Results 8,821-8,840 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: It is a matter for Dublin City Council to enforce the regulations, and that is what it is doing. The issue is before the courts, and I cannot intervene in law. I will not break the law for anybody. I am keeping a close watch on developments in the courts but I cannot intervene at this stage. A robust system of building control exists, and that is demonstrated by the Priory Hall case where...

Building Regulations (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I share the Deputy's concern about the people who are affected by this, and I am doing something about it. Long before any Priory Hall problem erupted, in July this year, after three months in office, I authorised a review of the building regulations. They are out in public consultation, and we will be implementing them early in 2012. That process will introduce mandatory certification of...

Housing Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree with the views espoused by Threshold. Despite the very considerable public funding that has been utilised in the emergency homeless sector over the last number of years, insufficient progress on delivering people out of emergency accommodation into independent living has been achieved. The Government is determined to tackle homelessness in a more planned and strategic way, by...

Housing Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is a considerable number of people in emergency accommodation. They have a roof over their heads and they have an integrated care plan to one extent or another. Not all of this accommodation is of a standard I would like, and that is why the Government has decided to adopt a housing-led approach, rather than an approach which puts people into bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels...

Housing Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I agree with the Deputy that the level of proactivity on the part of the authorities in dealing with disputes is quite slow. Only 43% are resolved within one year, and that is not acceptable. That is why the legislation will be brought forward in the middle of 2012. We have to do a little bit of research in the first half of 2012 to make sure we get it right.

Water Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Measures to alleviate flooding are generally the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, which is the lead agency for flood risk management and funds a capital and maintenance programme for major and minor flood relief schemes in known areas at risk. The Department's multi-annual water services investment programme funds the provision of water services infrastructure to address...

Water Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised someone as intelligent as the Deputy cannot understand it.

Water Services (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know that Deputy Boyd Barrett expects the State to do everything and to provide resources to everybody and anybody, including the local authorities that are responsible in the first instance for making sure that the gullies are clean. He should direct his question to the local authorities and ask what they are doing with their maintenance budgets to introduce preventative measures so we do...

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Martin never read his brief.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Martin cost us a fortune when he failed to read his brief.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Fair play.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: It is not.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 before the Dáil today. It is important to explain the background and the rationale for this legislation. There are two main reasons for the introduction of this Bill, the first of which relates to non-compliance with EU legislation. On 29 October 2009, the European Court of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The information requested, in relation to local authority employees, as of 30 June 2011, is outlined in the following table. Local Authority Employees: Number above €50,000 Number above €80,000 Number above €100,000 5,960 570 219 The information, broken down in the specific income bands sought, in relation to local authority pensioners is not available in my Department. However,...

Written Answers — Mortgage-to-Rent Schemes: Mortgage-to-Rent Schemes (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 351 together. The introduction of two mortgage-to-rent schemes, as part of a range of measures to assist households with unsustainable mortgages, was announced in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Mortgage Arrears which was published on 12 October 2011. Work is now under way to implement key elements of the report and I will shortly launch...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Motor tax receipts for the calendar year 2010 were €1,023m. Accordingly, an increase of 2% would yield total receipts of €1,043.5m, an increase of €20.5m. Motor tax yields are falling as the yield from new cars, where tax is based on carbon emissions, is lower than from cars where the tax is calculated on the basis of engine capacity. Motor tax income to the end of October 2011 was...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: The €200 charge on non-principal private residences is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and other non-principal residences. The most important exemption under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 is for a person's sole or main residence. However, any one individual can have only one such residence. In a situation where a person owns a property in...

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 345 and 378 together. The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referenda, including the selection,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities have long led the way in dealing proactively and sympathetically with mortgage arrears. They can, and do, exercise the powers available to them and endeavour, in all arrears cases, to engage proactively and constructively with a distressed borrower with the aim of enabling a household remain in their home. The available data strongly bear this out and suggest that...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (29 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 380 together. I have asked the Chairman of the Panel to submit a report to me early in the New Year and it is my intention to publish the report. I understand the Panel is currently engaging in a wide-ranging consultation process with key stakeholders. I will consider the Panel's report and any recommendations contained in it when I receive it.