Results 26,401-26,420 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: This is a rough budget. It is rough on the vulnerable, the poor, children, their parents and teachers. It is particularly rough on the elderly where many of the supports they had come to rely on are being removed without notice. It is also rough in its construction, showing all the signs of a hastily produced document. Many Ministers, even those with a certain competence in economic...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: The Minister is transferring the jobs.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: Yes. The Minister is not providing the jobs, he is simply transferring them.

Financial Resolution No. 13: Stamp Duties (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: The Minister for Finance told me it was entirely exempt.

Financial Resolution No. 13: Stamp Duties (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: I wish to raise many issues in the income tax sections but they can wait until we have more time during the debate on the Finance Bill. The pension provision looks reasonable in resolution No. 9. It is difficult to know what provision an elderly person should make for their pension. An issue arose today with the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, on nursing home charges and the provision a...

Financial Resolution No. 13: Stamp Duties (14 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: I will be very brief. If somebody was paying €60,000 a year — that is not unusual in this city — he or she would expect to get approximately €24,000 back if he or she were taxed at the marginal rate of tax. On the basis of the Government's intent, that would be reduced to €12,000. That is a massive imposition on a vulnerable section of society. The Minister for Defence, Deputy...

Written Answers — National Library: National Library (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 153: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made on the capital works planned for the National Library; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33934/08]

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme: Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme (8 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 219: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will amend the terms of the nursing homes repayment scheme to include persons who were resident in private nursing homes as no place in a public nursing home was available even though on a means test and health assessment basis they would have qualified for such a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34059/08]

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (7 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide funding to Limerick City Council for the replacement of common lead services citywide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33413/08]

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce subvention to Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32665/08]

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: I have much sympathy for the Minister as it is difficult to bring in emergency legislation. There is always the doubt, despite the excellent advice from officials, bankers and regulators, that in the middle of the night when one is tired, one will forget something. It is very important section 5 is included in the Bill because, effectively, it means that if one forgets something and...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: I hope this succeeds, but the Minister must take the House more into his confidence.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: We do not know what the Minister's system of regulation will be. We take it on trust, but the Minister asks us to take a great deal on trust. I support the amendment and especially the call by Deputy Richard Bruton that we debate the matter. The Minister should share more with us. The banks operate very secretively and it is time there was more transparency. The story appears to be that...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: I am addressing amendment No. 1 because as I understand Deputy Burton's amendment, the reason for it is that the Minister has to be more transparent with us and must give us fuller information. At this point we cannot continue to operate in such a secretive banking system where only a few weeks ago the regulator and the Governor of the Central Bank told us everything was all right.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael Noonan: They came before committees of the House and gave us absolute guarantees that there was no problem with the Irish banking system. We then wake up one morning and there is chaos. We need more information and, as parliamentarians, if we are to measure the effectiveness of the Bill we need information along the lines I am suggesting. I will conclude on this point. Is the Minister transferring...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Sep 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the review of maternity services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32322/08]

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed). (25 Sep 2008)

Michael Noonan: My party supports the Bill but I do not welcome it because it is based on a flawed commission report which was carelessly drafted. In future reports the relevant commission should be asked to justify the decisions it makes and not be allowed to hand them down as diktats. The logic of some of the decisions in the report is hard to understand. It is inequitable and flawed. The report is...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (24 Sep 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 290: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated yield in 2009 from a 1% increase in both the higher rate and the standard rate of income tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30221/08]

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (24 Sep 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 291: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated yield in 2009 from a 1% increase in each rate of VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30222/08]

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (24 Sep 2008)

Michael Noonan: Question 292: To ask the Minister for Finance the percentage increase in the public sector pay bill in 2009 from the payment of full increments to all public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30223/08]