Results 381-400 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am finished with that.

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister. I apologise for the absence of my colleague, Senator Higgins, who has asked me to deputise for him. Hopefully, I will be able to deliver a few political blows on his behalf, although that may be difficult. The Minister referred to the low tax base but it is important to point out that while we have one of the lowest levels of taxation in the EU as a percentage of our...

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Basic personal tax credits have not been increased under the legislation. It relies heavily on increased charges and it has totally failed to reduce levies that are putting homes beyond the reach of first-time buyers. There is a complete absence of joined up thinking. The Minister is introducing property-based tax breaks, barely 12 months after he won public praise for his decision to...

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: That figure was quoted recently. Even if it is only half right, it is still appalling.

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Senator White might be in the know and, if she has other information, I would be glad to get it from her. It is appalling that a major infrastructural project can go €600 million over budget.

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: There has been no proper financial scrutiny and no penalties have been applied. This needs to be examined. The same scenario applies to the Dublin Port tunnel and the construction of motorways. Individuals can be scrutinised over minor tax breaches, yet significant projects are not scrutinised properly. I wish to refer to an issue which highlights for what Fianna Fáil stands. Two weeks ago,...

Seanad: Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill) 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Half of them are for investors.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move recommendation No. 1: In page 7, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.—The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 468: 468A—(1) In this section— "the consumer price index number" means the All Items Consumer Price Index Number compiled by the Central Statistics Office; "The consumer price index number relevant to any year of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I accept all that has been said, but the bottom line is worth repeating. In 1999, the personal tax credit under the then equivalent tax code amounted to €1,000. By 2001 the Minister had succeeded in reducing this figure to €814. In 2002 it was doubled to €1,520. For the last two years there has been no change. These are the facts.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move recommendation No. 2: In page 7, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2.—With effect from the end of 2004, and annually thereafter, the Revenue Commissioners shall lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a Report detailing in respect of any relief, other than an amount however described which is excluded in the calculation of tax by a body corporate, partnership,...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I stick to my original point. It is worth noting that the urban and town renewal schemes will have cost the Exchequer €0.75 billion in lost taxes by July 2006. When this is coupled with the fact that 130,000 people are now on the waiting list for social housing, it must be asked why reviews of tax reliefs are not undertaken. The tax relief was initially introduced to encourage regeneration...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: To clarify, I was asking about reviewing tax reliefs and never suggested that this be abolished. I would not do so coming from Carlow where we had two very successful horses, Hardy Eustace and Rule Supreme, trained by Des Hughes in the Minister's constituency.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am a member of a horse syndicate and I know about making losses.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move recommendation No. 3: In page 7, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following subsection: "(2) Section 472 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (4)- (a) by inserting 'or proves that he or she is a home-carer' after 'purposes referred to in that section', and (b) by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (b): '(c) in the case of a home-carer, a credit of the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move recommendation No. 4: In page 8, before section 4, to insert the following new section: "4.—(1) Chapter 1 of Part 15 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 480A: '480B.—(1) In this section— "the Act of 1999" means the Irish Sports Council Act 1999; "amateur sportsperson" means a sportsperson that receives no salaries, fees, wages, bonuses...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: The recommendation put forward by Deputy Deenihan was rejected in the other House. It applies not only to Gaelic footballers but also to other sportspeople such as cyclists, boxers, rowers and other elite athletes not benefiting from the provision made in the Finance Bill 2002 under which professional sportspeople were rightly granted a major income tax break. This, however, should apply...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Not much chance of an all-Ireland medal.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I do not accept the Minister's comments. First, I do not believe it is a generous tax break — it is only a moderate one. If we had no other tax relief schemes, I would agree fully with the Minister, but we do. For example, U2 can claim tax relief, although it is one of the wealthiest bands in the world, if not the wealthiest. Likewise, the bloodstock industry can claim tax relief. The...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move recommendation No. 5: 5. In page 8, before section 7, to insert the following new section: 7.—Section 819 of the Principal Act is amended— (a) by inserting a new subsection (2A) and (2B): '(2A) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section an individual who is an Irish citizen shall be deemed for all purposes to be resident in the State for a year of assessment unless such...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2004 [[i]Certified Money Bill[/i]]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Senator Mansergh made a valid point of the current economic conditions vis-À-vis those that pertained years ago. At one time, people paid tax at a rate of 65%. It sounds daft and I cannot even imagine it now. The economic conditions have changed and everything should be up for review. It is unfair that people can claim tax exile status and masquerade as great and patriotic Irishmen and...