Results 3,381-3,400 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Will there be a revision of the programme for Government? As I understand it, the programme for Government was based on the assumption of an economic growth rate of 4.5% per annum over the life of the Government, which will clearly not be achieved. Will there be a revision of the specifics in the programme for Government? I wish to ask about two specific points. The first is the commitment...

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I will pursue the matter further. I accept these are budgetary matters and I am not asking the Taoiseach what is in the 2009 budget or even the 2010 budget. I am asking him what is in the programme for Government and if it still holds. In respect of this particular set of commitments, I wish to know if it still the Government's intention to cut the top rate of tax by 1%, the standard rate...

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is waffling.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I asked a succinct question.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I will stick with the issues of tax, PRSI and VAT on environmental goods and services. While I am aware of the context in which the commitment was presented, it is still the case that the Government's intention was to cut the top rate of tax by 1%, the standard rate by 2% and PRSI by 2%.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Does that mean the Government will not proceed with the commitment?

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is in Government.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I am trying to find out what the Taoiseach will do.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: No, take it easy.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I am only trying to find out what he will do.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach has told people what will be done. Do I understand from what he is saying that the commitment to reduce the top rate of tax by 1%, the standard rate of tax by 2% and the PRSI rate by 2% is gone? Let me help him by stating my belief that most people believe it is gone. There is no big river for him to cross so he should just tell us.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Easy now.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: In response to the various questions, the Taoiseach stated the Government has priorities. I want to come back to the two questions I asked about tax issues. Are issues such as the 1% reduction in the top rate and 2% reduction in the standard rate of tax, the promised 2% reduction in PRSI payments and the promised reduction in VAT rates on environmental goods and services from 21% to 13.5%...

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: They are gone.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: No, I am only interpreting it.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Is the Taoiseach saying to all the working people who voted Fianna Fáil in the last election on the basis of its promises to reduce their tax and PRSI payments and to the people purchasing environmental services in response to the many advertisements by Government in respect of our being more environmentally friendly that they should have read the small print?

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: No, it is not.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: May I ask the Taoiseach a simple question? The Taoiseach was Minister for Finance at the time.

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Whatever about the rest of us knowing the score in regard to the state of the public finances, the Taoiseach, as then Minister for Finance, had to have had a better knowledge of the situation than the rest of us or anybody else in the country. Why did he allow his party leader at the time to make a promise in respect of, for example, a 2% reduction in PRSI when he knew that there was not a...

Programmes for Government. (2 Jul 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: It was a naked political promise designed to cod people. Fianna Fáil had no intention of delivering on it because it knew it could not do so. It was a lie.