Results 19,701-19,720 of 20,192 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: That is on a separate issue.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the weekly financial impact on the affected households of her decision to include carer's allowance in the assessment of income when calculating family income supplement; if she will reverse the decision considering the hardship it will undoubtedly cause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4342/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding discussions between her and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding making greater use of RAS. [4341/12]

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: Yes. On the size of the site, could we could get a guarantee - I welcome the fact that the Minister said this publicly - that people will not have to buy extra land? Is there a mechanism under which that can be guaranteed and also the exemption from planning permission? I welcome the Minister's statement on Committee Stage and again yesterday that he would provide certainty around that issue.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: What is the Minister talking about?

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: In regard to the exemption from planning permission, I accept what the Minister has said that upgrades of septic tanks are exempt under planning legislation. We have to take the Minister's word. He has quoted the relevant section of the Act. Where a person is instructed by a local authority or an EPA appointed official to upgrade, say, a 1965 septic tank, will the upgrade have to be to...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: I wish to ask the Minister-----

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: This is important.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: What is the position with the 1965 standards? What about a tank installed in 1965 and fixed to meet the standards that applied in 1965 or in 1955, before there was planning permission. Is that okay? That is a crucial issue. The Minister has referred several times in recent days to the 2009 standards only applying to new houses. I accept his word on that and I hope he is right. However,...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: It is a different regime.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: We hope to get rid of the Government and everyone can then come under this regime.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: The Minister referred to the North. The taxation system for the North is decided upon in London.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: If the Acting Chairman will call order, I will continue.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: The taxation rates and structures relating to the North are set in London. My party wants to ensure that responsibility in this regard will be transferred to this island. If the Minister's party - which, I understand, is the united Ireland party - wants to assist us in this regard, we will gladly accept its help.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: That is grand. Deputy Ó Cuív stated that those who helped themselves - namely, the 440,000 rural householders - are the only citizens who will be obliged to pay the registration charge. These people will also be obliged to pay the planned water tax because many of the group schemes are now connected to local authority water schemes. They must also pay bin charges. People in rural areas...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: I will debate that matter with the Minister when he puts all of the relevant information together.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: I welcome what the Minister said in respect of local authority staff and I accept that he has made moves on certain matters. This is the first occasion on which I have heard him state that it will primarily be local authority staff who will carry out the inspections. I also welcome the fact that local authorities may not be obliged to look outside their existing staff complement in this...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, lines 8 to 11, to delete all words from and including "and" in line 8 down to and including "fee." in line 11.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: I support the amendment. Once a septic is registered it is on file in hard copy and on the computer system. If a house has a septic tank there should not be a need to re-register in five years. The suspicion is that it leaves the way open for additional charges to be imposed in the future. While I recognise that it has been removed from the Bill for now, and I welcome the fact that...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jan 2012)

Brian Stanley: To pick up where we left off yesterday on the matter, the fee is set at €50. I accept that has been reduced. I acknowledge also that the fee for an appeal has been reduced from €200 to €20. We argue that there should not be a fee, but I acknowledge that a reduction has been agreed due to a combination of pressure from the groups campaigning, Members on the Opposition benches and...