Phil Hogan to use data from utility bills to collect the €100 household charge’s
The Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan hopes to use information from utility bills to secure the collection of the household charge.
Data protection legislation will be changed if required to secure the collection of the household charge, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has said.
However, Mr Hogan said he expected to shortly establish an agreement with the Data Protection Commission to allow the use of information from utility bills which would make any change in the law unnecessary.
Speaking on RTÉ radio today Mr Hogan said the March 31st deadline would not be extended and those who refused to pay could ultimately find themselves in court.
“The people that will pay will know from me that the people that don’t pay won’t get away with it,” he said.
“Whoever doesn’t pay the charge will be liable for the charge in law and people have to think long and hard about whether they want to be in the courts.”
Latest figures from the Department of the Environment show that just over 260,000 out of approximately 1.6 million eligible households have paid the charge.
A spokesman for the department said the numbers registering to pay were increasing by about 10,000 a day. Fewer than 80 per cent had registered online while the remainder had paid by post or in person at city and county council offices.
Mr Hogan said he was “getting on exceptionally well” with the Data Protection Commissioner and expected to have the necessary arrangements in place during the year to use information from electricity and other utility companies to track down those who haven’t paid.
“We will have protocols in place with the Data Protection Commissioner for to look at utility bills from electricity networks, and other particular areas of information, to ensure we target the people who haven’t paid.”
Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes said he was satisfied legislative change would not be needed once a protocol had been established. Only the minimum amount of information would be accessed and personal information would be “very carefully” guarded he said.
He said if there were any difficulties in securing the information needed, the Government would turn its attention to legislative change to ensure the charge could be collected.
“I have the full support of the Government to enact further legislation if necessary to ensure this charge is implemented in full.”
A 10 per cent late payment charge applies during the six months after the due date. This increases to 20 per cent on arrears overdue for between six and 12 months and to 30 per cent for arrears of over one year.
Late payment interest of 1 per cent per month applies to arrears.
Ruth Coppinger, from the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes, described the Minister’s willingness to change legislation in a bid to collect the household tax as “a sign of desperation”.
IT Sligo head appointed to the Higher Education Authority Board
The Head of Development and Business Operations at IT Sligo, Gordon Ryan pictured laft has been appointed by to the Higher Education Authority Board Ireland and on the right Open Learning Coordinator Brian Mulligan and Lecturer Brian Coll at the HEAnet Conference in Kilkenny..
Mr Ryan is one of seven new appointees to the HEA announced by the government this week.
The Chairman of the HEA, John Hennessy, said of the appointments: “With the addition of the skills and experience that these new members bring, the HEA position in implementing the National Strategy on Higher Education will be further strengthened.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ryan said: “It is a privilege to be appointed to work with the Higher Education Authority. The higher education sector is entering a period of important transition and I look forward to working with the other members to ensure that the needs of students, industry and the wider community are addressed as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Mr Ryan was appointed Head of Development and Business Operations in July 2010. His Executive role involves the management of the capital developments of the IT Sligo campus, with a focus on information technology, business development, enterprise and innovation.
A Chartered Accountant, he previously held senior finance positions in commercial energy, retail and property sectors in Ireland and abroad.
The other appointees announced this week are as follows: Dr. Bahram Bekhradnia, Head of the Higher Education Policy Institute, England; Mr. Paddy Cosgrave, Dublin Web Summit; Ms. Siobhan Harkin, Waterford Institute of Technology; Dr. Jim Mountjoy, Deputy Director, Science Foundation Ireland; Dr. Anthony Staines, Head of Nursing, DCU; Dr. Brian Thornes, CEO, A Bolt Orthopaedics.
Study shows that 20% of adults in Connaught are still uncomfortable with mental health issues
This is according to a nationwide study undertaken by Behaviour & Attitudes for the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). The study was carried out in order to better understand the value that Irish people attach to availing of counselling or psychotherapy services. It also shows that 1 in 7 (14%) Connaught adults tell no-one about their personal problems and difficulties.
This is according to a nationwide study undertaken by Behaviour & Attitudes for the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). The study was carried out in order to better understand the value that Irish people attach to availing of counselling or psychotherapy services. It also shows that 1 in 7 (14%) Connaught adults tell no-one about their personal problems and difficulties.
“Talking to a professional counsellor or psychotherapist can be of great support in times of crisis or change. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. The therapeutic process can help alleviate difficulties for people who are experiencing problems in areas such as relationships, addictions, illness or stress” said Geraldine Gilroy, Sligo-based counsellor and Chairperson of the IACP North West Committee.
The research results show that adults in Connaught are less likely to attend a counsellor and psychotherapist than other parts of the country. Only one in five (20%) of people in Connaught have ever attended counselling or psychotherapy, compared to almost one in three people in Dublin (28%) and Leinster (29%). The survey also highlights the fact that over-65s are less likely to talk about their problems.
One in four (23%) over-65s in Ireland keep their personal problems and difficulties to themselves. This figure is nearly double the rate for the overall adult population (13%).
While 70% of people said they would discuss problems with a friend or family member, only one in two (49%) over-65s would share their problems.
A quarter (25%) of Irish people have ever attended counselling or psychotherapy, but only one in seven (14%) of over-65s have attended.
Eamon Timmins, Head of Advocacy & Communications at Age Action Ireland, welcomed the IACP findings. “Anxiety and stress experienced among older people may be caused by uncertainty over the future, stress due to enforced retirement, loss because of bereavement. The third stage in life can be the most enjoyable and rewarding. So please, if you’re going through a rough patch, let someone know. Talk to a relative, friend, GP, nurse or counsellor. Don’t go though it alone”, he said.
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