Results 4,161-4,178 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move recommendation No. 35: In page 161, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Report on use of agricultural land by wealthy individuals for tax planning purposes 101. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the use of agricultural land by wealthy individuals for tax planning purposes...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I am as worried as he is.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I support Senator Higgins on this. I am hugely disappointed by this. I am not particularly surprised, but I am hugely disappointed that the EU minimum wage directive, which commits this country to achieving a collective bargaining rate of 80%, will not be implemented on time by this Government. What worries me is that the Government is not proposing any changes in legislation to help that...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: We are in a political Chamber.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I am going to make political points.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move recommendation No. 46: In page 178, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Report on Vacant Homes Tax 114. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the vacant homes tax, including an assessment of options to include derelict properties within its scope, and to increase the amount of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: The measures the Government is taking will not be enough. They will not deliver the desired effect.That is clear to us. I contrast that with the Sinn Féin proposals. For example, we would transfer responsibility for the derelict sites levy to Revenue. That is just a common sense move that has been resisted by the Government. We believe a new vacant sites tax should be set at 7% in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State mentioned the carrot and stick approach. He needs a much bigger stick.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move recommendation No. 47: In page 190, after line 40, to insert the following: “Report on Residential Zoned Land Tax 115. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the Residential Zoned Land Tax and the effect it has had on the socially damaging practice of land hoarding.”.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I express my thanks and those of my colleague, Fintan, to Mr. Martin Groves and all of the staff of the Seanad. We all have our political lives to lead and none of us knows whether we will be here for long. It has been an enjoyable eight and a half years for me in the House. I wish everyone well personally. Let us put our elections, whether we succeed or fail, into perspective. There...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister is welcome. I have a couple of queries for him on which I would appreciate a response. I have a concern about the fact that some people employed on this site are not paid a living wage. I am talking about our cleaners. This issue has been raised a number of times. A member of the Minister's party, whom I respect, said to me approximately three years ago that this was all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is welcome. I want to emphasise a couple of the previous points. Clearly, we want this SEO to be passed quickly in order that it will be in place for the works concerned. I have to declare a personal interest; I have a son who is entering his third year of an apprenticeship. My concern, which Deputy O'Reilly put well, is that if it is left to an individual to make a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I know but that is not a protection in practice. In practice, the person will be fired and their main priority will be to get another job. Moreover, informal blacklists are in operation. I hear what the Minister of State is saying but, with the greatest of respect, it is not a defence for these workers, many of whom are young.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: I support Deputy Stanton’s point. The cost of tools is shocking. I am in a fortunate position in that I am able to support my son in this regard, but plenty of families really struggle. If there is an initiative forthcoming in this regard, it will be a really good way of trying to retain young apprentices who are trying to make their way in the world. I would very much encourage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: That is a shortfall of almost 30% on where we should be. Having noted the good work the inspectors do and the amount of money they recover in unpaid wages – let us call it what it is: wage theft – I am bit shocked that things have been let go to the point of our having such a shortfall in labour inspectors. How has that come about? It is about two years since I asked my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2024: Discussion (6 Nov 2024)

Paul Gavan: It has to be done. I thank the Minister of State.