Results 621-640 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am prepared to consider that.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: No, the Senator is on my side.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senators on all sides of the House for understanding the reasons for this legislation and for their contributions and general support for the Bill. Committee and Remaining Stages will take place now, so I will not detain the House further.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014 is a short but important Bill. It provides for the repeal of the bankruptcy disqualifications for election to and membership of the Dáil and of the European Parliament. By virtue of the provisions in Article 18.2 of the Constitution the bankruptcy disqualification for membership of the Seanad will also be removed. The bankruptcy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. The establishment of Irish Water in 2013 was an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change, an entirely new funding structure governed by economic regulation, the introduction of domestic water charges based on usage and the roll-out of a national domestic metering...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations 1997 set out the legal requirements for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings and are divided in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are published to accompany each of the parts and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: This is an operational matter and as such it is a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board, which has statutory responsibility for the pyrite remediation scheme, to determine the appropriate level of expertise and training required by staff undertaking the audit process. The Board can be contacted at 1890 252842 or

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 122 together. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (16 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: A decision on whether or not to create a new authority for the establishment and operation of cemeteries and crematoria , including regulating the provision of headstones etc, would have to be soundly based on the need for such an authority, Government policy on regulatory impact and my Department’s legislative priorities. I have no plans at present to create such a new authority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Introduction (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396, 409, 411 and 426 together. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the local authorities to Irish Water. The Act provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. It also assigns responsibility for the independent economic regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012, the 2012 Act, which became law in July 2012, significantly enhanced the openness and transparency of political funding in Ireland. These were issues that were central to the recommendations made in the Moriarty Tribunal Report which was published in March 2011. The Tribunal recommended that the income of political parties be disclosed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Exemptions (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties that are not an individual’s principal private residence . The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Costs (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The following table details legal costs incurred by my Department since 2011 based on information contained in the annual Appropriation Accounts prepared by my Department and submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General; the table does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal. Legal Costs 2011 2012 2013 (to be audited) €405,000 €7,257,000...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: Since becoming Minister in March 2011, no external public relations firms have been engaged by my Department and there is currently no anticipated expenditure for such services in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The funding for Gateway from my Department will be available to all local authorities in proportion to the level of participation on the scheme. Applications for funding will be administered by Limerick County Council on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 259, 268, 269 and 285 dated 4 March 2014 and to Question No. 132 of 26 March 2014 which deal comprehensively with the implications of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 for the self-build sector of the housing market. The amended regulations, among other things, reinforce the principle that building works should be undertaken by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire Service Issues (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ambulance Service Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has no role in the provision of ambulance services in the State. Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including the National Ambulance Service, is a matter for the Health Service Executive which is under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Health. Dublin Fire Brigade provides an ambulance service in the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: A comprehensive Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the regulation of the Household Waste Collection Market was published in July 2012 and is available on my Department’s website at. The RIA provides an analysis of the household waste collection industry in Ireland; the international approach to household waste collection; pricing levels and how pricing structures affect waste...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (15 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I have no function in relation to the matter raised in the Question.