Results 30,361-30,380 of 34,885 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Topical Issue Debate: Croke Park Agreement Review (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: It is precisely because of the information that the Minister just gave me that I submitted this matter for debate. As Opposition spokesperson, I wrote directly to the chairman a week or two ago to ascertain the status of the report. He said it would be prepared for the Minister over the coming weeks and that it would be sent to him and published by the Government in due course. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Croke Park Agreement Review (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I am seeking the publication of the third implementation report on the Croke Park agreement showing the savings made in public sector pay and non-pay areas in the period to 31 December 2012, that is, last year's report. In referring to the third implementation report I hope it was clear that I was referring to the original Croke Park agreement and the report for last year. The Croke Park...

Topical Issue Debate: Croke Park Agreement Review (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I made my point once, which was enough. It was a very productive discussion and we will do it again. The point is that the Minister was not able to give us a breakdown of the Croke Park II savings across all 15 Departments; therefore, we do not know where we stand with regard to what he is seeking. The report for last year should be published immediately.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I must attend in the Dáil to discuss a Topical Issue matter.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps the Taoiseach might respond globally to the observations.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: While the Vice Chairman might be obliged to put them one by one at the end, he can respond globally.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I am finished. I have put all my questions.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: When it comes to the Votes, I am happy for the Taoiseach to respond in whatever manner later. I will defer to the next speaker.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services for 2013
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: The Taoiseach is very welcome to the committee this afternoon. I am pleased that he took time to be here personally. That is much appreciated. It is not all about the Dáil Chamber. It is good to see the Taoiseach taking the time to come to a committee meeting even if it is directly related to his Department. I wish to make a few observations that arose during the course of the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: It is very useful to hear this at the end of our meeting.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Yes. I thank Ms Feehily for clarifying that because something might have gone under the radar in regard to local authorities being able to increase the rate a person would pay from next year.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Two things surprise me about that. The rate of the person who carries out the deduction from the State old age pension can very even if the value of the house does not change or if the local authority changes the rate after September next year.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: The amount they would have to pay will go up.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: The Revenue Commissioners are doing the collection. Am I surprising Ms Feehily by suggesting people thought they would pay a fixed amount because the value of the house is fixed? It is in the legislation.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I fully understand that local authorities can increase the rate. We all understood that and perhaps it is a point of detail in the legislation. However, we did not understand that it was kicking in for local authorities by September of next year. Of course it is in the legislation if Ms Feehily says so. However, I do not believe the public has been made aware of it. They have...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Ms Feehily made another comment a moment ago. I wish to discuss the costs. Ms Feehily stated that the Revenue Commissioners are moving on to deductions at source, starting with people in employment, etc. She said it would then move on to people on social welfare payments. When might that be? They have to pay their full amount for this year but what if the Revenue Commissioners only get...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Does Ms Feehily agree that it is not understood that people could have a much higher deduction for the last four months of the year? They are the people who can least afford greater payments at the back end of the year. They are the people we should be facilitating by spreading payment over six months.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Correct. Is there interest on the deferral?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: I have had calls from and have spoken to elderly senior citizens - people in their 80s on social welfare payments and on the State pension. Ms Feehily will be aware that people at that hour of their lives do not want bills hanging around. They feel that they may not get through the pearly gates unless everything they owe to God and man is paid before they leave. I have put it to these...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 11: VAT on Intra-Community Trade (9 May 2013)

Seán Fleming: Everyone who gets a return in on time in the month of May will be-----