Results 5,121-5,140 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Energy Rating (13 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Where a building , including a dwelling, is commissioned or offered for sale or letting the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 – 2008 require the building owner t o obtain a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate and advisory report in respect of the building concerned and to provide a copy of same to any person who expresses an y interest in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (13 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Part J of the Building Regulations requires a heat producing appliance to have adequate provision for the discharge of the products of combustion to the outside air, and any heat producing appliance, flue pipe, or chimney to be designed and constructed so as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the building catching fire as a consequence of its use. Technical Guidance Document J,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The operation, maintenance and management of existing sewerage infrastructure is a matter for the relevant water services authority, in this case Fingal County Council. The Portrane/Donabate/Rush/Lusk Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013, with some elements to advance to construction and others to advance through...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Library Projects (13 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The library in question is not part of my Department’s public library capital programme .

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge (13 Dec 2012)

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...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will contact Galway County Council on any action on enforcement proceedings in the event it is not able to reach agreement with the developer but must take in charge this development, and to see if the bond is sufficient, in conjunction with the resources of the local authority, to deal with this problem. If any environmental problems with respect to water quality or public health issues...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Social Insurance Benefits (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Senator for raising this question and apologise on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, who is dealing with the Social Welfare Bill in the other House. Illness benefit is a social insurance payment payable to insured persons who are unable to work due to illness, satisfy certain contribution conditions, are certified as unfit for work by a medical practitioner and are...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Healy Eames for raising this matter. The notice of the matter received did not refer to a specific individual case. If that had happened I would have expected to have been briefed on the individual case. She asked about the criteria which the Department of Health and the HSE use to determine the eligibility of such children as Lily Mae who have rare life-threatening...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I ask Senator Healy Eames to give me the information she has at her disposal and I will talk to the Minister for Health about the matter tomorrow and get an assessment of the individual case carried out. I was not aware the Senator was inquiring about an individual case as she did not indicate that in her question. Therefore, I could not be expected to have a reply on the matter this...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Higgins for the opportunity to clarify the position at the wastewater treatment plant at Dún Ard, Craughwell, County Galway. As she is aware, the provision of water and sewerage services is the responsibility of the 34 city and county councils which are designated as water services authorities under the Water Services Act 2007. The Department's Water Services Investment...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy clearly does not realise we are in a bailout programme if he imagines that we can give money willy-nilly to everybody in the country under every possible scheme. The rural social scheme provides income support for farmers and fishermen who were in receipt of certain social protection payments. In return, those participating in the scheme are engaged in supporting the provision...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Unlike the Deputy, I am always willing to acknowledge the worth of initiatives introduced by other Governments.

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is moving the goalposts.

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is on his usual hobby horse of scaremongering people into believing a spending programme is to be abolished. I am pleased to confirm, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, that this scheme will not be abolished.

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: Every scheme is under review in every budget. The Deputy was in government long enough to know how these matters work. Moreover, he knows why we are where we are in terms of the country's financial position. The Minister for Social Protection deserves great credit for ensuring, notwithstanding the difficult financial position for her Department, the same level of participation will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Humphreys about the requirement for a level playing field and a standardised service across the country. The most important person in this is the customer. The people have gone to enormous lengths to do the right thing by our waste policy in terms of reuse, recycling and recovery. It is not good enough if waste operators are...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Social Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am first sub.

Topical Issue Debate: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I accept what the Deputy is saying. There is concern, some of which has stemmed from the irresponsible dissemination of misinformation in certain parts of rural constituencies. I suggest some of the Deputies involved who were serving in government when this case came before the courts and did nothing about it for four years thereafter are responsible for the European Court of Justice ruling...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am aware of his personal interest in waste policy and he has raised a number of important and serious issues, with which I will ask my officials to deal immediately. Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of environmental standards for the collection of waste. They consider applications for waste collection permits from...

Topical Issue Debate: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for the opportunity to address this issue. The House will be aware that the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provided for the establishment of a new system for the registration and inspection of septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems. The 2012 Act augments the duty of care placed on the owners of on-site wastewater treatment systems,...