Results 12,461-12,480 of 17,092 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: 603. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applications for the trading online voucher scheme; and the number of vouchers awarded in 2015 to date. [43769/15]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: 604. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies he has introduced in 2015 to encourage and increase the number of indigenous micro businesses and small businesses trading online. [43770/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Cuirim fáilte roimh na toscairí. Bhí an anailís ar fheabhas. The IFAC has done a great service to the State with its recent analysis. Having read the report and examined elements of the economy, there is an awful feeling of déjà vu. While everybody welcomes the increased Exchequer returns, three elements are manifesting themselves in the economy. One is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Some of the volatility in corporation tax seems to be coming from changes in accounting systems between some companies due to new corporate tax rules. Is it a likely contributor to some of the overrun, in Professor McHale's estimation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Professor McHale's report mentioned that the Government estimates the fiscal space to be approximately €8 billion and discussed the fact that much of the fiscal space will be consumed by demographic pressures and expenditure responsibilities the State will have in the future. This means the estimate of the actual fiscal space, if current delivery stands still, is far smaller. What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Can it be said on that basis the tax cuts of €4 billion that have been estimated are not feasible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Professor McHale's report mentioned health. Everybody believes the health budget will be exceeded every year because that is the way it has been. Does Professor McHale have any understanding of what is necessary in health? What is a reasonable budget for health that would fulfil the service pressures within it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: The overheating that was a feature of the pre-crash period around 2003 manifested itself mostly in the property market, etc. Professor John McHale mentioned in his report that the output gap is shrinking and is close to being totally consumed. He suggested that overheating is likely to happen for this reason. How would that manifest itself? What tools has the Government at its disposal to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I asked how this can be resolved if it has manifested itself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: It seems that we are still in the middle of an extreme pro-cyclical space. In other words, we came from a very deep trough. Typically, after a very deep trough, one has a very strong bounce back. That is what is happening at the moment. Ideally, a Government should be flattening out these ends of the cycle. It seems from some of the research and the estimates that have been produced by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I would like to ask a supplementary question on that. Professor McHale mentioned that we could be at the edge of overheating, etc. What effect would the imposition by a Government of tax cuts of €4 billion have on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Obviously, expenditure cannot retreat any further.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Would it not have an inflationary effect?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Okay. I thank Professor McHale.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: We would be less inflationary than this Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: It is not necessarily an issue of spending more. The issue that whatever is spent must be raised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: The major difficulty in this State is we promise European public services on US tax rates. This is where the fiscal irresponsibility lies. If European public services are promised on a European tax rate, it fits in and certain people are happy. This is the key issue. The cycle would be flattened. In other words, one takes heat out when the economy is at its peak and one puts it back in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: To sum up, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is stating there are several risks, the first of which is posed by a pro-cyclical economic policy. The second is there is a lack of proper mid-term planning; the third is in the trapped sectors within the economy, whether they be people in debt distress or on low wages; while the fourth is Government debt. Does Professor McHale agree that these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I am referring to the sector of society which comprises people who are economically trapped. While they might not be a risk to the fiscal health of the general economy, their position is a manifestation of the social ill health of the economy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (3 Dec 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: As a new Deputy in 2011, I recall the Minister of Finance speaking on a regular basis about how our debt was unsustainable. By contrast, there is now a view, one that is proclaimed both here and abroad, that the debt is sustainable. Back in 2012 and 2013 there was pressure on the Government to achieve retrospective recapitalisation, in other words, to ensure our European partners treated us...