Results 46,201-46,220 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: That was a half answer.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I know. I will withdraw the amendment. I thank the Minister.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Uisce faoi Úinéireacht Phoiblí) (Uimh. 2) 2016: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I support the Bill proposed by Deputy Collins. It is welcome that it is not being opposed and that it is being supported by Fianna Fáil. I think there is cross-party agreement that the water system should remain in public ownership and that it is a strategic asset. The argument put forward by the last Government when many of us pushed for this was that it would never privatise the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I agree with what Deputy Doherty said and I seek a ruling from you, Chairman. Most of the amendments I have tabled have been ruled out of order on the grounds Deputy Doherty mentioned. The amendments oppose proposed changes to the tax law so, by definition, they cannot impose a charge on the State. They are unambiguously in order. This ruling has been applied to most of my amendments....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: The Minister can reply to this if he wishes. His position is well known. I know the Minister's response but I believe it is worth mentioning. I take the Minister's point that people believed the USC was coming in as an emergency measure or to replace a number of taxes as an emergency measure. However, it is probably fair to say that was mis-sold as an emergency measure. The Minister...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I have one brief follow-up question on the argument of work activation, which is the main argument I have heard from Fine Gael for abolition of the USC. I agree with the Minister on the simplification of the taxes. Having line after line on one's payslip is unhelpful. The example the Minister provided relates to the second parent going back to work and whether this is worth doing. The main...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I take the point but would the Minister consider the assessment? We have different political views on it, which is fine, but I specifically refer to the work activation piece, which is the main argument I hear put forward. It is testable and we could do an impact assessment. Is it something the Minister would consider?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: On the point about the process, I was handed the rationale for my amendments being ruled out of order when I walked into the Chamber this morning. My amendments that are in the same grouping we are discussing now should be out of order but they are not. Amendments that propose to stop something that currently does not exist have absolutely no basis under Standing Orders for being ruled out...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Chairman. Can I speak to the other amendment? I can skip over my two amendments because they are essentially the same.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I also welcome the move towards full equalisation of the tax credit. The amendment has been tabled in the spirit of speeding it up. Last year the Minister went halfway-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: Okay, but my hope was that it would have been completed this year. When we get to the issue of vulture fund tax avoidance, I will demonstrate to the Minister where plenty of additional discretionary taxes could be applied. The figure in last year's budget document was €33 million. These figures are first order effects; therefore, when the impact is factored in, the rule of thumb is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: Understandably, we seem to have moved into a conversation on policy rather than the specific amendment. If I could, I will also do the same. When we went through this with the Minister at the budget oversight committee, he agreed it would be a demand-side policy measure and, in increasing profits to developers of new homes, it would fuel development of new homes, even though it would...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: I take on board the points the Minister makes. We both agree that supply must increase and that people need access to the market. I agree fully that many first-time buyers cannot raise €20,000 to €50,000. Where we might differ is that I believe the access argument applies both to first-time buyers and the negative equity generation. While I do not agree with what it is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: The Minister has put forward a very reasonable argument. I agree with some of it and disagree with some of it. That is fine. I believe it is reasonable, I just disagree with the price aspect of it. The Minister's position is clearly a well-considered position and an intervention targeted at a group that is trapped. They are trapped by the 3.5% household income ratio that might allow them...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: Could a note be sent to me from the Department about what the Central Bank has done?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: In the context of the Minister's argument for first-time buyers, can he address the deposit issue? The income multiple is not the issue - it is the deposit.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: 108. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline his views on the rapidly increasing commercial rents in Dublin; and his views on whether the proposed new tax breaks for commercial property in the Finance Bill will drive these rents higher. [33408/16]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Commercial Property (8 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: 493. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the driving factors her Department has identified in the increases with regard to commercial office rents in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33409/16]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Commercial Rent Reviews (8 Nov 2016)

Stephen Donnelly: 494. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has conducted a review of demand for prime office space in Dublin city centre; if this study has been conducted, the projections of future annual demand in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33410/16]