Results 11,341-11,360 of 20,094 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: Believe me, many of my constituents in Laois-Offaly are not travelling. Many of them have good broadband with commercial operators via a wireless signal. I am being told that the wireless signal has improved in quality.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I ask Mr. Mulligan to just let me make this point. The improved wireless signal and improved broadband means that many people who could not work from home a few years ago can do so now. This is the case even before the NBP is rolled out to their areas. They have worked from home quite successfully.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: That is my point. I recognise the need for an intervention, however, and I support it. We must get high-speed broadband to every home, and I agree with that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: We have a better connection today, by the way. I call Deputy Sherlock.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: It has nothing to do with the fact that Mr. Neary is a Cork man.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I call Deputy Carthy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I have a couple of questions for Mr. Griffin. In regard to the external consultants engaged by the Department, is the payment to them included in the overall contract of price of €2.6 billion?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: Okay, so it is not in addition to that. It is reported that the lead investor is looking to sell its shares. Is the Department aware of that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: Would Mr. Griffin be concerned if that was happening?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: There is a complex web of investors and entities involved. In total, taking into account Granahan McCourt Limited and the other funders, there are in the region of 30. In a project like this, is it unusual to have that many investors?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: In our earlier engagement with NBI, it confirmed that it thought these investors would be involved in the short term for, say, three to seven years. Is there any concern within the Department that these short-term investments have a high yield in terms of, as outlined earlier, a 12% compound interest rate. Would that be of concern?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: If the investors are involved in high-risk activity and a number of those companies go belly-up, what happens?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: No. I am asking what would happen if a couple of the significant funders became insolvent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: Given the short-term nature and the high risk-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I thank the witnesses.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications
National Broadband Plan Expenditure and Related Matters (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I thank Mr. Griffin for that clarification. Sometimes in the back and forth, in particular in this hybrid situation, it can be a little difficult for both members and witnesses to get their point across and there can sometimes be a communication breakdown. I thank the departmental officials and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform official for joining. I thank department staff...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: 132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the renewal of the derogation to allow farmers to burn hedgerow cuttings until a more sustainable and workable alternative can be put in place. [6515/22]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: On page 86 of the programme for Government there is a commitment to having a Prison Service that provides secure custody. On 23 October 2020, a civilian entered the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise in the company of a senior official and was identified as an Irish Prison Service, IPS, official. That person was signed in at the gate as an IPS official. The person entered the search area and I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Brian Stanley: I have a copy of the signature given at the gate lodge.