Results 7,241-7,260 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for the allocation of National Lottery funding to Departmental expenditure programmes generally is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Appendix 1 to the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012, published by that Department in February 2012, gives information on expenditure programmes which are part funded by the National Lottery, the provisional...

Written Answers — Departmental Equipment: Departmental Equipment (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department currently has 309 laptops and plans to upgrade 75 laptops this year. This number includes the laptops provided under a shared services agreement to the Heritage Division of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Tablets have not been deployed in my Department.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The primary purpose of this Bill is to give legislative effect to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences contained in the financial resolution on motor tax passed by the Dáil on budget day, 6 December 2011. The new rates apply to motor tax discs and trade licences taken out for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2012. The Bill provides for the same increases in motor...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is going well.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator will eat humble pie on the promissory note.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator will eat humble pie in respect of it.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator and Sinn Féin were wrong in regard to it.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is only for the North.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate. While I recognise that any increase in taxes is always unpopular, it is an unavoidable fact that the new CO2-based system introduced in July 2008 by my predecessor has resulted over time in a decline in motor tax receipts. Instead of the switch being revenue neutral, which was advocated at the time, while also providing an environmental...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I assure the Minister - I am sorry, the Senator-----

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: There might be something to come in the future. I can assure the Senator that there is no intention to include cycles. It refers to motorcycles. Disabled drivers who are exempt from VRT are generally also exempt from motor tax. I encourage the Senator to make a submission to the ongoing review of the motor tax scheme generally. The closing date for the receipt of submissions may have...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Roscommon. The West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme, which includes the Castlerea Regional Water Supply Scheme, is included in the Programme as a scheme to advance through...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department employs staff with a wide range of professional qualifications in the environment area. All professional and technical staff recruited into my Department are required to possess the necessary qualifications and experience for the posts concerned and these are specified for the individual competitions. The general requirements for recruitment to the Environment Inspectorate of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge by 31 March 2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. Interpretation...

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information requested is set out in the following table. Gross Motor Tax Receipts by Licensing Authority 2010 – 29 February 2012 Licensing Authority 2010Gross Motor TaxReceipts € 2011Gross Motor TaxReceipts € 01 January – 29 February 2012Gross Motor Tax Receipts € Carlow 10,083,670 9,584,134 1,648,636 Cavan 10,649,902 10,170,516 1,681,674 Clare 18,669,347 16,948,293...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 346, 347, 359, 360, 369, 370, 375 and 397 of 21 March 2012, which sets out the position in this matter. I have no proposals to extend the three month period.

Seanad: Genetically Modified Food (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: Responsibility for matters relating to genetically modified organisms is spread across a number of Departments, as Senator Ó Clochartaigh has pointed out. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has responsibility for policy matters in relation to the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment and the contained use of GMOs. The...

Seanad: Genetically Modified Food (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: The policy of the Government is that it is against genetically modified foods. As I outlined in my reply, the Environmental Protection Agency assesses certain areas on a case-by-case basis. I refer to animal feeds, for example, or to a number of issues relating to potato blight. It is clear that for the most part, the policy of the Government is to oppose direct human consumption of...

Seanad: Pyrite Review Group (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this issue. I agree with him that it is a serious matter for the householders involved. Notwithstanding the fact that the State is not liable for these issues, I decided to establish an independent panel to examine them because I felt we were obliged to see what we could do to help people. I asked the panel to complete its work as quickly as possible. All...

Seanad: Pyrite Review Group (22 Mar 2012)

Phil Hogan: I accept what the Senator has said. We are all on the same page in relation to this matter. We want to help people who, through no fault of their own, were dealt a severe blow when products of a certain quality unfortunately got into the construction system. The results of that are evident when one looks at the condition of houses. I am determined to assist in trying to solve the serious...