Results 25,901-25,920 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: I have no vested interest as I am a fourth child.

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Some of the changes in stamp duty are welcome as somebody has to act to get the property market going again. NAMA has destroyed the property market as it has taken everything out but put nothing back. Before leaving office the Minister should call people from NAMA into his office and tell them to put €2 billion or €3billion of property on the market at fire-sale prices. These may be...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: A tranche of assets should be sold, even if they must be sold cheaply, to get the process started again. The 1% universal levy on all property, with 2% on properties worth more than €1 million, is onerous enough. It means nothing now because there is no market but it will be a heavy enough charge when the market picks up. I suggest that in the course of the finance Bill the Minister...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Overall, the budget is incoherent, soft on the rich and hard on the poor. The times ahead will be hard. The Government has sought to tie the hands of its successors with a series of very specific commitments over the next four years. If the Fine Gael Party is part of the incoming Government, we will stick to the targets set down but will renegotiate the specific measures envisaged for the...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: There is a flaw in Ireland's approach to Europe, one which arises from the hubris of the Celtic tiger years. Since we joined the European Union the Department of Foreign Affairs has taken the lead role in our relationship with the EU and individual member states. When Garret FitzGerald, whom I see in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Taoiseach, it was...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Despite everything that has happened, I do not believe our country is ruined beyond repair. If it were not for the banks, our problems would be manageable. With the recently announced initiatives to downsize the banks, we can come through this. The foundation stone of everything is certainty. The Fine Gael Party is committed to reducing the deficit to 3% of GDP by 2014 and to a total...

Budget Statement 2011 (7 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: At times of crisis we tend to turn to the heroes of the past for inspiration - to Collins and Griffith, de Valera and Lemass. I know Members on all sides of the House do that and therefore I shall finish by reference to a quotation attributed to Michael Collins which we might all ponder. Collins said, "Give us the future. We have had enough of the past. Give us back our country to live...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Question 35: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the plans in place to deliver a strategy developing an agri-renewable industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45305/10]

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: When the Governor of the Central Bank was explaining the new structures for Anglo Irish Bank the other morning I did not quite follow him. Perhaps the Minister could explain it to the House.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Minister for circulating the documents which underpin the agreement with the two European institutions and the IMF. In his reply to the debate, I would like him to explain the legal basis of those documents.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Yes, but when they are finalised what legal basis will they have under the European treaties, our Constitution and in Irish law? Are they an international agreement and, if not, why not? I thought the Minister's speech was sad. He is still going on with this challenge to the Opposition. He challenges us to advise how we are going to pay the teachers, the nurses and the gardaí if we don't...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: They are still in government and their leader yesterday explained how war weary he is, how difficult it was with sleepless nights, living in an asylum-----

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: -----and being under constant criticism and in no-win situations.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: The Minister for Finance has a role but I do not think he is the piano player.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: If I can continue the image, Deputies will remember the sign in the western saloons, "Don't shoot the piano player, he is doing his best". Some of us may agree with that but in the past fortnight we are wondering if the Minister is doing his best because he did not share events with his colleagues. Be that as it may, it was an appalling shock for everyone in this country to realise there was...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: That is not what they are saying. This was a bad deal because it did not have the authority of the Government behind it.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: There was some kind of a write-off at the end but it does not seem the Ministers were kept informed, step-by-step.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: The deal is interesting, with some €85 billion available, €50 billion of which is for financing the day-to-day needs of Departments as described by the Minister in his introductory remarks. The profile of the three budgets to come does not add up to €50 billion but I presume there is an element of refinancing contained in the €50 billion sum as it is rolled over and refinanced. Some...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: Yes, at present, but very soon it will no longer be a licensed bank.

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (Resumed) (1 Dec 2010)

Michael Noonan: I ask the Minister to set out in so far as he can in the question and answer session what restructuring will take place of the banks. This started with the banks. It was all about the banks and suddenly there is nothing about the banks. We were promised great restructuring a couple of weeks ago but there has been no announcement. We do not know exactly what is going to happen.