Results 16,841-16,860 of 20,156 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: One moment now. How many times-----

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: -----has the EU had to come in and give us a crack of the whip? The whip is to get us into line and do the things we should have done years ago. We should pre-empt the EU, do it ourselves, stand on our own two feet and be in compliance with the EU targets by all means.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State is concerned we might cut across the EU process which is likely to set targets up to 2030. The whole point of the amendment, however, is that we set out our own targets. We have to take responsibility to put our own house in order. We have neglected this issue for the past several years and now, not just the Government but every citizen must play catch-up on climate...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 31:In page 6, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “(a) this shall include agreed targets of reductions in CO2 emissions through 2050,”. The Bill needs to set targets rather than aspirations. Otherwise there is no incentive to design a plan that will bring about any kind of meaningful reductions. Why were other amendments tabled by me and...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: They are very concerned in Cloughjordan about this matter. They have an eco-village and they are very concerned about it.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister said that Governments are elected to govern, which is fair enough, but they are also accountable to this House. There will be 158 Members following the election, which will probably be sooner rather than later and the next Government will be accountable to them. Under my amendment No. 52, I fail to see how laying the national mitigation plan before the Houses of the...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: The Minister should come on. I thought he was more fair-minded than that. There is an opportunity for him to lay the plan before the Oireachtas in order that the Dáil can scrutinise it. That is our role. When I was elected by the people of Laois-Offaly, that is what they sent me here to do. Opposition Members need to have an input into these plans. The Minister is keeping the...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: Amendment No. 38 seeks to delete the word "Government" and substitute the word "Oireachtas". This is important because Governments come and go and, as we see in the economics sphere, they take their line from a very small, elusive and distant group of people such as economic management councils. Even within Cabinet a very small group, basically four people, set economic policy. It is...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: The first time as the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I remember the Minister saying it during Question Time.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: There is nothing wrong with wanting to leave a legacy. I am asking the Minister to leave a positive legacy, which he has the opportunity to do this morning by opening up this process to the Dáil. He has nothing to fear but we all have everything to gain, the most important thing being the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I wish to speak on the amendment. I understand we are taking amendments Nos. 30, 38, 50 to 52, inclusive, and 56 together. Amendments Nos. 38 and 52 are in my name. Do I move the amendments now?

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I will speak to amendment No. 28 in my name and that of other Deputies. It is important we do this quickly. We have reached a carbon cliff because of the lost years when we did not do what we should have been doing, when we did not take our responsibility seriously and when we kept damaging the environment and putting ourselves in a situation for which we will pay in the future, not just...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 22:In page 6, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(d) the principle of climate change justice for developing countries and countries vulnerable to climate change.”.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this amendment. I regret that all my previous amendments were ruled out of order on the basis of cost. There will be a huge financial cost to the citizens of this State, including farmers, if we continue going down this road and do not address the climate change issue. In addition, there is an issue of climate justice, not just for developing Third...

Topical Issue Debate: Bituminous Fuel Ban (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: Rural houses.

Topical Issue Debate: Bituminous Fuel Ban (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: There is also Littleton in north Tipperary. There is an opportunity for Bord na Móna to meet the demand for smokeless fuels. However, it depends on the Government to make a policy decision in this regard as it is a semi-State company. I know the Government has a short time left in office. Whether it is a month or six months, I hope there is no ideological block to this from the...

Topical Issue Debate: Bituminous Fuel Ban (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Minister for his reply. While I welcome this announcement, it is a qualified welcome. The Minister said 8,000 lives will be saved. In a reply to Deputy Finian McGrath several months ago, he said there were 350 fewer annual deaths because of the smokeless fuel policy in Dublin.

Topical Issue Debate: Bituminous Fuel Ban (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: Later this evening, we will be discussing the Climate Action and Low Carbon Bill. Obviously, we must improve air quality, particularly in cities and towns where it is a problem. I am aware of the serious levels of air pollution in Killarney and other towns. Has the Department carried out an assessment of the availability of smokeless fuels? I have not been able to find a list of the towns...

Topical Issue Debate: Bituminous Fuel Ban (29 Sep 2015)

Brian Stanley: Will the Minister provide me with a list of the towns that will be involved in the scheme? It will involve towns with over 15,000 inhabitants. However, the existing boundaries in some towns do not take in the whole area involved. As per his reply, I hope the Minister, along with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, will steer Bord na Móna...