Results 7,641-7,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: This amendment in the names of Senators Mac Conghail and van Turnhout and others relates to section 27 and proposes changing the requirement which we have been discussing for political parties to have at least 30% women and 30% men to 40% men and 40% women. The section to which the amendment relates facilitates the general increase in participation of women in national politics. Ultimately,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: Senator Mullen was very academic and theoretical regarding the argument but he does not understand the practical realities on the ground facing political parties and how difficult is sometimes is for a large party to enhance the number of female participants in the political system. It is not as easy as the Senator believes. This Bill is about enhancing the opportunity of women to become...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The State funding provided to political parties under the electoral legislation is to be used, in part, to enhance and promote participation by women in political activity. The taxpayer is already doing a bit, although it may not be noticed. It is a matter also for the political parties to do more. I do not want to be prescriptive in legislation and hammer political parties financially in...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am a member of a political party; the Senator is not.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am trying to impart some information to Senator Mullen, who is not a member of a political party. The provision in question is a significant part of the political reform agenda, which I assisted in drawing up and which was approved by my party. The electorate has already cast its judgment,-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: -----not in any narrow sense-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: In the programme for Government, the Senator will see the consequences of having a very strong mandate for a political reform agenda, including on this issue. Both parties signed up to the programme and we are going about implementing it. Senator Norris should note there is no promise to be broken on this occasion.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Senator will see a lot of political reform over the coming years and may judge it-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: No. This is about leaving the decision to the people.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: It will be for the democratic process to decide whether there are to be more women in the Houses of the Oireachtas. We are giving an opportunity, through a modest and practical proposal, to political parties to enure at local authority level there is a sufficient number of candidates for the general election in 2016 in order to meet the legislative requirement. Anybody who believes that is...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes a contract for wastewater treatment plants and associated networks for the Belmullet, Foxford and Charlestown Sewerage Scheme to advance to construction during the period of the Programme at an estimated cost of €14.3 million. I understand that Mayo County...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, and 164 together. As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: Category one, where the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation and the introduction of domestic water charges. To meet these commitments, the Government intends initiating a water metering...

Written Answers — Domestic Fire Statistics: Domestic Fire Statistics (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations 1997 - 2002 apply to the construction of new buildings, to extensions and material alterations to existing buildings, and to certain changes of use of existing buildings. Statistics on fires and other emergency incidents dealt with by local authority fire brigades are forwarded by fire authorities to my Department and are published annually on my Department's...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements for the design and construction of new buildings, including houses, extensions and material alterations and certain changes of use of existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents provide technical guidance on how to comply with the Regulations. Compliance with the Regulations is the responsibility of the owner or...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are existing requirements on quarries to carry out testing of aggregate materials. The Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) provides for a system of harmonised technical specifications for construction products. IS EN 13242:2002 is a harmonised European Product Standard for "Aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials" for use in civil engineering work and road...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The key requirements relevant to the use of hardcore material for buildings are set out in Part C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) and Part D (Materials and Workmanship) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. Part C (Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for Site Preparation...

Written Answers — Property Tax: Property Tax (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have recently established an inter-Departmental expert Group to design an equitable property tax having regard to its terms of reference. This Group has been asked to report to me by end April, 2012. I will then bring proposals to Government for decisions on the structure and modalities of the property tax.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: There are currently 805.21 staff employed in my Department. The information requested is set out in the following table: Salary Range Number of Staff (FTE) * €150,000 1.00 Total 805.21 * Figures indicates full time equivalent. In relation to state agencies, my Department collects information on numbers employed within defined salary bands. The most recent data collected in respect of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (16 Feb 2012)

Phil Hogan: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in the local government sector require sanction from my Department. Under section 159 of the...