Results 10,861-10,880 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I would be happy to assist the Deputy with this serious problem, which I have been aware of outside my current position. More could be done by Fingal County Council and the EPA, as they have the legislative provision and back-up from the Department required to achieve success. Recently, the council took a court case in which it was successful for a change.

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: Yes. A CCTV system has been put into operation. My policy is clear, in that illegal dumping should be dealt with by the relevant regulatory authorities in as strong a manner as possible. Activity that damages our environment physically or visually is not acceptable. I understand the frustration of Deputy Ellis and the area's law-abiding residents concerning this illegal activity and will...

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: As of June 2010, Fingal County Council had carried out more than 1,000 hours of surveillance by the regional enforcement unit-----

Waste Management (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and covert CCTV surveillance. There has been all sorts of interagency involvement. Deputy Ellis knows all about it and his expertise in that regard would be helpful. All of the agencies have come together to ensure compliance effectively. I assure Deputy Ellis that I will contact the local authority and the relevant agencies to determine how to resolve these issues once and for all.

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together. Ireland recognises the right of states to determine their own energy mix, including whether to develop nuclear power. It is our expectation that, where a state chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards in respect of safety and environmental protection. Safety must be...

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: There has been a great deal of rhetoric about this matter for a long time-----

Nuclear Plants (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: -----and much rhetoric on the part of political parties on what can and cannot be done. We are dealing with a sovereign state, the same as our own. The objective of the Government is to close Sellafield but we cannot force the British Government to do so without having its agreement. Essentially, there are two categories of concern. The first is the environmental impact of historic and...

Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints. In so far as support for the upgrading of septic tanks is concerned, this matter is under review in my Department, in the context of the finalisation of legislative proposals to respond to a 2009 judgment of the European Court of Justice. The court ruled that Ireland had failed to adopt...

EU Directives (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The programme for Government contains a commitment to complete ratification of the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Delivering on this commitment by addressing the remaining legislative requirements to allow ratification to proceed is a high priority for the Government. The three pillars of...

EU Directives (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I have asked for this matter to be expedited and expect to have proposals very shortly as to how we can achieve that early in the legislative programme, between now and the summer recess. The main issues that remain to be addressed relate to Article 9 of the convention, on concern regarding access to justice. There is a need to ensure that all members of the public have access to review...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 21, 27, 29 and 32 together. Between 1997 and 2005 Ireland designated 55 special areas of conservation and 75 natural heritage areas for the conservation of raised bog habitat. In 1999, the then Minister announced a ten year national derogation during which domestic turf cutting could continue subject to certain restrictions. This applied to 31 raised bog...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I understand the confusion about these matters, particularly in the run up to elections, when these matters become clouded. We are dealing with the EU habitats directive that is the law of the land and that must be implemented to preserve biodiversity and meet environmental obligations. We have been in the courts, and will be brought before them again unless we deal with this issue as soon...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Fleming for his remarks. We enjoyed a good working relationship when he was chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the last Dáil and I look forward to working closely with him again. I have a great deal of sympathy for his comments on scientific data. In the national heritage areas, in particular, there is scope to look at the...

Natural Heritage Areas (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I am in a position to inform the Deputy that we will make an announcement on these matters shortly. I am coming to conclusions on these matters in terms of mediation. I am keen to see stakeholder involvement in respect of devising management plans for each bog with an independent chairman, as outlined in the programme for Government, and I am keen for this to take place sooner rather than...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish climate legislation to give certainty and clarity with regard to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved in line with EU targets. In progressing this commitment, I intend to follow a transparent process which will provide an avenue for engagement for all stakeholders. My priority in the climate area is, in the...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: I expect the Bill to be published in 2012. I cannot anticipate whether it will be early or late but I have obligations from the EU environment perspective to have targets put in place, not in prescriptive form, like the previous Government, but in respect of the sectoral policies that must be deployed to meet our Kyoto objectives which we are likely to meet, but equally the 2020 objectives...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: It will be in 2012.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: My Department's Farm Plan Scheme is currently closed to new applicants. Further access to the scheme will be subject to the availability of funding during 2011 and beyond. Any decision to invite new applications will be publicly announced. In such an event, applications to join the scheme will be assessed on the basis of conservation priorities, biodiversity added value and value for money.

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: In 2002, the Report of the Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland was published by my Department. The principal recommendations included more focus on fire safety, including the introduction of community fire safety initiatives; the enhancement of fire safety legislation, the adoption of a risk-based approach to determining emergency cover as well as new approaches and structures...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (5 Apr 2011)

Phil Hogan: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the local fire authorities through setting of general policy, training...