Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Sean Fleming.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
retired or departed employees, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [8435/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan):
The information requested in relation to officers who have retired from my Department from
2008 to date is outlined in the table below.
The details in respect of future retirements from my Department up to 2015 are not available.
However, a further 26 staff members have applied to retire before 29 February 2012 and their
applications are currently being processed.
Figures in relation to the loss of the pension levy from employees who have retired from my
Department and the loss of superannuation payments from retired staff of my Department are
not available.
Year Lump Sum Pension
2008 €2,011,995.96 €642,974.66
2009 €4,410,356.51 €2,600,945.64
2010 €3,210,242.05 €1,064,973.70
2011 €3,205,169.87 €696,736.96
2012 €460,751.69 €80,321.38
*Public Service Pension Reduction is not included.
Local Authority Charges
471. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government if he will support the issues raised regarding the household charge. [8475/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan):
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household
Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the household charge.
Citizens and residents of the State are bound by the laws of the State which are enacted by
the Oireachtas. This is underscored by the Constitution of Ireland. There is no validity in the
suggestion put forward that a person can opt out of a law of the State by not consenting to it.
Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012
is required to make a declaration of liability and to pay the household charge by 31 March
2012, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The Act further provides for
offences where a person contravenes these statutory requirements.
Question No. 472 answered with Question No. 461.
Parental Rights
473. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify
those parental, or other, rights that currently extend to both partners in a same sex relationship
when one is the biological parent of the child and one is not. [7976/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): The Guardianship of Children Acts
1964 to 1997 set out who may have parental responsibility for a child. The position is that the
married mother and father of a child are jointly guardians of the child. In relation to a child
born outside marriage, the mother is sole guardian unless she and the father make a statutory
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