Results 19,281-19,300 of 20,660 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State did not answer my earlier question on the timing of the charges next year. Will it be 1 June, 7 June just after the local elections or 1 January? I mentioned earlier that many people are not sleeping, but another group of people not sleeping are those who occupy the Government benches who know what will come through their constituents' letterboxes next Monday. The...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: The Minister of State referred in his response to the commitment given by the previous Government to the troika that water charges would be introduced in 2014. The local elections will be held in the first week of June 2014. Can the Minister of State confirm if people are to be billed for water from 1 January 2014? The question of when water charges will be introduced has been asked a...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: Yes. I am sure the chief executive officer of the new company - I understand it will be Mr. John Tierney - will confirm that figure for us if and when necessary. As it stands, a €600 million capital investment will be required and the cost of installation of meters will be, taking the most commonly used figure, €500 million. Operational costs are estimated to be approximately...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: We will have to contact a call centre if there is a problem with water services in my constituency; local councillors will be dialling 1890 numbers. Nobody has told me anything different. We will have to contact a call centre and get some kind of a response. We should be clear that the relationship will be same as the one we currently have with Bord Gáis. It is a fairly good company...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 3:In page 5, line 22, after “Act” to insert “other than section 24”.It is regrettable that 24 out of the 28 amendments that I tabled have been ruled out of order, which makes it very difficult for me, as an Opposition Deputy, to have any meaningful input into this legislation. On the amendment-----

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: I submitted my amendments in plenty of time but was only notified at 9.10 p.m. yesterday that they were out of order.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: At the moment, operating the water service in this country costs €1.2 billion, but I believe that this cost will increase under a centralised service run by Irish Water. Our amendments are aimed at addressing this because obviously there will be a cost to the householder down the line. Even at a cost of €1.2 billion, divided by 1.5 million households, we are talking about an...

Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: They have smaller services.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the commitment in the programme for Government on reliefs for low-income households for refuse collection charges. It was promised two years ago. I wish the Government another happy anniversary but it is two years on and next Monday the same low-income households will get letters about the property tax and they face water charges next year. I refer to...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: The Government promised a waiver scheme when it came into office. I have raised the issue with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste on several occasions. When will a waiver scheme commence? All households are under pressure but low-income households are in dire straits.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: I appeal to the Taoiseach to introduce a national waiver scheme for refuse collection for such households, including those in County Laois who are waiting for it for 26 years.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (6 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff he will allocate to the merged human rights and equality body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11551/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (6 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he will publish the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill; if it will contain a single determination procedure, long-term residence status as well as procedures for the registration of non-Irish national minors under 16. [11552/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Reports (5 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the social impact assessment of the main taxation and welfare changes announced in Budget 2013 is complete; and when she will publish same. [11375/13]

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Mar 2013)

Brian Stanley: We are debating this Bill because the Minister for Finance rushed the original legislation through on the last sitting of the Dáil before the Christmas break. The Bill put through then was fundamentally flawed. This amending legislation is also fundamentally flawed. It is a sign of desperation when the ink is barely dry on the original Bill that we are back here amending it when it...

Other Questions: Banks Recapitalisation (28 Feb 2013)

Brian Stanley: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made at EU level in allowing the ESM be used to recapitalise banks retrospectively. [10581/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (28 Feb 2013)

Brian Stanley: While I welcome the statement in the Minister's reply that there will be a review, and we appear to have some time to have an input into that, the problem is that we will end up having guidelines. The difficulty is that, while a county development plan has some standing, as a believer in local democracy I feel it should have a stronger standing, particularly when councillors such as those in...

Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Generation (28 Feb 2013)

Brian Stanley: Like the previous speaker, I want wind energy to be harnessed. However, this must be done in a sustainable and proper manner and local communities must be involved. What is happening in Laois and other counties at present flies in the face of this. Four areas in Laois have been designated in the local county development plan and four further areas are open to consideration. In fairness to...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (28 Feb 2013)

Brian Stanley: There is no logic to it. It takes in two local electoral areas which means two engineering divisions of Kildare County Council. It will mean having to deal with two local area engineers and two separate systems of administration of the county council. I know the Minister will make smart remarks in reply. This House needs to look at what is being proposed with regard to local government....

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (28 Feb 2013)

Brian Stanley: I also support the amendment from Deputy Ó Cuív. Mayo should be included in the name. Despite the population increase of 8.2%, it is the first time we have had a predetermined outcome in terms of the number of Deputies. If one looks at the new electoral map, one can see that parts of counties have been sawn off and other parts rammed together. The terms of reference of the...