Results 34,821-34,840 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Nevin Economic Research Institute (6 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: I have two short questions. I revert to some of Dr. McDonnell's earlier comments in respect of the letter from the Governor of the Central Bank to the Minister, Deputy Noonan, in which the Governor recommended that our debt ratio should fall from 60%. Is Dr. McDonnell basically stating he disagrees with that advice and that it would be better to use what leeway there is for investment?...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Nevin Economic Research Institute (6 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: I will interrupt Dr. McDonnell briefly. The reason I asked the question was that the implication in the Governor's letter, which Dr. McDonnell referred to earlier, is that there is choice in the sense that one could simply raise more taxes. The critical issue, and I think everyone who spoke today seems to be agreed on this, is investment. In effect, the Governor's formula in terms of the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Nevin Economic Research Institute (6 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: They are the ones who need it.

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: As some of the previous speakers were debating I recall a press conference given by the Northern Ireland Deputy First, Minister Martin McGuinness, MLA, during the course of the recent elections in the North in which he made the case for the North adopting the corporation tax regime of the South. This case has been put forward by Sinn Féin representatives at every North-South meeting...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: That shows a fundamental misunderstanding, namely, that anything to do with development is charity. Development is actually mutual assistance and support so that we develop economies, countries, societies and people to ensure they achieve their full potential. Not everybody wants to remain unemployed. People want an active, useful and participative life in which they have a job and...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: We had many discussions with Fine Gael before that was amended but that is the process of politics. Even in the Deputy's politics, there is probably an amount of discussion. Not everybody automatically agrees on everything. One needs to persuade people about the consequences. In Government, the Labour Party took the double Irish and the Dutch sandwich off the menu and that is a very...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: The issue of international tax is probably like many international issues in that it is complicated. If one wishes to reform it, one must work at it in a serious way and bring people along so one can get the desired reform outcomes. I saw an article in this morning's The Irish Timesby Mr. David Beattie, who I think is a tax lawyer. He drew the distinction between the civil law systems in...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: We want to see-----

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: I will finish on this. We want to see those companies paying their fair share of tax but we want more jobs and investment.

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: The Minister has been able to read the report which none of us has been able to do. Does the Commission decision address the issue of tax competence which is reserved to member states in the treaties? If so, does the report suggest that this can be avoided or negated by competition or state aid rules? Has Ireland become a pawn in a war between the USA and the Commission? As a small...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Is the Minister saying that the Commission denies that states have sovereign competence on tax issues?

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Have the Revenue Commissioners given rulings such as the two rulings they gave to Apple in the past to other companies? If so, will the Minister publish when these were given and the numbers?

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Does the Commission report say "opinions" or "rulings"?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. The ESRI has spoken at length on a number of occasions about the need for capital investment. The committee is trying to reach perspectives in terms of the budget. The Irish rate of capital investment is low. Do the witnesses have a calculation of where we should move to in percentage and gross terms? Do we need to play catch-up with several...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Professor Barrett does not have to answer it now but he could send us a few notes. We have to make net recommendations and, subject to what everybody else thinks, that will fall into capital investment, current spending, and taxation.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: That will be my second question.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: In respect of the witnesses' commentary on the tax bands and the allowances, I think the point at which one enters the top rate of tax in the revised figures is approximately €35,500. It has gone up slightly. That is essentially an alternative tax measure. It is quite valuable to discuss that versus other options. Would the witnesses like to outline or subsequently send us the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Does Dr. McQuinn have a target in his head for the rate of capital investment?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Should it increase to 5%, for example?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

Joan Burton: Where are the missing or vacant houses or apartments?