Results 4,741-4,760 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Other Questions: Property Taxation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 137 and 146 together. The introduction of the local property tax will provide a more sustainable funding model for local government, will devolve greater responsibility for financial decisions to local level, and will help renew the relationship between the citizen and his or her local authority. In introducing the Act, the Government has been keen to...

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I agree with the sentiments expressed by both Deputies with regard to helping small businesses through these difficult times. Small businesses in a provincial town contribute a substantially higher proportion of their profit to their local authority than in a major town or city. There is a case to be made and I am prepared to look at any opportunities, with the help of the Minister for...

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I welcome the fact that Deputy Boyd Barrett is now seeking to champion the cause of small businesses.

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I welcome him to the revolution that he is acknowledging has taken place with regard to small businesses.

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am very surprised that he is doing so because he and his friends protested against my visit to a very important facility in his own constituency last week, valued at €100 million. They do not want people to pay anything, which would put more pressure on commercial small businesses struggling for survival as well as on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to provide services...

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I wish to reduce the burden and not increase it, as advocated by Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Other Questions: Commercial Rates Calculations (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 165 together. 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 Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am anxious to work in step with our EU partners to ensure that we have a competitive, low carbon economy. If we are out of step with them and fall behind the leaders, it might damage our competitiveness. We are working in step with our EU partners to comply with targets to which we are legally bound. The outline heads of the low carbon Bill will be brought to the Government next week....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Work on developing provisions of progressive climate legislation is at an advanced stage and I will issue outline heads shortly for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and stakeholders. The short period of additional time which I am taking before issuing the outline heads of the Bill is related to the importance of ensuring that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: It is like trying to nail what to a wall?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I thought the Deputy said "gelignite".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy has pre-empted some of the points I will make when Deputy Catherine Murphy moves her Bill on Friday.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I will answer them. However, I also wish to correct a number of points the Deputy made. I did not promise legislation last June.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: No, I did not. I have before me, in writing, the promise I made in the House, including with regard to the roadmap.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I fully acknowledge that I am a few weeks behind time. While slippage sometimes occurs, I am bringing forward the policy analysis done by the National Economic and Social Council from the end of February 2013 to next week. The Deputy failed to refer to his document, which is the outcome of a process that involves the various stakeholders drawing up the necessary policy options and doing an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Ó Cuív has a very serious interest in these matters, which I acknowledge, and the RAPID programme has made progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities, bringing forward important local projects in response to relevant needs. The Deputy brought forward a few projects in his time but did not provide money for them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I subsequently found some money for certain projects in the five designated towns identified in 2009, arising from the same criteria mentioned by the Deputy. The Deputy was associated with leverage schemes and we had to seize the leverage that money could provide with regard to projects like traffic calming, graffiti removal and provision of play groups. That came from other Departments...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: I am glad to consider the matters raised by the Deputy and I will undertake to ensure that with the local government fund, measures taken to improve the areas identified by RAPID will continue to be prioritised under social inclusion measures in 2014 and beyond. In 2013 all we have is the money necessary for existing contractual obligations. The Deputy knows that when money runs out, as it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: Much slicing was done in the Deputy's time and we have had to do a fair amount of salami slicing since to make up for what was done in those 14 years. We do not have money for everything and there must be priorities. I will ask local authorities to prioritise the RAPID areas for funding and I will consider meeting the chairs under the auspices of the national monitoring committee. I will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Phil Hogan: The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion in RAPID areas nationally. The programme was launched in 25 urban areas in February 2001. It was extended to 20 provincial towns in February 2002. Ballyfermot was added in 2006 and in late 2009, following an independent review of the findings from the...