Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Some protection for the Greens, of whatever hue, would be appreciated. The point I was making was that we became far too dependent on the good-time taxes during the boom years. There was considerable revenue from car sales, VAT and construction. Those in opposition during the boom said we needed to spend more in many areas and those in Government used a huge amount of the money available...
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: If the Green Party position has moved on the issue of carbon taxation, I would love to hear about it. I suspect there are many different points of view within the Fine Gael tent.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Deputy Durkan is-----
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Our electricity utility companies are part of the emissions trading scheme, the Europe-wide scheme to reduce emissions. A carbon levy in Ireland will have a similar effect by putting a charge on certain fuels, such as petrol or home heating oil, proportionate to the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced when the fuel is burnt. The more carbon the fuels contain, the greater the charge.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: There is a measure of equity in that.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: This will make those fuels that are most harmful to the atmosphere more expensive to consume-----
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: -----thus helping us to meet our climate change target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. It will be no mean feat to achieve that target. We cannot continue as we have done heretofore, despite protestations from some sides of the House on this issue.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: This will create incentives for new businesses to create low-carbon technologies and improve energy efficiency, which will gradually wean us off our great reliance on imported oil. Such a levy will also bring stability to our tax base and ensure that we are not as susceptible to the sharp decline in the moneys used to pay for Government services. At â¬15 per tonne of carbon, it will add...
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: We may well need some injury time.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Good. Per capita, Ireland still ranks as the one of the highest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world. Aside from the moral argument that it is incumbent on each of us to play out part in solving this global problem, we will be faced with hefty financial penalties as part of any post-Kyoto deal requiring emission reductions. Consequently, it makes financial sense to put policies in place...
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: If even the Fine Gael backbenchers understood this, I would be much happier than I am.
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Slowly but surely, we are running out of oil. Estimates as to when this will occur vary but as the International Energy Agency has pointed out, "the era of cheap oil is over".
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: A carbon levy can be used to change household and business behaviour, incentivising greater energy efficiency in our homes and the use of cleaner, greener technologies that will lessen our energy dependence. The difficult decisions that will be announced in the budget are in part attributable to the fact that we are too dependent on transactional consumption taxes such as stamp duty and VAT...
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: To conclude-----
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: -----new taxes are never popular, but as with the plastic-bag levy, a carbon levy has a clear environmental goal-----
- Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: -----in addition to being in the long-term economic interest of the country. I thank the Acting Chairman for her protection.
- Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (10 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Question 145: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in view of the standing down of the committee on performance awards which had allowed Secretaries General to assign assistant secretaries specific and demanding targets for the year ahead that went beyond the normal ongoing requirements of their jobs, an alternative system is now in place to incentivise senior civil servants in the...
- Written Answers — Cycle to Work Scheme: Cycle to Work Scheme (16 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if employees of his department are only allowed to apply for the Cycle to Work scheme between 1 and 15 December each year; if it will it be possible to change the practice in order to facilitate applications throughout the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/10]
- Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (23 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport the parking regulations under the Road Traffic Acts that specify when vehicles must have parking lights illuminated; and when and where it is permitted for a vehicle to be parked contrary to the direction of traffic. [9090/10]
- Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (23 Feb 2010)
Ciarán Cuffe: Question 264: To ask the Minister for Transport the regulations under the Road Traffic Acts that specify when and where it is appropriate to use front facing fog lights and rear facing fog lights; and the technical specifications that apply to fog lights placement on a vehicle, brightness, height and aiming. [9091/10]