Results 4,621-4,640 of 36,118 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: As there is a vote in the Dáil, I will be brief. I have a couple of points. First, it does not surprise me that 24% of alcohol sales are in wine. If one goes to a restaurant or a pub, a glass of wine is €5.50. If one goes to the supermarket or off-licence, a bottle of wine - before this increase - was €7; it is now approximately €8. Even the €1 increase...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: This section relates to carbon tax, an issue that has been well ventilated. We had this discussion when dealing with the financial resolutions on budget night and again during the Second Stage debate. This is not about changing behaviour but about increasing the revenue for the State. These increased carbon taxes will exert additional pressure. While it is called a carbon tax, I do not...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: We are all aware of the issue of fuel poverty, on which measures have been introduced in other jurisdictions. For example, up the road in the North the Administration is sending cheques to people who fall into the fuel poverty category. This will exacerbate the issue of fuel poverty, which is a serious concern. For a large number of people, burning coal in the fire is the only option to...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: A couple of other issues arise, including the cross-Border element of this. As I understand it, the sulphur level of coal in the North is lower. There were reports last year of lorries from the North delivering coal to areas as far away as Cork. This tax could exacerbate that situation. I raise that issue because I support cross-Border trade. However, there are different regulations in...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: We could start here. We cannot turn off the heat in any of the offices here.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: This section deals with increases in VRT. The Minister is well aware that the motor industry has suffered quite a number of shocks in recent years. It is nowhere near where it was and there have been substantial job losses in the industry. The Minister has been requested to amend the VRT and motor tax laws. Despite the fact that motor tax legislation has been amended, additional increases...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I wish to expand on a point raised by Deputy Michael McGrath. I have raised the issue numerous times. While I have a problem with the way in which VRT is structured we will park it, but the Minister needs to do something for family cars. I do not drive a seven-seater car but my wife does. She has to as it would be illegal for her not to do so. Whenever we have the children with us we...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: There could be a separate table for cars with more than five seats. Will the Minister also figure out how to prevent people who do not need seven-seater cars from buying them?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I will try.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 93: In page 129, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following subsection:“(2) Where, in relation to a supply of agricultural produce or an agricultural service by a flat-rate farmer, an invoice is issued, that invoice must carry a VAT number and PPS number for moneys claimed against income tax by farmers and farm businesses.”. This amendment seeks to...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I am no expert in this field but we all have PPS numbers. Even my youngest son has one and he is only ten months old. Everyone has a PPS number and I am not sure how bureaucratic it would be to include a PPS number on an invoice. We must include PPS numbers on many different forms. I do not think it is an overly bureaucratic requirement. This proposal aims to tackle black market...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I will not push the issue but the intention of this amendment is not to put an additional burden on small farmers. Farmers, whether small, medium, or large, already have too much of a burden in terms of paperwork and administration at this point in time. However, the farming community itself believes that there is black market activity taking place which is placing those who are compliant...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: My understanding is that we are looking for some administration in this area. With an invoice or settlement request a piece of paper is provided. The agricultural community is seeking for the PPS number to be on such a piece of paper. This is to avoid transactions on the black market. It is like anything else. If one buys something from an advertisement in a newspaper or from any...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis of what the Minister of State has said.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: The issue in terms of the aviation leasing sector is one that needs to be examined and reviewed. The State has had huge success in attracting in aviation leasing business. Some 50% of all aviation leasing happens in this State. Figures show that 35 such companies operate in this State employing 1,000 people. A very small number of people are employed given that those in this business have...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: It is a funds issue. When we are talking about 3,000 planes, €80 billion worth of merchandise that has been leased out and 50% of this business being in this State, we need to focus on how we maximise its potential. A review of this industry by the Department is needed to examine how we could maximise the potential without jeopardising the funds we are currently getting from it. I...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: There is a need for a review of this business. The State has been successful in bringing 50% of all of this leasing business to this country but there is a need for a review of it to ensure that we maximise the potential of it without losing any of the investment we currently have. I ask that such a review be carried out and presented to this committee before the enactment of next year's...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: I am not sure it is for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. My point is whether we are getting-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: -----bang for our buck on this. The point I made earlier is that we all pay attention to the export figures because if the country is exporting, down the line it should create jobs if businesses are going well. The aviation leasing sector makes up €6 billion of our export figures annually. I believe the question is one for the Department of Finance. The jobs in the aviation sector...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2013)

Pearse Doherty: This section deals with the lowering of the thresholds for capital acquisitions tax, which I welcome. The Minister of State has moved in the right direction. The alternative budget we submitted to the Department called for the lowering of them and increasing the rate which he has also done in section 82(1)(b) to 33%. In my amendment, which was ruled out of order, there was further scope to...