Results 17,421-17,440 of 20,156 for speaker:Brian Stanley
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: Instructions have been issued to stop installing meters. As I indicated on many occasions to the previous Minister, Mr. Phil Hogan, I would not hold up Northern Ireland Water as an example to follow. Several changes must be made to the company. Sinn Féin is only one party in a five party coalition. I highlighted the weaknesses in Northern Ireland Water on previous occasions when I...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: God help those who try to achieve some level of accountability from Uisce Éireann in respect of how it spends income from development levies. On privatisation, we heard from a member of one of the Government parties, Deputy Michael McNamara-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: No, it was not. Having read the relevant part of the Bill, the Deputy has highlighted an important issue. He felt strongly enough to abstain from the vote on the original Bill last Christmas. Perhaps the Minister of State will recall the Deputy's wise decision to abstain. He should not try to brush the matter to one side with a wave of his hand. He is not Mr. Hogan. This is a timely...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: To push the matter to one side.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: It was necessary to shake them up.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: Section 13 provides: "The Board shall consist of a chairperson and such number of other members, not being more than 10, as the majority shareholding Minister may determine." I have serious concerns about the Minister's intention to establish a unitary board for Bord Gáis and Uisce Éireann. We are told that Irish Water will be the largest utility in the State. If it is to share a...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The Minister referred to Irish Water as a commercial company and he mentioned group water schemes. Such schemes are co-operatives and they are non-commercial. They are not in place to make a profit and that is the difference. Deputy Twomey said the subvention is great because it keeps costs down but it is not plucked out of the sky. The €460 million we wiped out last night, which...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: This company has been given special spoiled child status by the Government.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The Government has given the company a blank cheque for the past two years.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The Minister is continuing with this today.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The taxpayer will pick up the cost for this monster the Minister has created.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The taxpayer.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: Approximately €160 million.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: -----of almost €60 million.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: Do not make a comparison to the Soviet Union.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The Government informed the House on dozens of occasions in the past two or three years, including prior to the establishment of Uisce Éireann, that the new entity would be a stand-alone, commercial semi-State company. While I accept that Irish Water was conceived by the previous Government, the Government gave birth to it and made it its favourite child. According to the Minister,...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: I do not know how you can keep a straight face when defending the water conservation grant.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: I apologise. I do not know how the Minister or the Minister of State can defend the grant. The Government allocated €468 million from local property tax revenue to Irish Water. The Minister and his predecessor, Mr. Phil Hogan, stated the local property tax was to be used to pay for footpaths, public lighting, parks and libraries. An additional €530 million from the National...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: The Minister of State will be able to speak in a moment. The ESB, Bord na Móna and the remaining public element of Bord Gáis are semi-State companies that pay rates. Why will Irish Water not pay rates? What is the difference between it and other semi-State companies? I have a problem with the prison in Portlaoise and Departments and Government offices not paying rates to local...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)
Brian Stanley: It is like the Soviet Union.