Results 3,881-3,900 of 20,057 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will allow me a point of order, there is a small issue I want to raise in respect of Priority Questions. I submitted a priority question about the post office networks and received a reply stating that the Minister has no responsibility to Dáil Éireann for this matter under Standing Order 36, and that it is an operational matter for the board and...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: In his reply, the Minister said the upturn in the economy and the fact that we were going to miss the targets completely could not have been foreseen. It was foreseen. Several of us raised the fact that this was going to happen when there was an economic recovery. We raised it while the legislation was going through the House and the committee. We pointed out that the absence of binding...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: The Minister's officials and advisers are very optimistic people. I cannot see how transport is going to reach 8% or 9% by 2020, given the rate at which we are going in the opposite direction. There will need to be a great number of electric cars put on the road to turn that one around. I am trying to be honest. There needs to be an honest assessment of this because we are not in a good...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: They control the counties too – like Kerry.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: 54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the discussions which have taken place in regard to the future of the part of the Irish strategic oil reserve physically held in the UK after the UK leaves the European Union. [21837/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: My question pertains to the parts of our strategic oil reserves that are held in Britain or in the North because a serious situation could arise with Brexit. I ask what discussions have taken place at European level or with the British Government in this regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: This is an important issue, given that we are so dependent on imported oil and fossil fuels. We import 100% of our oil demands and 95.3% of our gas demands. Obviously, with the Brexit discussions, the rule of thumb is there are no certainties regarding anything. I welcome the fact that discussions have taken place. If I heard the Minister correctly, he stated that the part of our oil...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: The Minister also stated his own preference was-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: -----to maintain those reserves in the UK. The question here is, what proportion of those are held in the North? Hopefully, there will be an assembly up and running, an Executive and - who knows - even maybe a united Ireland fairly soon. With those institutions coming back into place, the more of those oil reserves that are on the island of Ireland, the more secure our oil resources are...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: The Minister stated that there are facilities being refurbished in Wexford and at Poolbeg. Are those belonging to private companies? Who is funding their refurbishment? There was a State oil facility off Cork but it is in the hands of the private sector at present. The Minister might outline the situation with those facilities. Given the constant volatile situation in the Middle East...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: 57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there will be a universal service obligation retained in terms of the national broadband plan. [21834/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: 62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has made provision with regard to roaming charges when Britain leaves the European Union in view of the abolition of roaming charges across the EU in 2017. [21836/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: 74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies or initiatives he is considering from the offshore renewable energy development plan; and the progress of these options. [21838/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: 77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his future plans for support mechanisms for solar power; and the options which have been considered. [21835/17]

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: I was unable to speak on Committee Stage because I was stuck in the Chamber debating Priority Questions. As I have mentioned before, committees sitting at the same time as oral parliamentary questions are being dealt with in the Dáil Chamber is problematic for Members. I wish to raise a number of issues at Committee Stage. I welcome the Bill and my party supports the fact that the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: Yes. The Bill deals with onshore drilling. I will table amendments on hydraulic fracking offshore on Report Stage because I want to ensure its purpose is outlined clearly. I congratulate everybody for dealing with the legislation so quickly, including the officials. I also thank Deputy McLoughlin for introducing the legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid Development Strategy 2017 and Proposed Celtic Interconnector: EirGrid (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the EirGrid representatives. My questions relate to renewables, the North-South interconnector and the Celtic interconnector. The integration of offshore renewables into the system is an issue. How does EirGrid see that developing? Is the grid currently geared up for offshore renewables and micro-generation? Other European countries have moved very quickly into a system...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid Development Strategy 2017 and Proposed Celtic Interconnector: EirGrid (9 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: In the context of Brexit, it is a very good development that it is being pursued. Hopefully it all goes successfully.

Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: I want to ask about the commitment in the programme for Government regarding the cost of housing rents. There are many people caught in the middle who cannot get on a local authority waiting list because they are over the €25,000 or €26,000 threshold and they cannot get a mortgage. These are low to middle-income workers who are caught in that bind. We know there is a huge...

Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)

Brian Stanley: I asked about the cost-to-rent scheme.