Results 3,761-3,780 of 16,285 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: 411. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Meath County Council has not received its annual grant for housing aid for older persons; when the grant will be received; the amount involved and when the shortfall between the total amount of the grant and the need within the community will be covered. [16252/15]

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I move amendment No. 6:In page 12, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(6) The Minister shall provide regulations as to how these controls are applied to foreign military aircraft which land within the State.”. What are the arrangements in regard to customs when a foreign military ship or aeroplane arrives in the State?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: The Minister of State has given a clean and tidy answer but as he will know, the practical working of the status quois that hundreds of thousands of US troops go through Irish airspace and airports. Shannon Airport is the prime example. This has led to the killing of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people in other lands. This country had a proud history of neutrality....

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I appreciate that it is a customs Bill. However, these aircraft are given a customs pass in that there is no effective effort whatsoever to search or ascertain their content. Approximately six weeks ago, Sinn Féin tabled a Bill with regard to Ireland's neutrality. It is important we focus on these issues. I understand why the Minister of State does not propose to accept these...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Amnesty International has brought to the attention of Government six aircraft that have been used for rendition in Shannon. There is ample allegation and substantiated evidence to show this activity has been carried on. However, I understand we are at an impasse here.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I move amendment No. 7:In page 12, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "(6) The Minister shall provide regulations as to how these controls are applied to foreign military naval craft which land within the State.".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: In the real world, knowledge levels are often quite low with regard to customs and excise. Many people unwittingly find themselves in a very difficult position maybe on returning from a shopping trip to New York if they have a laptop or dress too many. Citizens have contacted us who felt they were treated like criminals because they lacked information. There was very little communication...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I oppose section 22. As drafted, the section seems to give carte blanche and immunity to officers carrying out the searches. Has this section ever been invoked? What damage to the person would be exempted?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: It was answered to a certain extent. The question I asked was what would be exempted and the answer is that everything is exempted.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I move amendment No. 28:In page 31, line 33, after “proceedings.” to insert the following:“After 30 days, and after each period of 30 days, the officer must seek permission from a District Court Judge to continue to hold the goods.”. The original section 33 refers to allowing an officer of customs who has reasonable grounds of suspicion regarding any goods being...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: The Customs and Excise provides an important service to the country and must be commended on difficult work at times. The safety and the health of our citizens is, in part, dependent on the work it does. There is no doubt the Customs and Excise must be provided with the necessary tools to carry out its work. The third party is included so that there is someone seen to be independent and...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I move amendment No. 29:In page 34, after line 42, to insert the following:"40. Within one month of the passing of this Act the Minister for Finance shall lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the effect of fuel, tobacco and other types of smuggling on the economy and propose in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Assembly measures to tackle these crimes.". Fuel smuggling,...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I welcome the efforts that have been undertaken by both the Executive in the North and the Government in the South to stamp out this activity, which is a disaster for the economies on either side of the Border. These activities gut the local economies within a radius of 30, 40 or 50 miles of the Border. Unfortunately, the swings we see on a regular basis mean at some stages that the town on...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Customs Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: I move amendment No. 35:In page 39, lines 31 to 33, to delete all words from and including ", whose" in line 31 down to and including "law" in line 33 and substitute ". Any person who wishes to, may appeal this decision to the District Court".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: In their response to question 46, the witnesses state that unlike other markets, their mortgage book, both tracker and standard variable rate, has been loss marking. That seems a remarkable admission. Is it the case that the mortgage business as it currently stands is unsustainable? Does that mean that in the short to medium term there is no proposition of a cut to the rate for mortgage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Is it the case, as stated in the questionnaire, that the mortgage book has been loss making up to the end of 2014?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: There was talk previously about a merger or even exiting the economy. Is the merger off the table? Is there a full commitment to the economy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: That is very good. Is the Ulster Bank policy to write off residual debt for those who are eligible for social housing, having surrendered their home a new policy? Is it available to people in the North of Ireland? With regard to residual debt for others, the bank will still seek to chase it, but is there a seven-year or other timescale when it will come to be considered at the end?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: Is that not available in the North?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of the Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Ulster Bank (29 Apr 2015)

Peadar Tóibín: There are detailed figures for repossessions and voluntary surrenders and the table shows a significant spike in the last two quarters of 2014. Is this the start of a prolonged period of these numbers?