Results 19,441-19,460 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Order of Business. (8 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To facilitate the Tánaiste, the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill is No. 55 on the legislative programme.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals or the initiatives he proposes to take in the area in view of the unacceptably high road deaths on the Inishowen peninsula, County Donegal. [9165/06]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to overcome the shortfall in the fund in view of the ongoing uncertainty regarding the pension scheme for Aer Lingus workers. [9166/06]

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 185: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason that parliamentary questions to her Department seeking her views on children's issues are regularly transferred to other Departments (details supplied); if she accepts that, as Minister for children, she has a responsibility to share her views on these matters and not to pass the buck to other Departments; her...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 189: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are arrangements in place for the sharing of respite facilities for children and young adults on an all Ireland basis; if such arrangements do not exist, if they will be initiated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8932/06]

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 229: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive to Parliamentary Question No. 301 of 31 January 2006. [9130/06]

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 230: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive to Parliamentary Question No. 318 of 31 January 2006. [9131/06]

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister seeks to apply a broad brush stroke across the Opposition benches. I can speak only on behalf of my party, which I am proud to represent. The position I have argued consistently on the national pension fund is not as the Minister describes "to raid" it, but on the contrary to use it as a resource in the interests of the wider economy.

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The arrangement for the provision of education is one example of how the Government squanders money on PPP arrangements.

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We would pay less in guaranteed return to the national pension fund and save the hard-pressed taxpayers their tax euro.

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister is not prepared to accept that reality because the Government was beholden to private sector interests.

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will facilitate the moving on of this debate as little more than 30 minutes remain on Report and Final Stages. I support the amendment.

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Both amendments are reasonable and I hope the Minister will accept them in these closing minutes of the Report and Final Stages of this Bill. I will speak specifically to amendment No. 16. Some private landlords are in receipt of what can only be seen as a bounty through the supports from the rent allowance scheme. While they are enjoying these supports provided through public moneys, and...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support Deputy Bruton's argument on behalf of home carers. The Minister did not respond to my question, although I accept that he may not be in a position to do so. If that is the case, clarification could be provided later. I do not wish to impinge on this commendable amendment but the Minister, in his response, indicated an estimated cost in excess of €60 million, yet many amendments...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support amendment No. 9. From the first part, it is clear that this is not intended to be only a one-way street. It may very well facilitate the collection of revenues due that might not otherwise present. It puts the onus on State and other bodies to make the necessary returns of all moneys received. It is likely that other bodies exist that do not currently make all the returns, and this...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I concur with the arguments and sentiments of the last speaker and I support amendment No. 10 which seeks, in a modest way, to provide those on the lowest income scale with some credit for their efforts to provide for pension needs in later life. The review of tax reliefs has revealed how the wealthy have used pension reliefs to avoid tax on a massive scale. One notorious case concerns...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I, too, support Deputy Bruton's amendment. Any measure of relief or support which can be directed towards those who are providing caring support in the home is to be welcomed. The limited supports and poor opportunities for further relief currently available to those who provide service, commitment and care in the home impose a responsibility on us to reflect the interests and needs of home...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am sure the Minister is tired listening to the same arguments, so I will try to be simple and brief. On Committee Stage, the Minister responded passionately in regard to Revenue's efforts to advise citizens of their entitlements to claims for tax credits, refunds, rebates and so on. In my experience, the overwhelming numbers of ordinary citizens who broadly come from the lower middle income...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: A large number of people would avail of the opportunity, which would be good. I encourage the Minister — I am not here for an argument — to think about it because greater proactivity will result in a fairer and better supported tax system. People will recognise that there is fairness, that it is not only about the pursuit of unpaid taxation, taxation evasion, taxation avoidance or...

Finance Bill 2006: Report Stage. (7 Mar 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I had a great day there and look forward to returning.