Results 661-680 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank her very much for the kindness and courtesy she extended to me and to all Members of both Houses during that period. I wish her well in the future.

Seanad: Statute of Limitations (Amendment) (Home Remediation-Pyrite) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: On a point of information, we publish a report every three months.

Seanad: Building Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014: Motion (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: Yes. I am delighted to have been in a position to change the regulations in the interests of the consumer and to rid ourselves once and for all of the shoddy development that passed for good development in the past ten or 15 years. I make no apologies to the professional bodies for doing so. The Building Control Act has not changed, but the regulations have. They are much stronger and more...

Seanad: Building Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014: Motion (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: As the Leader indicated, we are discussing SI 105 of 2014 which provides for alternative but equivalent means of complying with the requirement under the building control regulations 1997 to 2014 to assign a person to inspect and certify the works in line with a plan lodged at commencement and implemented during construction. This requirement is one of a number of reforms to the regulatory...

Seanad: Building Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014: Motion (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Senator is wrong.

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." 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 the European Parliament. The bankruptcy disqualification has been in place in Ireland since 1923 and it was there before that under the Westminster...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The establishment and operation of cemeteries and crematoria are subject, where applicable, to the provisions of legislation dealing with planning and development, environmental protection and air pollution. Any decision on whether or not to provide a separate regulatory authority for the establishment and operation of cemeteries and crematoria would have to be soundly based on the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Kilrush and Kilkee Sewerage Scheme was included as a scheme a t Planning in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. The Scheme provides for the construction of two new wastewater treatment plant s in the areas of Kilrush and Kilkee and the upgrade of the existing Network Collection System in each area at an estimated overall cost of over €17...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: Community Led Local Development ( CLLD ) is a method of involving partners at local level in EU programme delivery and decisions. It requires that funding decisions are made by a Local Action Group (LAG). There is no requirement that the funding be given directly to development companies. The LAG must be composed of representatives of public and private local socio-economic interests where...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The pyrite remediation scheme which has recently been made by the Pyrite Resolution Board is a limited scheme applicable to a restricted group of homeowners in the geographical areas identified in the report of the independent Pyrite Panel. The report provides the framework and context for the scheme and the eligibility criteria are reflective of the conclusions and recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department has contacted Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP) in relation to this project. I understand that MNELP has written to the promoter requesting further information to enable processing of its application for funding. The project assessment process will recommence once the required information is provided.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: 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. The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Animal Welfare (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: The Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010 came into force on 1 January 2012 and it requires all dog breeding establishments to register with the relevant local authority, pay a registration fee and meet a minimum set of veterinary, welfare and other standards. It is an offence under the Act to operate an unregistered dog breeding establishment. The implementation of the Dog Breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (10 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: My Department asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. I understand that Irish Water has made contact with Oireachtas members to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a timely manner. Irish Water has confirmed...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (9 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: 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 programme. Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) had...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (9 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: In February 2013, the Local Action Group (LAG) in question submitted a claim in respect of the project referred to. This claim was selected by my Department’s Inspection Services Section for a pre-payment inspection and was subsequently deemed ineligible on a number of grounds. A formal letter of findings was issued to all parties on 17 April 2013 detailing the findings and advising...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (9 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Collection (9 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 provides that the rate of duty for a quarterly tax disc must not exceed 30% of the annual duty applicable and sets no upper limit for a half-yearly disc. The rates of duty currently applicable to the quarterly and half-yearly discs are 28.25% and 55.5% of the annual rate,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (9 Apr 2014)

Phil Hogan: I expect the Report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas to be published within the next week. Once published the report will be available on my Department’s website, and the website of the Commission,.