Results 9,321-9,340 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Perhaps Senator Ó Domhnaill did not read it. It is already there. I am sorry but that is the fact.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I realise it does not suit Senator Ó Domhnaill and I realise Senator Wilson has deeply held views about this matter but the powers of inspection are already in place and Fianna Fáil brought in further powers of inspection under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: No, it is not different. Fianna Fáil allowed people from the ISPCA onto the premises of other people. Senator Ó Domhnaill voted for it.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Fianna Fáil allowed people from outside the public service to enter premises as part of the building and energy rating legislation.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am trying to deal-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I did not interrupt Senator Ó Domhnaill.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I seek the protection of the Chair.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Acting Chairman. I can see that he was trying hard. Senator Ó Domhnaill should note that I dislike hypocrisy and if he wishes to be valid in respect of the arguments he makes he should examine the precedent he and his party created under the legislation I have outlined. The Senators have nothing to worry about now since they have voted through similar legislation in the past....

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There is no such thing as the 2008 EPA regulations dealing with planning matters, although that is what he referred to. This work will involve planning exemptions so that if one received planning permission in 1967, 1975 or 2010, one need not apply for planning permission. We simply wish to know whether the system of septic tanks in the country is working and, if it is not working, we must...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: They are. The Senator obviously does not know what is going on in the environment section in Donegal County Council. Whether one is on a river, stream, lake or an area of high risk, one is currently subject to inspection under the powers introduced by the previous Government in 2007.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: There are inspectors.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: A training programme will be put in place by the EPA and local authorities to train people who will conduct inspections. One does not send out people who do not know what they are doing. I am sure we do not do that under any legislation. The Senator should respect the fact that, under regulations, we are in a position to develop the necessary training and expertise to do the job, otherwise...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Donegal might be difficult.

Seanad: Fire Services (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I regret the situation that has evolved in Roscommon. The fire services, funded and managed by local authorities, are one of the finest community services. Roscommon County Council has six fire brigades which are manned by 56 retained firefighters in Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea, Elphin, Roscommon and Strokestown. It is most regrettable, as Senator Kelly has said, that despite all the...

Seanad: Fire Services (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I assure Senator Kelly that I will bring his concerns to the attention of the appropriate authorities tomorrow.

Seanad: Public Health Nurses (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the Seanad on work relating to the new child and family support agency. In the programme for Government we made a commitment to fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing responsibility for...

Seanad: Public Health Nurses (23 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: As I said, it is a matter for the Senator to be able to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald. I will convey the Senator's view to the Minister and the Senator may be able to engage with her directly on this matter. I am not in a position to give that information to the Senator.

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: — acknowledges that the Government is acutely aware of the pressures on small and medium-sized businesses and the challenging economic environment in which many property and business owners are operating at the present time; — recognises the very important contribution that commercial rates...

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: I know Deputy Niall Collins and his party colleagues are well meaning in tabling the motion, but I never cease to be amazed by Fianna Fáil's capacity to lose its memory and have all of the solutions to various issues after it leaves office. It was in government only eight months ago.

Commercial Rates: Motion (22 Nov 2011)

Phil Hogan: Its collective amnesia is astounding. Is this not the same Fianna Fáil Party which was in government from 1997 to earlier this year when all of these issues were apparent but nothing happened? What did it do when it was in government to ease the pressures on small and medium-sized businesses? What changes in the rating system did it deliver? Why has the rating system suddenly become not...