Results 9,501-9,520 of 12,604 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Senator's point. When the Department of Finance was drafting this legislation, it had to have regard to the advice of the Department of Health and Children and the HSE, which was that palliative care units must be sustainable. The Department of Health and Children and the HSE examined the population figures and worked out how many beds should be in each unit if it is to qualify...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It was to do with the tax avoidance scheme.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is a particular scheme that goes into operation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: No. It is about specific tax avoidance schemes.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I know Senator Kelly lives near my constituency and is working very hard there.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As one who tries to do my own small bit in my constituency I share his view about the complexity of the information on this matter and intend to speak to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, about it. In respect of recommendation No. 17, vehicle registration tax is charged at the time of registration in the State. Under the revised system, the VRT...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: While I appreciate the health concerns that form the basis of this recommendation, it should be understood that in matters relating to the VAT rating of goods and services, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance and the Government are constrained by the requirements of EU VAT law — with which Irish VAT law must comply. In this regard, the rate of VAT that applies to a particular good or...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: This recommendation has been proposed on many occasions over the past number of years. There are a number of reasons why the proposal could not be resolved through the Finance Bill process, the primary one being that such VAT refund schemes are no longer possible under EU VAT law. Further to this, the real question is whether VAT refunds are the most appropriate intervention in the first...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Yes. As I indicated yesterday, I will obtain the details for the Senator.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Senators on both sides of the House for their very thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions, both today and yesterday. I will convey the arguments, some of which were very well made, to my colleague the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Senator's recommendation is one which was debated at some length in the other House. The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance is not convinced still of the merits of the case. The statutory remit of the Ombudsman already incorporates both of the roles proposed for a taxpayers' advocate, namely, acting for taxpayers and investigating actions which are contrary to fair or sound...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I understand where the Senator is coming from and I am aware of that apparent anomaly. It is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners to determine whether a body or organisation has been established for charitable purposes. I have been advised that the activities of Tidy Towns organisations, generally speaking, would be regarded as satisfying one of the categories of charitable purpose, which...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As the Senators will be aware the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced the establishment of the Commission on Taxation on 14 February. The work of the commission will help establish the framework within which tax policy will be set for the next decade at least. It is important for the commission to take a strategic, considered and balanced perspective that recognises the evolving...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The recommendation relates solely to tax relief for service charges. I understand what the Senators have said and their arguments for and against. I will communicate their comments to the Tánaiste. Relief for service charges is currently available in respect of charges paid by a householder in the previous year subject to a maximum claim of €400 per annum. Where an individual makes a...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: This matter was debated at some length on Committee and Report Stages in the Dáil. As the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance indicated in those debates, the position is that existing law already provides an exemption for an employee benefit-in-kind charge where employers provide free or subsidised child care to their employees. However, the exemption applies only on certain conditions. I...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The proposed recommendation seeks to ensure training costs paid by an employer will not result in a benefit-in-kind charge applying to the employee. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that in circumstances where an employer either refunds course or examination fees on behalf of an employee or pays them directly on behalf of the employee, and the course undertaken is relevant to the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: This issue has been around for some time. When studying at the Institute of Chartered Public Accountants in UCD I was taught that self-employed people may claim travel expenses incurred for the purposes of their businesses whereas employees may claim only for travel undertaken in the performance of their duties, a somewhat narrower hoop to get through. The difficulty that arises in this...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The effect of the recommendation would be to double the value of the 2007 home carer tax credit of €770. The cost of the measure, if implemented, would be approximately €54 million in a full year and €37 million in 2008. The financial resources available to the Tánaiste for the budget 2008 personal tax package including, PRSI and health levy changes, amounted to €582 million, not...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Most of the recommendations and amendments put forward today and in the other House are, on the surface, quite acceptable. Were I on the other side of the House I, too, could make as good a case in respect of some of them. However, the Minister must strike a balance. Resources are not limitless. Section 6 of the Finance Bill implements the budget announcements to improve the level of rent...