Results 20,561-20,580 of 26,320 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We will take-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cathaoirleach is more than capable of making a selection.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We withdraw the amendment on the basis of the Leader's comments.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move recommendation No. 3:In page 26, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:“19.The Minister shall, within 1 month of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the operation of the Employment and Investment Incentive in particular in how it relates to companies more than seven years old.”. On Second Stage I gave the Minister of State...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for his response. He stated the new EU rules or guidelines were recently introduced but I wonder when that was. With regard to their transposition, were they rules or guidelines? The Minister of State mentioned both words. Were they transposed into Irish law by way of statutory instrument or was a report submitted? How was it assessed by the Minister? Were...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate that but this highlights the issue of how we deal with EU guidelines. While I do not question the fact that the issue was raised by the Commission and it has sent guidelines to the Department, in legal effect guidelines are guidelines. They do not derive from an EU directive. Who made the decision in the Department? I acknowledge that this is a niche issue, which will not...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Before Report Stage, will the Minister of State furnish Senator Quinn and myself with the relevant correspondence between the Commission and the Department? If that is fair enough, I would like to read it. At least I have clarity now on where this has come from. If we had no choice but to do this, I understand that. The Minister does not want to jeopardise the scheme on the basis of not...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Briefly, I have certain reservations on the recommendation tabled on the effective rates. There are many valid reasons the rate might be lower than the standard rate. This probably will be my only opportunity to make this point but in respect of the €2.47 billion in additional tax revenues up to the end of October, I note that more than 80% of it was made up of corporation tax...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I am.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I would like to draw the Minister of State's attention to a situation that has come to light in regard to VAT exempted education activities. I will probably table a recommendation on Report Stage to try to address this issue. A number of education facilities, particularly conference and retreat centres, that provide accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, have been recently informed by...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move recommendation No. 6:In page 95, line 33, to delete " "€280,000" " and substitute " "€300,000" ". This amendment relates to the capital acquisitions tax inheritance threshold, which the Government has set at €280,000. Most of us would be of the view that this is still too low. I am not presuming that the threshold can be raised overnight to an appropriate level...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate the Minister of State's response but I propose to press the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Tacaíonn mise agus mo pháirtí leis an moladh seo freisin. I agree with Senator Kathryn Reilly on this recommendation. Fianna Fáil submitted an identical recommendation which is included in this proposal which makes sense. Not to repeat what Senator Kathryn Reilly said, promises were made previously about providing for transparency in the tax system. The Fine Gael...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for outlining the provisions of the Bill. I am particularly disappointed the House has only been given one and a half hours to debate all Stages of this Bill. We have tabled amendments to it, as has Sinn Féin, to improve it but we will probably will not have the time to consider them. I sincerely regret taking all Stages of this Bill today as there is a good deal...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Apartment and home owners across the country pay €1,600 or €1,800, or €2,000 and more in management fees but they do not derive direct services from the local authority. They pay for their light and insurance and they pay into sinking funds for their estates. My Bill was defeated in the other House and, therefore, could not be introduced here because it was a cost on...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We have spent a great deal of time debating how the LPT could be improved but we have gotten nowhere with this legislation bar the freezing of the revaluation. Fianna Fáil has made specific commitments on the issues I have outlined, which will form part of our manifesto to improve the tax. We will support the Bill but the Government could have done much better with the exemptions.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm. I was not allowed to share time.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, brought that in as a last-minute amendment.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State is lucky Senator Norris is not here.