Results 15,181-15,200 of 20,116 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The process is subject to certain ground rules that were not met in this case. The Minister made a statement in the Dáil this week that his only motivation was to keep the remaining bidder and I can understand that situation. I am on the record of the Dáil as saying to him that he became a prisoner of the process. Yet we have three meetings and telephone calls where there were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Would Mr. Smyth agree that could be left open to a legal challenge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: With due respect to Mr. Smyth, the problem is whether anything was discussed. He has said that the NBP was not discussed during those three conversations. If these facts were presented to anyone on the street they would not say that the NBP had not been discussed. Why would it not have been discussed? One of the days this happened was the day that Eir pulled out. There were no officials...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Yes but surely the bidder was the one person remaining in the process who could pull the rug from under the Government and the State on this at that time. The bidder would have realised at that stage that it had all the clout. Mr. Smyth knows how a negotiation with tenderers or any kind of negotiation works. There is always a power play and at that point the remaining bidder holds the full...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: So is the bidder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The Minister is the person signing off and he said that his only motivation was to keep the bidder in the process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: As the Chairman has noted previously, opening statements are being provided to the committee late. While it is not the fault of the clerk, today we received the opening statements eight minutes into the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The agenda refers to an engagement, but does not offer any explanation of the function or purpose of the meeting. There should be more explanation as to what the meeting is about.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: That is fair enough but the few words provided here do not explain that. Whether the witnesses are officials from the Department, the Minister or guests from outside, we should get their opening statements in good time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I know the clerk and his staff do their best.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I will keep my questions short and perhaps the Minister could keep his answers short. I have four or five-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: In page 39 of the national transition statement, transport is dealt with. The three major pillars are set out fairly well - the car fleet, public transport and then walking and cycling. That is the logical order although it might be turned the other way around in terms of priority. They are included, which is welcome. In respect of the charging network for electric vehicles, EVs,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Is the Minister saying that the ESB will now be allowed to run that as a commercial semi-State?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: There will have to be a rapid acceleration between now and 2025.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Undoubtedly, but this is about kick-starting the system and getting a system of sufficient scale that people have the confidence to buy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: Staying with transport, within the transition statement is a reference to the biofuel obligation scheme. It places an obligation on fuel suppliers to include a proportion of biofuels in the fuel supplied. The obligation was to move from the current 8% to 11% from January 2019. What is the state of readiness for the biofuel mix changes to happen by January? What kind of challenges does the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The Department feels we will reach it. On the green bond, the National Treasury Management Agency has been successful with the first green bond. How much has been raised? Does the Government or the Department have any plans for individual green bonds for individual businesses, farmers or householders?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: The plan would be to lend that money to private sector projects, is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: It is just public sector funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister. We have a very narrow portfolio of renewable energy, mainly onshore wind. Our difficulties with that have been well rehearsed. The planning reform needed for offshore is a very cumbersome process at the moment. I am not advocating that we burn all the planning laws or anything but there is wide recognition that we need to consolidate them. It should be dealt with by...