Results 9,401-9,420 of 35,738 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Insurance Coverage (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any impediment preventing insurance companies renewing employer’s car insurance policies for employees living in Northern Ireland that are employed in Ireland holding Northern Irish driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36738/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of airline operators that have expressed an interest in the provision of the interim flight service for the Dublin to Donegal route; when he expects a decision will be made by his Department on the selected airline operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36739/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has guidance and or a policy concerning the publication of shortlisting criteria for candidates who apply for teaching positions in public schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36740/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 94. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding streams are available for a youth project (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36742/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 118. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) from County Donegal will receive their Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30253/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: Has a copy of the Minister's opening statement been circulated? It had not been circulated before the meeting began. We do not have to rehash this but it is not best practice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: It may be in the system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: That is perfect. As I said, it may be in the system. I want to raise with the Minister an issue in the legislation. We only have the heads of the Bill at present. The retention of 100% of local property tax by local authorities does away with a large element of the regime. Notwithstanding our position on the local property tax, I want to dig into the details of this legislation. Under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: That is okay but the legislation is making a significant change whereby local authorities will retain 100% of the local property tax. Therefore, there would not be an equalisation fund from the local property tax proceeds. In fairness, the Minister has acknowledged this. There is a substantial difference in terms of the retention of all of the funds. How is the baseline calculated for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: I will go back to the core question about the baseline calculated for local authorities, which is based on the 2014 grant and pensions-related deductions. Does the Minister envisage that that baseline will increase year-on-year or is it basically stuck at that point? If that is so, local authorities are not any worse off than where they were in 2014, despite the fact they face additional...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: Is it not the case that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: There is a role for the Minister and he can correct me if I am wrong on this. The LPT deals with the portion retained by local authorities plus the equalisation fund. Is it correct that the new model means the equalisation fund will be paid out of the Exchequer? Will there now be an additional charge on the Exchequer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: I did not mention the legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: We are now getting down to the core point. I did not mention the legislation in my first question. I said that LPT funded the retained portion by local authorities and the equalisation fund. The policy change, which as the Minister said is not included in the legislation but is central to what we are discussing, is that the tax will be retained by local authorities but the equalisation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: That was on the first question, not the latter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: I will move on to my questions on mica because I am conscious others are pressed for time but the point I am making is that 20 counties have benefitted from the equalisation fund. There could be higher local property charges for residents in those counties due to the revaluation, yet the local authority will be no better off, especially since many of those counties substantially rely on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: I ask the Chairperson for one final question on Bank of Ireland shares. It is one simple question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister knows our view on the timing of the sale of Bank of Ireland shares. Why did he decide to sell the shares now and not in 2017 when the share price was worth approximately €500 million more than today? Banks made a loss in the recent period but the economy is recovering and banks will recover too. Why has the Minister decided to sell shares now as opposed to 2017 when...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Coverage (6 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: 160. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the problems faced by the tree surgery industry in accessing affordable insurance; the actions he has taken in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35822/21]

Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Jul 2021)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the opportunity to speak on what is now the third Bill with financial provisions in response to the pandemic. For the third time, Sinn Féin will support the financial provisions which will support our economy and ensure that it is in a position to recover strongly from the impact of this pandemic. In this regard I draw attention to recent comments made by the Minister for...