Results 19,781-19,800 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the case of one of the companies at the centre of much discussion at the weekend it was discovered it does not even have offices in the alleged place. However, Ms O'Brien thinks it is a reasonable proposition to suggest that a company that does not have offices in a place is actually managed and controlled from that place.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To draw an analogy, is that not like the argument about nuclear disarmament: we are all in favour of it and will get involved in a long process of negotiating it but meanwhile we had better build as many nuclear weapons as we can? We are talking about getting a new international framework but there is a race to the bottom in respect of corporate tax, to the advantage of the multinationals.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am not as optimistic as Ms O'Brien. The G8 was dealing with global poverty and inequality ten or 15 years ago. We have not seen much movement on that front. I admire Ms O’Brien’s optimism. I commend Professor Stewart on challenging the consensus in this area. What he has said today is very important. It runs counter to everything that is being asserted by mainstream...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is Professor Stewart saying that the people advising the Department of Finance in this area are people who have a vested interest in interpretation?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Three cheers for that perspective. I could not agree more with Professor Stewart. We make one law for domestic industries and another for multinationals in the area of tax liability. Does this also apply to the taxes registered in Ireland, for example, those on the Department’s tables which show a pre-tax profit of €70 billion and €4 billion paid in tax? There is some...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: If one can afford, which few can, to hire high-powered accountants and tax experts to minimise one’s tax liability, one can do very well.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There is an important cross-over between what is declared and what is not liable for tax because it is not resident here, in the money paid as administrative expenses to shelf companies for the use of patents and software and so on. Can Professor Stewart give us his opinion on how to tackle that? Professor Stewart says the law is very straightforward most of the time, in that if a company...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank both witnesses for their attendance and highly illuminating submissions. Is Ms O'Brien's argument not that we are being held hostage by multinational companies and we have no choice but to submit to their blackmail? Is it reasonable or sustainable for an economy to operate in such a manner and that, out of fear that multinational companies will up sticks and leave, we must tread...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Joint Sub-Committee on Global Corporate Taxation: Assessment of Measures Relating to Corporation Tax in Ireland: Discussion (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Ms O'Brien made that point very well already. If I were to translate the technical language she uses into layman's language, is she not stating that we are submitting to blackmail out of fear that companies will leg it if we try to force them to make a slightly greater contribution to the economy? Is that not really what is taking place? Is it not the case that if one submits in this way,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 95. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the short-term emergency measures and longer term measures he is proposing to deal with the current homelessness and social housing crisis in view of the chronic shortage of affordable private rental accommodation, social housing and emergency accommodation; the way he will deal with these problems in cases involving...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (17 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which he expects the transition from the current rent allowance system to the new housing assistance payments scheme which will be administered by local authorities to be completed and functioning; the way he will deal with the staffing requirements of administering the new system within local authorities;...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The produce of nuclear power plants, nuclear waste and the nuclear industry generally in how it relates to the production of nuclear weaponry make source of nuclear energy the most dangerous substance in the world. Nothing could be more serious than how we deal with it. It may be one of the great indictments of society that human beings have produced the most dangerous and lethal substance...

Order of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Will it be taken this session?

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Exports (12 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the recent communications or reports his Department has had on the Dublin array wind farm project; if in the view of the postponement of the planned deal with the UK on the export of wind energy from Ireland and the very serious questions being asked about the environmental and social value of large scale wind farms...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (12 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of serious questions being raised by communities and credible experts regarding the efficiency and environmental value of large scale industrial wind farms, if he will undertake a root and branch review of energy policy and in particular a cost benefit analysis of all renewable energy sources, with a view to...

Death and Burial of Children in Mother and Baby Homes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I commend the Government for its acceptance of the motion. I also commend Sinn Féin for tabling it. However, those whom I commend most are the people in the Visitors Gallery, including those who were here earlier when we were dealing with a modern example of the neglect of women and children in the provision of housing. It is a terrible stain not alone on our past but also on our...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I find myself in agreement with Deputy Durkan.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The fact that local authorities have an obligation does not solve anything. They have an obligation but they do not have the houses or the resources necessary to meet people's needs. As a result, they are informing individuals that they have nothing for them. I must stress that local authority officials, and not just public representatives, are overrun in respect of this matter. My heart...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is also true of many housing officials.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The decision to push through the section we have just dealt with will cause blue murder. When word filters out that people who have been on lists for ten or 12 years are no longer on a list, there will be uproar. That said, the Government seems hell bent on moving in this direction. Perhaps, if word gets out, there is some chance it will reconsider this before the Bill goes to the Seanad....