Results 1,641-1,660 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: No, this is the only one in which the local enterprise offices are executive offices and therefore, will not have a board. The other one is the local community development committee, LCDC, about which I explained the process earlier. All other committees are the same as at present.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: These effectively are drafting amendments. Amendment No. 61 is a technical amendment to clarify two references in subparagraphs in section 66H. Amendments Nos. 67 and 68 also are technical amendments to correct references in section 126H(1) of the 2001 Act dealing with the number of members of the national oversight and audit commission. Amendment No 90 rectifies an omission from the...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am making a small but important change here by removing the powers, as recommended by the Mahon tribunal, for section 140 to be used in respect of planning purposes. The second basis on which I am reducing the impact of section 140 is where there is a benefit to an individual. I think these changes are reasonable but section 140 continues in the normal way to direct the new chief...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I thank Senator Byrne, who has adopted a highly constructive approach in this regard. I have had an open mind to ascertain what could be done in a legal sense to help. All I can tell the Senator is that all existing covenants and agreements in respect of the lands in question in Kells must be respected and honoured by Meath County Council, which will become the corporate entity in...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: They never got as much.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: No; €22 million.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am satisfied that the Bill respects carefully the history and civic traditions associated with local government. For example, it reiterates the recognition given in the Local Government Act 2001 to various historic charters for civic ceremonial purposes. Specifically, it provides that the title of "mayor" will be reserved for cities and municipal districts that contain boroughs and county...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: He or she may be referred to as "chair", "cathaoirleach" or "leader".

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I assure Senator Cummins that in so far as is possible there will be structures in place that will ensure we will have the greatest level of participation and input from the community sector irrespective of whether they are a majority or a minority.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I agree with the Senator's sentiments. What we are trying to do is rebalance the powers in favour of the elected members who were frustrated in recent times when the finances of local authorities were in difficulty and they saw an enormous amount of activity in their communities in the form of EU programmes into which they had little or no input. What we are doing is aligning the community...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I do not support amendment No. 40, but we will discuss the issue with amendment No. 47, when we come to it. Amendments Nos. 42 and 43 propose additional categories to be covered in regard to the membership of committees. I do not agree that a reference, as proposed, to drawing members from communities of interest is required, because section 128D (2)(d) already provides for members to be...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I did not do that.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Senator Cullinane should know all about that in Northern Ireland where there is a permanent government to which Sinn Féin is subservient.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I wish to clarify that under the new section 66 provisions, local authorities and local community development committees are tasked with preparing integrated local economic and community plans. I would have thought Senator Cullinane would welcome that the community plans would be part of the economic and community planning that would take place in each local authority area. This is the...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: No.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am surprised Senator Cullinane does not acknowledge what is being done.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I know Senator Cullinane does not like freedom of speech but I am surprised that he does not acknowledge that the work we are doing in the Bill has already resulted in a 20% reduction in the cost of employing people in Waterford city. Savings have been made on the merger which Senator Cullinane opposed, including in Sinn Féin’s recent budget. It is a clear indication that...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: I am sorry, I should have said Senator Cullinane’s party. These plans will have economic and community elements which will be prepared separately but in parallel. Consequently, the provisions in the Bill relating to the development of a local and community plan are to be replaced by the new provisions.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: Amendments Nos. 31, 32 and 34 provide for specific references to the plan we just spoke about in section 128B to be replaced by reference to "the community elements of the plan" or those elements of the plan as the case may be.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Phil Hogan: There are no cuts in funding.