Results 2,641-2,660 of 20,057 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for presenting the Supplementary Estimate. There was very little detail in the document I received, and the Minister of State has explained the details regarding the Leader programme and the storm damage well. I concur with what the Minister of State said about the Leader programme, particularly regarding small enterprise in rural areas....

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate again. Yesterday's huge protest showed that people are not going to be browbeaten on this issue. Irish people understand the power of the boycott and of feet on the street. Section 2(1)(b) of this Bill is nothing less than a total act of deception by the Labour Party and Fine Gael. Regardless of whether people agree with paying for...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: My amendment No. 11 was ruled out of order which is very frustrating. The people think we have the right to amend legislation in the House on their behalf but amendment after amendment is ruled out of order, which is very frustrating for us. Section 3, which deals with charges, is the centrepiece of this Bill. The Government has back-pedalled several times on this. The justification for...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: We made some progress on that.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: Left wing people are decent too.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: The whole section hinges on this issue.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: That is correct.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: This section of the Bill is the most puzzling and amusing of the whole charade we are dealing with here. We have heard the terms "fairytale economics" and "fantasy economics".

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: How the Minister can stand over this with a straight face and hold this up as anything but a con is beyond me. The Government introduced a good measure in the budget last year, the tax rebate for home improvements. It achieved two objectives in that it provided employment and allowed people to improve their homes. I give the Government credit for that but it is now introducing a measure...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: The Deputy knows a few of them also. They will get the cheque of €100 but Deputy Kelly, the senior Minister in the Department, will stand over it. The staff in the Department of Social Protection will be tied up. The whole system is gridlocked. I am sure the Minister's offices are dealing with the Department of Social Protection every day of the week. We are now to ask that...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: A bribe.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: The Minister indicated that the estimated cost of the grant scheme will be €130 million. However, if there is to be a payment of €100 per household, is the Minister basing his calculation on the assumption that 1.3 million households will claim it? People in rural areas can apply. Persons who do not have a connection to the public water supply can avail of this grant. My...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: That is wrong. On a point of information, the Minister is wrong. The CSO figures show more than 1.3 million primary households.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: There are more than 1.3 million primary principal residences.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: Read the legislation, Deputy Timmins.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: The number of households calculated by the Minister means there is a gap of 0.7 million, and many of those houses are rented. The tenants of those houses are the primary residents as defined by the Minister in the Bill.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: I did not raise this issue to put the cat among the pigeons but it has put the cat among the pigeons. I heard the Minister mention a figure of 1.3 million and it did not sit right with me and has led to a long debate. I am concerned about that because between the 1.65 million and the approximately 2 million are the holiday homes, the vacant houses and second homes. People who work in one...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: -----although it could be €200 million or €250 million or €25 million or €30 million, but in the interests of accuracy we need to adjourn. The €130 million which the Minister says will be covered if everybody who is entitled to it applies is not correct. I believe it is more likely to be €150 million to €160 million. We cannot vote on a...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: He is making things worse.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Brian Stanley: The reason I raised this more than an hour ago was to try to get some clarity because of the discrepancy in the figures. Deputy Walsh who come in about an hour and a half ago to play full-back is wrong in what he said about Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin did not tell people not to register or to register. The difference between us is that we do not tell people what to do. We allow people...