Results 3,321-3,340 of 20,057 for speaker:Brian Stanley

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

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 59:In page 11, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:"(c) the need to further develop the tillage sector and mixed farming, in particular crops that have 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...

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

Brian Stanley: I have a question about amendment No. 67.

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

Brian Stanley: I will speak on amendment No. 67. The membership of the advisory council is set out in the Bill. The ex officiomembers include the director general of the agency, the chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the director of Teagasc and the director of the ESRI. The key point, however, is what is stated in the report from the all-party environment committee. It...

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

Brian Stanley: May I speak again?

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

Brian Stanley: The Minister made an announcement since I spoke and I did not get a chance to come back in.

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

Brian Stanley: Amendment No. 124 from the Minister states: "The Advisory Council shall be independent in the performance of its functions.” I accept this goes some of the way in that this is being hard-wired into the legislation and it seems a genuine effort to deal with the issue. I believe it will ensure the level of independence that is required.

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

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 70:In page 12, to delete lines 19 and 20 and substitute the following: “(b) not more than 5 ordinary members who shall be independent of the State or stakeholder interests.”. The make-up of the advisory council is important and I put forward the amendment in that spirit.

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

Brian Stanley: I refer to my earlier statement in this regard. The section of the environment committee report from the summer of 2013 outlines the reasons for this. I agree with the Minister of State that the council should have that level of expertise available to it. However, where we are divided is that we would see them as advisory to the panel, not included as ex officiomembers, similar to the...

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

Brian Stanley: I support this amendment. If the Minister has the report, it should be made available. There is no reason not to make it available. It is important it is made available to Members quickly also. The Government, in its last weeks or months in office, must try to move away from the current delaying system. I am surprised by the practice because when information is available in county...

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

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 149:In page 19, line 10, to delete “Not less than 60 and not more than 90 days” and substitute “Not more than 10 days”. The amendment is similar to previous amendments that we have put forward. The timeframe of not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days is too long. I do not accept the reasoning for that because when a report is made, it...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Alert Programme (6 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: 717. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the new funding in place for community alert schemes to erect cameras and other such equipment; how the schemes can apply for funding; if he will provide a list of those schemes that have received funding. [34459/15]

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

Brian Stanley: In many senses, the Bill falls short of what Sinn Féin would like to see in a climate change Bill. However, given that we have no legislation on greenhouse reduction and climate change, time is not on our side and we need to move. I and others have spoken many times during the past two years about the need to avoid a carbon cliff and the fact that we are playing catch up regarding...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak about the budget. It is regrettable that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is not here but I welcome the fact that my constituency colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, is present. It is obvious that, when one reads the small print, Irish Water features in the budget. The Estimates contain a working capital...

National Asset Management Agency: Motion [Private Members] (20 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. We heard the allegations and concerns about the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book of NAMA. Major concerns have been expressed in the House and there have been allegations about people receiving payments from American companies which wish to acquire assets held by NAMA in the North. In April 2014 Cerberus bought Project Eagle for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (20 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: 124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to reverse recent reductions in Garda Síochána numbers in counties Laois and Offaly; and to increase the numbers involved in front-line policing. [35773/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: 151. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to deal with the increasing levels of rural crime in counties Laois and Offaly. [35772/15]

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: It is about an election.

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

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Almost five years of promises of electoral reforms and new ways of doing things - we remember the "democratic revolution" - I am underwhelmed by the contents of the Bill, even if they are hard to argue with. A measure allowing people to post electoral items for free is almost the sum total of what is in this legislation. While I am happy to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (22 Oct 2015)

Brian Stanley: 23. To ask the Minister for Health the Government's plans to upgrade Shaen and Abbeyleix hospitals in County Laois to meet Health Information and Quality Authority standards. [35556/15]