Results 47,941-47,960 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Today Bank of Ireland announced a plan to return €1.8 billion to the State. This is welcome and I hope that the Tánaiste and his Government put the money to good use. However, as we get ready to take this money back, we must be cognisant of where some of it has come from. Some of it has come from citizens whose lives have been ruined by the behaviour of Bank of Ireland. Of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any recourse in the case of a person (details supplied) who bought apartments from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority under the affordable housing scheme in 2009, which have subsequently fallen considerably in value. [52151/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (3 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the application process for access to ACELS recognition is opening only for a temporary period; the way a language school can obtain ACELS recognition outside of those dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51591/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (3 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 291. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if precedence will be given to Garda reserves in the upcoming recruitment drive recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51580/13]

Bond Repayments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Some people have asked why we have tabled a motion on the promissory note bonds at this time. I will explain the reason. Every Sunday, in towns like Ballyhea and Charleville, people march to protest against Irish citizens being forced to pay the bad debts of private banks. We do not know to whom we are paying this money because neither this Government nor its predecessor has taken the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate the Minister's answer. My concern is not the yield although it is the concern of the Minister because he must hit the budget figures. My concern on this, as with as my concern about changes to DIRT and tax treatment of health insurance, is in respect of behaviour. I am less concerned about whether the change will bring in €14 million, €16 million or €18...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: My query is a follow-up on the Chairman's question. The provision only applies to market bonds issued by Irish Water. I would not like it to suggest that equity in Irish Water could be issued. Does the provision open up the issuing of equity?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Okay.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I opposed the section but did so through Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am concerned about the lack of evidence. One of the things that section 30 does is increase the fund exit tax for life insurance and investment fund policies from 36% to 41%. The reason that I oppose it is not necessarily because I disagree with the measure. I oppose it because there was insufficient analysis to accompany the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide county councils with the ability to waive or reduce rates in specific areas such as community initiatives and not-for-profit organisations (details supplied); if not, if he will consider such provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50952/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 158. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that gardaí are paid all outstanding allowances in December for hours worked in November this year, rather than in January, as has been the case in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50905/13]

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: That is not what Greece is paying.

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Deputy Murphy does not understand the promissory notes.

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: He did not leave. Fine Gael threw him out.

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: It is being done all over the world.

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: That is because Deputy Daly does not understand it.

Bond Repayments: Motion [Private Members] (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: We did not borrow it. It is an IOU.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I agree that the purpose of the amendment is to close a loophole which may have been abused by some people who were caring for children for a short time and claiming a full €2,500 in tax deductions. The point of the tax credit is to offset the cost of raising children for separated parents. I propose three changes to make the credit work much better. The first of these is amendment...

Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The Private Members' motion before the House this evening calls on the Government to lobby the ECB and European Commission for a one-off change, an exemption, to the rules of monetary financing to allow for the Central Bank of Ireland to tear up those bonds. I have listened during the past three years to the Government's stated position. I still do not know whether it is paying the money...

Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: For clarity, we have not avoided borrowing €3 billion per annum for the next ten years. What we did was borrow €28 billion this year. It just so happens that we borrowed the €28 billion this year at a lower interest rate than that at which we borrowed the €3 billion in previous years. Hence, the lower cost of funding. Let us be under no illusion, we issued a...