Results 19,001-19,020 of 20,660 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Teagasc representatives for coming in at short notice, as well as Mr. Bergin and his colleagues from the IFA. It goes without saying that food produced here is of high quality. Relatively speaking, it is produced in a more carbon-friendly manner than food is in other countries. The crux of the issue is Harvest 2020. I understood Dr. Schulte to say that the best case scenario...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I asked three specific questions. On the ownership, does the panel see the need to have a change in ownership and some element of local ownership? On supply and export, Mr. McNamara gave an answer that it might be as well to wait but the question is being asked now. On the issue of planning regulations as opposed to guidelines, what is their view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank the representatives from the Electricity Association of Ireland for their attendance. The obvious question pertains to their position in respect of targets. Essentially, they advocate not going beyond the 2020 targets. The witnesses should explain this position because from the perspective of having certainty for investment in the energy industry, I would have thought it would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank our guests for their presentation. On targets, the submission refers to a target of reducing carbon emissions by 95% by 2050. How realistic is this target in the case of Ireland, particularly considering the quantity of food the country produces and is expected to produce in the short and medium term? The document also notes that an Irish citizen produces 93 times more carbon that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I asked about the projected temperature increase of 6°C.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: Two of the bogs were selected because of specific wildlife and fauna.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: The other bogs have the same wildlife and fauna. The only justification I saw for choosing one bog over another was that it was deemed to be the most southerly raised bog within the midland group of bogs. A number of other raised bogs lie further south on the globe in Ireland than that designated bog. The people who made the designation ignored that fact or were unaware of it. One can see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I read it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank Ms Murray for her presentation. In general, I agree with the key points she made about legally binding targets, five-year roadmaps, giving the expert advisory group the power to publish its results and so forth. On the issue of forestry, we are relying on one type of tree, which is conifers. Is that a serious problem? Is the lack of diversity in our woodlands a problem? I hope...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank Mr. Walker and his team for taking the trouble to come in. In his opening statement he mentioned that this Bill is an improvement on previous attempts at legislation which would have worked against, rather than alongside, EU policy. Could Mr. Walker explain how previous Bills may have worked against, rather than alongside, EU policy? This morning we heard the other employers'...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I am making the comparison honestly because very little of what is happening will penetrate these walls. It is unfortunate. We are currently off-track in meeting our targets and a figure of €900 million has been quoted from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association with regard to the fodder crisis. I may hear five or ten minutes of the media every day but I have never heard that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank Ms de Barra for her presentation and for taking the time to come to this meeting today. Ms de Barra mentioned earlier that roadmaps should be developed every three to five years. Is there a particular reason targets should be set every three years? I understand the Government proposal in this regard is seven years. The Bill I produced proposed the setting of five year targets. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I asked a question about the five methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ms O'Shea outlined two but then we were cut off because the Chairman moved on. Could she outline the other three methods because this is the crucial issue for agriculture?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: Could Ms O'Shea explain what the EBI is?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank Mr. Paul Kelly and his team for their submission and presentation. There are targets outlined in Food Harvest 2020 along with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Will Mr. Kelly explain how we can strike a balance between increased production in the agrifood industry and reduced environmental impact? For example, agricultural machinery is powered by fossil fuels and increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank Mr. Linehan for the paper he submitted, as well as for his attendance to make a presentation. As for the point he raised regarding the Attorney General's advice, I raised that issue at a meeting of this joint committee. When members were informed they could not have sight of the Attorney General's advice, I asked for precisely that. When reading Mr. Linehan's submission the other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I thank the delegates for their presentation. The key points they have set out correspond with the provisions of a Bill I introduced earlier this year. I understand Deputy Catherine Murphy's Bill reflects many of the same themes. These include an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050, a five year roadmap, clear benchmarking of targets, prioritisation of a national roadmap and annual reporting...

Order of Business (4 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: I wish to ask the Tánaiste about promised water services legislation. We have a significant number of assets which must be transferred from local authorities to Uisce Éireann. They include water treatment plants, networks and sewage treatment plants. Will these require votes in each council chamber under section 183 of the existing local authority legislation or will the Bill the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (4 Jul 2013)

Brian Stanley: 16. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will to take to address the lack of availability of after school services for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32600/13]