Results 4,421-4,440 of 35,563 for speaker:Pearse Doherty
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: I thank Dr. Sweeney for the presentation. In his paper, Dr. Sweeney suggests moving to a debt servicing cost as a benchmark of fiscal sustainability. How would that benchmark be anchored? Would it be as a percentage of GDP? Could Dr. Sweeney explain in greater detail he would like to have seen in relation to that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: Is it appropriate for Italy to fiscally contract at this point in time? Is that the outworking of the rules.? The criticism of the rules is that they are being counter-productive.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: We have the general escape clause, where the fiscal rules are being suspended. Many European states, including Italy, heavily invested at the time of the pandemic to keep their citizens alive, notwithstanding the issues that Italy had of high debts before that and I am not taking away from that. However they made a significant amount of expenditure to protect the health of their citizens...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: I ask Dr. Sweeney to address the new rule that is being proposed, namely, the minimum fiscal adjustment of 0.5% of GDP if debt is above 60% of GDP. Does that fiscal adjustment of 0.5% of GDP relate to debt reduction or deficit?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: Yes, that it would be net expenditure. Some countries have debt above 60% of GDP and may not be in a deficit scenario.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: That is the expenditure benchmark.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: The big change there is that there was a stricter rule where it was one twentieth of-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: Some of that relates to the last-minute intervention by Germany. Obviously, there are some important and welcome changes. Many of the arguments Sinn Féin put forward have been vindicated. The idea of a structural balance, which never made sense as nobody could apply it, has gone. Some of the other metrics that were being used in a different way and were countercyclical or procyclical...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: There is, however, no obligation to accept the rules. The excessive deficit procedure was not a rule but more a guide. With the 3% of GDP or 60% of debt rules, there was a trigger which we signed up to and, therefore, we have allowed the Commission to have a role. The guidance from the Commission is non-binding. Is that the case?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: Debt servicing costs are relative to the interest rates that are being charged in relation to bonds. For example, Italy would have been paying 4% of GDP for their debt servicing costs. Does Dr. Sweeney believe that Italy is above the threshold and that it should be in a process of reduction?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules: TASC (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that clarification. Dr. Sweeney noted that some of this is vague and has changed recently. I appreciate his attempts to bring clarity for the committee. What applies to a member state where the deficit is less than 3% but the debt is in excess of 60%?
- Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: 31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure two passports will be processed on time for the date of travel for siblings (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20307/23]
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: 389. To ask the Minister for Health when the parents of a child (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to get an appointment with a child psychologist in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20290/23]
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: 411. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an orthopaedic appointment at Galway University Hospital; if they are on the routine or urgent waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20403/23]
- Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 May 2023)
Pearse Doherty: 471. To ask the Minister for Health when an application for the special recognition pandemic payment will be processed for staff at a nursing home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20703/23]
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)
Pearse Doherty: On Tuesday, the Central Bank's latest motor insurance report was published and it makes clear that the insurance industry is continuing to rip-off its consumers. It is now two years since the personal injury guidelines came into effect. These guidelines significantly reduced the cost of claims for insurers but motor premiums have only fallen by 5%. When the industry was campaigning for...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)
Pearse Doherty: What is the Government going to do for these families who are absolutely being penalised?
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)
Pearse Doherty: It was adopted by Germany at Christmas.