Results 15,041-15,060 of 20,116 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: I hope the Minister visits.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (30 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid out in rent supplements in 2018. [4531/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (30 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount paid out for emergency and short-term accommodation, including the cost of family hubs, to house those who are homeless. [4532/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (30 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authority housing units completed by local authorities in 2018, in tabular form; and the number completed by each local authority. [4533/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Data (30 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 280. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount paid out by local authorities in housing assistance payments in 2018. [4534/19]

No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: The Bill before us is very straightforward. It aims to protect mortgage holders or householders from having their mortgages sold on by banks to vulture funds without their consent. We all know what vulture funds are capable of because we meet people in our constituencies who have been their victims. I have come across many such people in my own constituency of Laois-Offaly. Banks have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to the expenditure of the licence fee by RTÉ; and if legislative change has been considered in order to establish a greater level of accountability in the expenditure of the licence fee. (details supplied) [3357/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: Has any consideration being given to the expenditure of the TV licence fee by RTÉ and have legislative changes been considered to establish a greater level of accountability in that regard? It is a substantial sum of money. Looking at costs, €3 million is expended in RTÉ every year in paying the wages of the ten leading presenters.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: I note the response of the Minister and his reference to the BAI and the fact that there is an external audit. The shareholder on behalf of he taxpayer and the householder is the Minister. In 2017 RTÉ looked for the licence fee to rise to €175 because, as we know, it was in significant financial difficulty at the time. Certain measures were taken to address that issue. I am...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Television Licence Fee (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: On the question of how money is spent in RTÉ, I am sure the Minister has conversations on an annual basis with the director general. I understand he cannot go in every day of the week and demand this, that and the other be done. However, this issue needs to be watched of a general policy direction. The Minister needs to do this on behalf of householders. On the licence fee, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to providing a policy direction to the energy regulator to investigate the increasing price of household energy bills in view of the fact that under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 he has the power to issue a policy direction to the regulator. [3354/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: My question relates to the price of energy. Prices are high and there is talk of an increase in carbon tax which is already applied to some goods. In comparison with other European countries, we have some of the highest electricity prices. Section 10A of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended, sets out a procedure whereby the Minister can give a general policy direction. What is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: There are boundaries to what the Minister of State can do, which I understand, even though I would prefer if some of them were not in place. They are set out in the legislation. The problem is that there is no competition on prices; rather, in some cases there are signs that energy prices have increased since the so-called liberalisation of the sector. The regulator judges competition...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State is correct that people can switch and reduce their bill for a short period. The problem, however, is that the rates charges go back up, as anybody who has tried to switch supplier will have learned. There is not a long-term saving. In the past 20 years the percentage of household income spent on energy has increased dramatically. If we consider the profits of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: Switching suppliers takes half a day.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy initiatives that have been developed in terms of expanding and the future ownership of the public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. [3353/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: My question is on the roll-out of charging points for electric vehicles and the need to expand the network to deal with range anxiety. I also ask about the ownership of the network. The regulator's decision in 2017 has left the question of the ownership of charging infrastructure up in the air. I ask the Minister to address the policy initiatives his Department is developing to deal with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister for the reply. The Minister has outlined some of the progress and indicated that there are 668 ESB charging points. He further stated that his Department had provided a €10 million grant to the ESB. The Minister said there will be private charging points such as those which employers with more than 20 car spaces will be required to provide by 2020. While that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: I refer to the chargers in the ESB's network currently. What will happen with them? There was a big push from the regulator to have the ESB divest itself of those chargers. Is that continuing and is the policy direction coming from the Department? It is a very clear question. I welcome the fact that local authorities have become involved. As the Minister has heard me say in the House...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Jan 2019)

Brian Stanley: 2. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress in relation to completion of the tender for the national broadband plan; and if an alternative model, for example, the use of State-owned infrastructure has been given consideration. [3358/19]