Results 9,261-9,280 of 20,131 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: The secretary has just confirmed that we wrote a letter in relation to that database. We will ask that it be followed up to try to get an answer.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: The next category is C, correspondence from and related to private individuals and any other correspondence. The first is from committee member, Deputy Dillon, and is dated 21 February. He requests the committee consider scheduling a meeting with Eir. I open the floor to anyone who wants to contribute. Deputy Dillon flagged it but I do not think he is online. He may indicate if he is....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: There are obviously issues with Eir, for example, the size of the company, and the implications it has for the roll-out of the national broadband plan, NBP, not to mention ordinary telecommunications. However, as a private company, Eir is not accountable to the committee. I advise that the topic of Eir's current and future investment strategy on the telecommunications industry and market in...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: Okay. It is proposed we take the second option of trying to deal with this matter by way of correspondence. That is agreed. No. 1129, dated 11 March 2022, is from an individual and is further correspondence to the committee regarding Screen Ireland. It is proposed to refer the correspondent to the committee's last letter to Screen Ireland, which was circulated to members for...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: Okay. Deputy Munster is not with us. It is proposed we note that correspondence. No. 1134, dated 11 March 2022, is from an individual requesting the committee to make inquiries regarding the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. It is proposed to advise the correspondent that while we can examine the audited accounts of the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: Is the Deputy okay with that?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: We will note that item. The next matter on the agenda is the work programme. Next week, we will commence a series of justice-related meetings. Engagements are confirmed with An Garda Síochána on 31 March, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on the morning of 7 April and the Policing Authority that same afternoon. It is proposed to have separate speaking rotations...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: I only saw the last 20 minutes of the programme because the Dáil adjourned late last night. Some of what was highlighted was scandalous. It shows a major fall-down. The thinking to date has been that local government is local government; it is separate. There is a local government auditor and there are audit committees on each local authority that are charged with overseeing these....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: At the moment we cannot do it, obviously, because it must come under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General but the discussion needs to happen about the possibility and the viability of it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: Everyone has spoken so far, including myself, is a former councillor. I have always felt that councillors can be busy. They are not full-time people. Spending is something that needs to be scrutinised and not when the thing is cooked and the budget is prepared and ready to go but rather during the budget process when it is being put together. Greater care also needs to be taken in the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: Briefly.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: The wish from the committee, which I want to try to reflect, is that we have a meeting of the committee with the local government auditor and the representatives of the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, the AILG and the association of city and county managers, who are now referred to as chief executives. What we are talking about is an informal discussion in the first instance....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: I raise the 2013 report published by the Government and entitled Keeping Communities Safe - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland. There are 2,065 retained firefighters operating out of 197 stations across the State and there is a problem in relation to staffing. I have raised this before because there needs to be a sense of urgency around this. In May 2021, the management board of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: I ask the Government to move on this. We cannot take a year and a half to put together a simple report. It is just taking too long to get these things done.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: 237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will request Irish Rail to begin the process of automating the 12 remaining manual level crossings on the Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh railway line. [16033/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: 500. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that children who are under the care of Tusla and that are placed under private family arrangement are placed only in homes that have been adequately vetted and regulated by Tusla; and if he will provide details of the vetting that takes place. [15864/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: 501. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current situation regarding children placed under private family arrangement; and if this practice complies with the relevant childcare legislation and European convention. [15867/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (29 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: 888. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation regarding the vaccinations of dogs coming into the country; and if his Department has put measures in place to ensure that all such animals are vaccinated. [16358/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (30 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: I raise the absence of any accommodation in the midlands for victims of domestic violence. Nine counties do not have any such accommodation, including Laois and Offaly. Children and victims are sent as far as three counties away, to Limerick, to domestic violence refuges. More than 100 families went from Laois alone last year. This cannot continue. There is a shortage of places in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (30 Mar 2022)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Yesterday, an extra €46,000 of taxpayers' money was allocated for the centre in Portlaoise. That is welcome because the services there are stretched. I agree that prevention is key. We need to reduce the amount of domestic violence and change attitudes and culture in society. However, we also have to live in the here and now. I welcome...