Results 4,881-4,900 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Seanad: Beef Sector: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: It is the Order of the House; it has nothing to do with me.

Seanad: Beef Sector: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I would love to give the Senator more time but, unfortunately, other Senators must come in as well. I thank him for his contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the witnesses for their opening statement and comments so far. Many of the questions I might have asked have already been addressed. In the opening statement the witnesses indicated that the tax treatment of these products is currently the same whether the product is sold in a supermarket, food store or pharmacy. Is there a definition of a food supplement? I presume if I go to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: That does not really tell us anything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I am trying not to be overly pedantic about this. Are salt and pepper food supplements? One does not consume salt or pepper on their own and they are used to supplement food. Is it an attack on the health food industry to look at it that way? The comments from the Taoiseach seemed to demonstrate a disregard for the efforts of these businesses and the industry in keeping people healthier...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I appreciate we are ten minutes away from an Irish rugby match and our ratings may be slightly lower than usual but if an ordinary person is watching this committee, how would he or she know the difference between a food supplement and food? Is a food supplement part of a larger group of food? If food is zero rated for VAT, should that be the end of the story?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: On that basis, olive oil, garlic oil and all those products used in cooking and part of food preparation can be classed as food.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I am not telling the witnesses their business but should the argument be that if something can reasonably be ingested and is not a medicine, which have their own definition, it is effectively food and that should be the end of the argument. Is that fair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: That is enough for now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Application of VAT to Food Supplements: Discussion (3 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The budget is next Tuesday. I ask that the committee communicate with the Minister speedily to ensure he receives our letter before next Tuesday, rather than have it arrive on the day after the budget.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Leader for outlining the business. I will not dwell too much on the budget since I will make a statement on the budget at 4.45 p.m. but it is clearly a budget that is designed and revolves around Brexit. Fianna Fáil will facilitate it on that basis. We will have statements on the budget shortly. On the issue of Brexit more generally, one cannot be shocked or surprised by...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: It is a burning issue, if the Leader will pardon the pun.

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. Unlike him, I do not have 20 minutes for my contribution but I welcome the opportunity to speak and will try to cover as much as I can. The Minister of State concluded by recognising the positive engagement of the main Opposition party to the budgetary process. I will acknowledge that recognition by trying to be nice while making my...

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I will try not to give out as much hot air as Senator Craughwell undoubtedly will do later.

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I have ten minutes, as Senator O'Donnell will have.

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The budget is based on there being a hard Brexit. I sat in the Dáil Chamber listening to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, speaking for an hour and seven minutes, followed by contributions from Deputies Michael McGrath and Cowen. The Minister of State outlined much of what is in the budget, so I will not go into the detail of the various aspects. We all thought that some type...

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I can do equal opportunity criticism. I will not take any lectures from a party that has left Stormont idle for two and a half years and failed to take is seats in Westminster. It had an opportunity to put forward a budget in Stormont but has consistently walked away from its responsibilities.

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The country needs stability at this time. Few people thought Fianna Fáil would support a three-year term under a Government led by Fine Gael. I spoke many times to various Deputies and Ministers who said the plug would be pulled, but we have got three budgets through and are now debating the fourth.As Senator Ó Ríordáin pointed out on the Order of Business earlier, what...

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I am here.

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Not from the Chair.