Results 4,581-4,600 of 4,720 for speaker:Neale Richmond

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

Neale Richmond: I think it is incumbent to state that quite a number of us in the Chamber are active members of trade unions and would personally benefit from that financially, and I am one of those. Senator Gavan and I have debated the benefits of trade union membership many times previously. I do not think I was ever found wanting on that, which is why I was quite taken by some of these comments. I...

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

Neale Richmond: We are in a political Chamber but not necessarily in a party-political Chamber.

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

Neale Richmond: That is why I am saying we should remove the emotion in the politics concerning what was a very serious suggestion by Senators Gavan and Warfield. What was referred to was done before. The rationale outlined very clearly by Senator Higgins has merit in the context of the overall rationale for what is being aimed at, but what she desires is not going to be achieved by this measure. That is...

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

Neale Richmond: It is important to come back in on this. There will be wider debates on the directive, and the House had one this morning. Such a debate is important but we are here to speak about the actualities of the Finance Bill and the costs as opposed to wider signals and motives. We are bringing into a debate an emotive aspect that is out of place here. We have had the discussion-----

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

Neale Richmond: If the language is not acceptable to the Senator, I will correct it. This is a very serious debate but we are bringing in a secondary debate on the specifics of the request for a report and a recommendation that I know is made by the trade union movement every year. I have met the movement’s representatives, read the proposal and have said I would happily benefit personally to the...

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

Neale Richmond: I will send all three reports to the Senator.

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

Neale Richmond: I will speak to the two specific points as I know the Senator has had a good discussion with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, already. On the issue of the introduction of refundable tax credits, they could potentially prove to be very costly and provide relatively little benefit to the majority of individuals, including those working full-time and earning at least the national minimum wage,...

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

Neale Richmond: I will briefly mention two things in a potentially less negative response than usual but couched in the fact that, ultimately, we will not be accepting this recommendation. Obviously, those of with young children know that Isofix is often an influence in getting a larger car, unfortunately, for many of us. A weight-based tax was discussed as part of this year’s tax strategy group...

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

Neale Richmond: It should be noted that the Bill provides for an increase to the rate of the vacant home tax from five times to seven times the property's existing base local property tax rate. This is not exactly a move which one would associate with someone who does not like taxing vacancy, but that is exactly what is being done. The residential zoned land tax is a new tax introduced in the Finance Act...

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

Neale Richmond: The vacant homes tax is only one part of a much broader suite of measures. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage launched a vacant homes action plan in January 2023 and a progress update was published in April. This document outlines the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions being pursued to return as many vacant and derelict properties...

Credit Review Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Credit Review is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance. It was established by the Minister for Finance in 2010 under section 210 of the NAMA Act 2009, with the objective of facilitating access to bank credit for viable businesses. In the years since its establishment, Credit Review has proved an invaluable source of support...

Credit Review Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I wish to start off by thanking all Deputies who contributed to this debate. I particularly thank my dear friend, Deputy Griffin, for his contribution not only this afternoon but over the last decade and a half for the people of Kerry at a local and national level. To say he has done the State some service is an understatement. I wish him, Róisín and the boys all the best. I am...

Credit Review Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this extremely timely and important debate. Before I speak to the motion, I commend the Deputies present who made their maiden speeches, particularly Deputy Gibney, with whom I share a constituency. I thank the Deputies for the heartfelt issues and genuine concerns raised by all Deputies. Regardless of whether they agree with the Government or...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is not.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: No, you cannot do that.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. The Government has welcomed the long-awaited agreement on a hostage release and ceasefire deal for Gaza. This has led to an immediate increase in the volume of critically needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. However, the scale of need remains enormous and the level of destruction from the conflict is so severe that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: We remain very concerned about the fragile security situation in southern Lebanon. Humanitarian needs remain are particularly high, and all parties need to meet their commitments under the extended ceasefire agreement. The UN estimates that over 800,000 people who were internally displaced in Lebanon during the 14-month conflict have now returned to their home places, while over 100,000...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The ongoing conflict in Sudan is causing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Over 11.5 million people have been displaced form their homes in the country, and a further 3.4 million have fled to neighbouring countries. In late 2024, offensives by the two main armed groups involved in the civil war were marked by atrocities, including massacres in Gezira State in the...

Programme for Government: Statements (6 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: If it is agreeable, I will share time with Deputy Geoghegan - half and half. May I make a personal embarrassing comment to say how brilliant it is to share time with Deputy Geoghegan? We have been personal friends for more than 20 years. To be sitting on the same Government bench as him is really good and really cool. What is seldom is wonderful but as the Ceann Comhairle knows, we are...