Results 6,001-6,020 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government and the Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB provide for the introduction of domestic water charges. The Government considers that charging for water based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. International evidence has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004, 1005 and 1098 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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Application (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Question Nos. 1006, 1009 to 1012, inclusive, 1090 and 1130 together. An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable local property tax to replace the household charge. The Group recently submitted its report to me and its recommendations will be considered in due course. Proposals will...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Nitrates Action Programme Implementation (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1008 and 1065 together. I am keenly aware of the challenges farmers are facing as a result of the very difficult weather conditions this summer. In order to assist with this situation, I have decided to grant an extension to the period during which chemical fertiliser may be applied. The closed period for chemical fertiliser will now commence on 1 October...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: In July 2011 the European Commission published a proposal to revise Directive 1999/32/EC (the ‘sulphur content of liquid fuels directive’) that regulates the maximum level of sulphur permitted for fuels used in the shipping sector. Following negotiations between Member States and the European Commission, the proposal was adopted by the European Parliament on 11 September 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Regulations (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1015 and 1016 together. Penalties available under the Litter Pollution Acts for litter offences range from an on-the-spot fine of €150, to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction, and a maximum fine of €130,000 on conviction on indictment. The fines for continuing offences are €600 per day for summary offences and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1017, 1074, 1076, 1079, 1081, 1113 and 1136 together. Homeowners affected by pyrite are faced with very difficult and challenging situations and my objective in setting up the Pyrite Panel was to find solutions for those homeowners. My focus now is to ensure that the recommendations in the pyrite report are implemented in a way that delivers solutions for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1018 to 1020, inclusive, together. The household charge is a charge levied on the ownership of property, not on its occupation. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: The household charge is a charge levied on the ownership of property. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge. Section 2(2) of the Act provides that certain buildings are not residential property for the purposes of the legislation. A building that is not a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1022 and 1086 together. The 18th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place in Doha, Qatar from 26 November to 7 December 2012. I plan to participate in the high-level Ministerial segment. As indicated in the Programme for development of national climate policy and legislation which I announced in January...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia , through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines) and provision for mediation procedures between neighbours. The development of new noise legislation by my Department will be considered in the context of this commitment; however, as indicated in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1025, 1026 and 1144 together. Since March 2011 the following have been established by my Department: - Three independent statutory Referendum Commissions, in accordance with the Referendum Act (1998); - A Constituency Commission under the Electoral Act 1997 to review Dáil and European election constituencies; - Local Government/Local Development...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Job Creation Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1027 to 1029, inclusive, together. While neither my Department nor the agencies under its aegis including local authorities have a direct role in the creation of new jobs under the Action Plan for Jobs, it does have a key role in supporting and stimulating economic activity, and aims to safeguard and assist jobs growth, in particular within the context of a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department has spent €40,102 on taxis since February 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Staff Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: The duties of the Press and Information Officer in my Department are undertaken by a Personal Assistant. The salary scale for a Personal Assistant to a Minister is €43,715 - €56,060. The Environmental Protection Agency employs one member of staff who is the primary media/press contact and who also has other duties at an annual salary of €54,329.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1032 and 1147 together. The information requested is outlined the following table: Agency / Board Name of Appointee (Chairperson highlighted) Remuneration An Bord Pleanála Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson) PPC Rate €189,474 (non-PPC Rate €180,000) Mr. Conall Boland (Deputy Chairperson) PPC Rate €138,387 (non PPC Rate...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department engaged the services of photographers on four occasions since February 2011. The details of the engagements are set out in the following table: Event Photographer Cost Irelands Best Kept Towns ceremony Maxwell Photography €932 Tidy Towns National Awards ceremony Maxwell Photography €600 Meeting of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1034 and 1035 together. A breakdown of expenditure on entertainment for official business purposes by my Department since the appointment of the Government is set out in the following table. Description Amount Meeting Expenses €38,825 Lunches €21,986 Evening Functions/Dinners/Receptions €8,300 Total €69,111 These costs...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on hair and make-up since the formation of the Government in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Staff (18 Sep 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1037, 1042, 1122 and 1146 together. Appointments of Special Advisers to my Department were made in accordance with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil and sanctioned by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, where appropriate. Details of numbers of Special Advisers employed, their salary on appointment...