Results 16,721-16,740 of 20,156 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Establishment of Independent Anti-Corruption Agency: Motion [Private Members] (8 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion which is very timely, given what we saw last night on RTE in the willingness of a small number of public representatives to effectively prostitute themselves to random developers to gain a few pounds sterling, which seems to be their currency of choice. The motion states that the Government has failed to act on all the recommendations of...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the Minister of State's reply. In so far as Laois is concerned, I want him to address the situation because it is very different from the other issues raised today in that families are trapped. There is a simple solution. We spoke earlier about unspent money in the Government's flood relief coffers. The Minister of State might confirm how much of the fund has not been spent....

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the flooding that occurred in County Laois at the weekend, including on Botley Lane in Portarlington, in the Crossneen area of Graiguecullen and on the Manor Road in Mountmellick. The area that is worst affected is Clonterry in Mountmellick, which was flooded by the River Barrow. Residents living on Clonterry Lane are trapped, with the roadway...

Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: Maybe a mirror should be employed.

Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. We have heard many excuses from the Government about why we cannot have rent certainty, which is one of the measures that is needed to deal with the issue. We have a crisis but the Government's response to date has amounted to sticking-plaster solutions. Very little was done to address the crisis for the past three to four years...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Quality (2 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 169. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when a grant to replace the lead pipes will be made available as promised. [43120/15]

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: The reason I raise this issue is the surge in crime along the motorway network. We have seen a shocking increase in crime, particularly in the number of burglaries carried out by mobile criminals driving high speed cars. The recent official figures indicate that Kildare ranks in third place in terms of the number of burglaries per county, while my county, County Laois, ranks in sixth place...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the measures outlined by the Minister that are to be taken. There is certainly a need for extra vehicles and it is welcome that 550 new recruits have started their training. It is important that these measures continu on a rolling basis until we get numbers up, but that alone will not bring about a solution. The other part of policing is legislation. The legislation being brought...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 267. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of ash tree disease given that nurseries are awaiting replies from his Department. [42556/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 577. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units completed by approved housing bodies in 2015 to date. [42791/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 578. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority houses completed in 2015 to date. [42792/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 579. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by local authorities in 2015 to date. [42793/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 580. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by approved housing bodies in 2015 to date. [42794/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Application Numbers (1 Dec 2015)

Brian Stanley: 581. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new applications approved for social housing in the first six months of 2015. [42798/15]

Protection of the Environment (Criminal Activity) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. Sinn Féin has long been anxious to stamp out criminal activity in the Border region and throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. It is good to see Fianna Fáil trying to play catch-up on that but, unfortunately, the Bill before us is something of a shambles. First, it is a clear attempt to score political points against Sinn...

Protection of the Environment (Criminal Activity) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Government is also party to the Stormont House agreement and I trust it will act on that basis and reject this crude political kite-flying exercise. In fairness to the Government, it has engaged meaningfully on the issue of fuel smuggling and is aware of the facts pertaining to my party's position. It is a bit hypocritical of the Fianna Fáil Party to take the approach it is taking...

Protection of the Environment (Criminal Activity) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: The agreement was reached with no help from Fianna Fáil. It includes a provision for a joint agency or task force involving both An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, as well as Revenue and other agencies and officials on either side of the Border. Sinn Féin has been calling for such a body for a long time. To the extent that Deputy Smith's Bill makes any positive suggestions...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015: Second and Subsequent Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, as it deals with an issue on which I have lobbied the Minister for Finance for the past two years, namely, the road tax on HGVs. It is a very important issue. One of the things it shows up is that we are a small island with a population of just under 6.5 million on the north-western fringe of Europe. We are relatively small players, and the...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: To put it simply, this is a tax break for landlords. This is a long and detailed amendment. If it is being included to strong-arm landlords somehow or coax them to make it more beneficial to rent to people in receipt of rent supplement, I do not think it will have that effect. Surely it would have been far better to stamp out the practice, common with landlords, of refusing to take on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Review of Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Nov 2015)

Brian Stanley: I wish to make a suggestion. In the lead up to this meeting I asked for a detailed breakdown of the Estimates and expenditure, but also on housing. I have not received that information. Given the time constraints here I suggest we adjourn the meeting and that any committee members who wish be briefed by departmental officials, because different figures are being thrown around.