such constituencies. The Bill provides for a total number of 158 Members of the Dáil, delivering on the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Architectural Qualifications (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 139 together. The register of persons entitled to use the title of architect was introduced as a consumer protection measure and is designed to prevent persons who fail to demonstrate the required level of competence from passing themselves off as architects. There can be no question of allowing any person to use the title of architect unless he/she...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Radon Gas Levels (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Government, largely through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), has worked to assess the extent of the incidence of radon in Ireland, and to increase public awareness of the issue. The Government’s approach to radon, which is similar to that of the majority of EU Member States, is to concentrate efforts on increasing public awareness of the risks posed by radon...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The Charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Retired public and civil servants are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period, and these staff provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such requirements. The abatement principle, which ensures that the fee paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Political Funding (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 introduces new provisions along with amendments to the Electoral Acts to further enhance the openness and transparency of political funding in Ireland. In response to the Programme for Government commitment on corporate donations the new provisions in the Act include a ban on the acceptance of donations over €200 for political...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The third phase of the EU Emissio ns Trading Scheme commenced on 1 January 2013 and will run over an eight year period to the end of 2020. Following a major revision to the trading scheme, approved in 2009, the third phase is significantly different to the first two phases; key differences include – 1. a single EU-wide cap on emissions instead of twenty seven national caps; 2. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Banking Issues (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Deposits held by county and city councils comprise cash balances and short term bank investments. Information on the rates of interest at which deposits are held is not available to my Department. The amount held on deposit by each county and city council at 31 December 2010, the latest year for which audited information is available, is set out below. Local authority Total Carlow...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Banking (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Details of the operation of the financial management function in bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual agencies concerned . Information is collected by my Department from relevant bodies for the purpose of inputting to data on General Government Debt prepared by the Department of Finance. The following table sets out details of deposits held by such...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Priory Hall Development (6 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Dublin City Council is the designated authority with powers to enforce the statutory requirements arising under the Fire Safety Act, the Building Control Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which are at issue in relation to Priory Hall. The Council is also the designated Housing Authority under the Housing Acts. I am aware of the significant efforts that have been made by the...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: This is ironic given the calls by some Members earlier for support for the small business sector, in particular Deputy Boyd Barrett who called for some respite in the differentiation of rates in town centres. No one has yet suggested how all sectors of society could be asked to make an equitable contribution to same.

Other Questions: Property Taxation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The issues raised by Deputies, in relation in particular to the approved housing bodies, are important and will be clarified in the context of the Finance Bill which the Minister for Finance will shortly publish.

Other Questions: Property Taxation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am not in a position to clarify a number of those issues today because they form part of the finance Bill. The regulations for the implementation of this tax will form part of that Bill in coming weeks when it will become clear. However, there is an issue of equity here. Some people in local authority estates, perhaps in tenant purchase schemes, are paying a contribution under the...

Other Questions: Property Taxation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Some 130,000 social housing units provided by local authorities and 27,000 units provided by approved housing bodies could become part of the category the Deputy mentions in the context of the local property tax. A steering group made up of all the Departments and agencies he mentioned is considering this issue and will report to the Minister for Finance in the context of the finance Bill.

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I agree with the sentiments expressed by all Deputies about the frustration of small business with commercial rates and their application arising from the existing Valuation Act. The Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 is working its way through the Upper House and I hope it will be in the Dáil in this session. There are many anomalies. I am sure that all of us, from our direct...

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am sure other sectors of the economy are getting a break.

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The House will be aware that the hotel sector got a significant break of a reduction in its rates base in the past year and it acknowledged that. Maybe Deputy Wallace is not aware of that. The hotel sector is a significant employer as well. The point Deputy Wallace makes, with which I agree, is that there is a significant problem here. The Valuation Office is too slow to carry out...