Results 141-160 of 226 for going forward speaker:Brian Stanley

Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jan 2017)

Brian Stanley: ..., it was better than nothing, but progress has been very disappointing and we are now looking for opt-out clauses and to backslide on our international obligations. I commend Deputy Pringle on bringing forward this Bill. We support the Bill as it is in line with Sinn Féin's commitment to build a greener economy and to play our role as a country in moving away from dependence on...

Topical Issue Debate: HIQA Reports (13 Dec 2016)

Brian Stanley: The issue arising from the HIQA report is very important and the question for the Independent-Fine Gael Government is whether it will use it as an excuse to downgrade services and close the hospital or whether it will use the report to improve services. The HIQA report said the hospital was at a critical juncture and that, to function as a model 3 hospital, it must be adequately and...

Topical Issue Debate: HIQA Reports (13 Dec 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...but HIQA has said the extra money is being eaten up in expensive temporary staff, such as locums and agency staff. HIQA also said this had significant implications for the budget of the hospital going forward. The minor medical assessment unit, operating between 9 a.m and 5 p.m, is no replacement for 24-hour emergency department services. As the 69 local health professionals who put...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...on the annual transition statement. I welcome the statement from the Minister today. Sinn Féin has been consistently concerned about the inadequate response and approach taken to date by the Government towards tackling climate change. We welcome the Minister's delivery of the annual transition statement as provided for in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015,...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (16 Nov 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...offices and encouraged people towards the banks instead of using the post office service. We support the motion and think it is very important. There is broad agreement on this issue. The Government does not have a majority and obviously needs the support of Members in the House. Despite the negative comments by a former Minister who presided over the closure of 198 post offices,...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (2 Nov 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...has not been meaningful consultation with them. There has not been any consultation with local Deputies. When will we see the draft plan? With all due respect to the Minister of State, we are going around in circles. Today's response is the same as we received months ago. We have not moved one jot further forward. The plan was to be published in September 2015 but we have not seen it...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2016)

Brian Stanley: This budget, which we had anticipated and hoped would bring some good news, is disappointing. There are some measures in it that Sinn Féin looked for, as the previous speaker said, but unfortunately, they are very few and far between. There are a number of questions to be asked about the budget. Has it reduced the cost of living for those on low and middle incomes? Has it put money...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (4 Oct 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...pupils can be enrolled. Some students from the catchment area are attending schools in Athy, Portlaoise and Portarlington. I welcome that the new project would cater for 800 pupils. It was to go to construction this year. The problem with the project relates to drainage. I have spoken to senior staff in the local authority about this matter on a number of occasions. I have also...

Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2016: First Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...back distances; allowing access to public consultative processes and related matters. This issue has huge implications in rural areas. Never mind regulations, the previous Dáil and the previous Government failed to put in place guidelines for this industry. We urgently need regulations for wind farms. They continue to be built, particularly in the midlands, without proper...

Hospital Emergency Departments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Jan 2016)

Brian Stanley: ...find we have the second most expensive health system in the world, second only to America. Deputy Twomey referred to obesity. I saw the television programme featuring Dr. Eva Orsmond on Monday. I got somebody to record it in order that I could watch it. The programme shocked me. I thought I was doing well, but it was an eye-opener in terms of sugar intake. Those returned to...

Order of Business (14 Jan 2016)

Brian Stanley: ..., Deputy Kelly, has publicly told the Minister, Deputy White, to keep his nose out of this matter because he does not know what he is doing and does not know anything about it. I do not know what is going on. Perhaps the Tánaiste can shed some light on it. I say sincerely to her today that there are significant concerns about the wind energy guidelines. We agree with the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: First Stage (15 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...past week. The Mahon tribunal, a necessary but expensive one, recommended that we would have in place the office of an independent planning regulator to end and root out corruption, be it at local government level or at national government level. We saw an example of people willing to engage in corruption last week, courtesy of RTE. We saw Joe, Hugh and John who were more than will...

Protection of the Environment (Criminal Activity) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...makes any positive suggestions at all, it is simply to replicate what is already in train. I welcome the Deputy to catch-up land. As I said, these measures are supported by both the Northern Executive and the Government. Let us be clear about what we are at here. Dumping waste from diesel laundering or being involved in diesel laundering is a criminal activity, in whatever county it...

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...in the supplementary register; in excess of 60,000 became eligible to vote by way of the register. The amendment seeks to streamline the electoral process, without compromising its integrity. At present, one can go to a Garda station to have the form signed. However, many Garda stations have been closed in the past 15 years. In coastal counties and various other parts of the country it...

Hospital Emergency Departments: Motion [Private Members] (10 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...people of Laois and beyond want to know what is happening to their emergency department. Portlaoise is one of the busiest emergency departments outside of Dublin. An average of 40,000 patients go through that unit. The number of patients on trolleys has increased by 60% on last year. They are the facts and the figures are there to show that. There are a number of problems, the main...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: This is a good amendment providing for a revised format of the ballot paper. There is some confusion surrounding the ballot paper where political party emblems currently appear on the left-hand side of it. Anything that improves the integrity of the electoral system is well worthwhile. Is it the intention that this revised format would apply in all elections, namely, in general elections...

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (22 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...to vote in a Seanad election will be the only person living at his or her address who is entitled to vote in that election. I support the provision that will give the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, status as a nominating body in Seanad elections. I know this is an updating exercise. The third provision simply regularises the situation regarding applications to be placed on...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...issue. Although people do not see it as an immediate issue, it is probably the most serious issue that faces the planet for every one of us and, in particular, those who will come after us. The Government has accepted some amendments to the Bill on different Stages, which I welcome. However, in many respects the Bill falls short of what was proposed by the all-party Oireachtas...

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the catastrophe which Deputy McDonald has just outlined. A number of times earlier this year, the Government made a big play of addressing the housing issue. I received its capital investment plan but there is nothing new in it on housing and dealing with this important issue. The figures we have seen will only deal with a tiny percentage of those who...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: ...the potential to act as significant carbon sinks;". It is important that we consider the agriculture sector. There are ambitious targets to be met in Harvest 2020, which the agriculture sector has gone a long way towards meeting. The issue that will arise will be that of trying to meet the capacity and keeping within our greenhouse gas emission limits in terms of our international...