Results 4,981-5,000 of 20,057 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I thank Mr. McCormack and invite Mr. Healy to make his presentation on behalf of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA. I ask him to try to keep his presentation to five minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I thank the representatives of the four organisations. Perhaps they feel their voices have not been heard on these matters. We welcome their presence at the committee meeting. Before I go to members for questions, I propose that members direct their questions to a specific organisation rather than to all four organisations. Everybody will have a number of questions. Members should put...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I have two questions for the IFA. One is about GLAS. Mr. Healy mentioned it in his presentation. There are 50,000 farmers involved in it. Mr. Healy said the scheme should be reopened. There are two parts to my question. From an IFA point of view, does it have a significant positive environmental impact? Would it be possible to bring another 50,000 of the 130,000 farmers in the State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: In terms of environmental value, the quality of those hedgerows has deteriorated. Instead of being 15 ft or 20 ft high, or even 7 ft or 8 ft, many of them are only 1.5 ft high over a bank.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Many of the ones I have seen are not beside roads and it has nothing to do with road safety. The requirement under the Road Traffic Acts is that hedgerow should not be overgrown on the road.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: There is a concern about the need to enhance the value of that. They have a valuable environmental impact on farms.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Some of them do not even close the gate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: There are a lot of questions there. Maybe-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: We will put them to the specific groups. The witnesses from the ICMSA can answer the ones they think are appropriate to them.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 47. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new technologies that can be ready for incorporation into the electricity system to address directly the use of fossil fuels in view of the report from the Climate Change Performance Index which placed Ireland last in terms of action on climate change in the European Union. [53131/18]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: My question is in the same vein as the previous one as it relates to the new technologies that are ready to be incorporated into the electricity system. The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Ireland as the worst country in Europe and one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to climate change. That is an indictment of this Government and previous Governments. We are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Global warming has been catastrophic in 2018 and it is registering with people that we are not in a good place. For the past seven or eight years, I have been highlighting this issue with the Minister and his predecessors, including Mr. Phil Hogan and Mr. Pat Rabbitte. We do not have many practical measures in place at this stage. The Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State did not answer my question on what Moneypoint power station will be converted to and where, if it is biomass, the material will come from? Natural gas supplies will last for a further ten years at best, based on current information. The Minister of State mentioned developing solar generation in the mid-2020s. That needs to be fast-tracked because the mid-2020s is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has an alternative model for the national broadband plan if the tender process cannot find a feasible bidder. [53126/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 83. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use powers under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to issue a policy direction to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities regarding energy supply markets and its resultant effect on prices for householders. [53129/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 87. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding changes to the An Post retail and mail delivery businesses in the context of the retention of the universal social obligation. [53130/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 93. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which indigenous biomass supply to maintain security of energy supply will be ensured in view of plans to convert peat plants to the use of biomass. [53127/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: 102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the potential in ground-mounted and rooftop solar power to address some of the energy needs here; and the changes to regulations and planning needed to establish such energy sources. [53128/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (18 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Do we have just one opportunity to speak?