Results 5,601-5,620 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: It was not as a result of the banking crisis. It was as a result of the collapse of the tax take.

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: We were, on average, short by €15 billion per year for a decade. That is why the current level of indebtedness is as high as it is. It was not because of the banking crisis.

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: The crisis was a result of the collapse of the tax take and over-reliance on VAT and excise. We kept spending. The Sinn Féin Deputies are encouraging us to keep spending and that this time will be different. That is Sinn Féin's policy: tax, spend, destroy the economy, have a good time, and we will spend the next decade trying to tidy up afterwards.

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: It has been a hard decade for people. We have not had the money to spend on capital projects that we wanted but we are going to spend €116 billion. None of the Sinn Féin Deputies mentioned the €116 billion for Rebuilding Ireland. They only mentioned the negatives. Deputies have a variety of positions about this. Some want more funds transferred into the fund and...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: Wehave never before spent as much on health. Deputy Quinlivan referred to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and the issues with CAMHS are nationwide. The issue is not having the right, qualified people working in the sector. That is the main issue with CAMHS. It is not about money. I can only speak about Wexford, the area that I know best. We have money and positions...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I did not interrupt any of the three Deputies. I will try to answer some more of the questions as best I can. The State money available from what was formerly the NTMA amounts to approximately €8.5 billion. The money in the escrow account from Apple amounts to approximately €14 billion, including interest. That is to be decided by the European Court of Justice at some...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: As I said earlier - I did not sugarcoat it - it could be permitted in a severe economic shock. We do not know what the next economic shock will be. The book was written during the crisis. This time it is different. It is always different. There is just a different spin or view on it. Will it be the banks or will it be something else? I do not know what the economic shock could be. It...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: VAT Exemptions (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: To address the Senator's direct request to me, the Department is reviewing this matter. That commitment was given by the Minister for Finance on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill in October last. On a point of clarification, basic vitamins, minerals and fish oils are zero rated. The standard rate of VAT applies to food supplements. However, there is a Revenue concession which allows the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: VAT Exemptions (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: There are thousands of products to be analysed to determine whether zero rating, a 23% rate or potentially a different rate should apply. This will depend on the advice of the tax strategy group. From speaking with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, I know that a fair hearing will be given to this. I know there are peculiar anomalies with food. As the Senator mentioned, products...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I think it is your constituency as well, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. A new school building for Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile is included on the Department's six year capital programme. The project is to provide is a permanent school building for the Gaelscoil which is currently in temporary accommodation. In that context, the Department of Education and Skills has been working closely with Cork County Council under...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I will speak directly with the Minister on the matter and try to get officials from his Department to provide an update on where matters are with the Chief State Solicitor's office. The objective of the exercise is to move on to the next stage.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (31 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out to Seanad Éireann the position with regard to the new post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Dublin 6, Clonskeagh and Dublin 6W school planning areas. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data the Department of Education and Skills divides the country...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (31 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I will ask the Minister to meet the group in question.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Army Barracks Closures (31 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank Senator Wilson for providing an opportunity to clarify the current position in respect of the former Dún Uí Neill Army barracks in Cavan town. In March 2012, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board, CMETB, acquired the former Dún Uí Neill Army barracks with a view to refurbishment and adaptations of the site and buildings which would provide an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Army Barracks Closures (31 Jan 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: There is a great difference between planning for a hard border and a no-deal Brexit. Contingency planning has moved from contingency stage to implementation stage for a no-deal Brexit, but that is not the same as planning for a hard border.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: VAT Rate Application (5 Feb 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I am pleased to take the opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Finance to speak on the issue of the VAT treatment of food supplements. The standard rate of VAT applies to food supplements. However, there is a Revenue concession that allows the zero rate to be applied to certain types of food supplement such as vitamins, minerals and fish oils. The practice of zero-rating vitamins,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: VAT Rate Application (5 Feb 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: The Minister's intention at the time of the last budget was that he would not interfere with the Revenue Commissioners in considering the matter. The Deputy will be aware that the Revenue Commissioners operate independently of the Department of Finance. However, I will relay the Deputy's concern to the Minister when I meet him tomorrow. I have met representatives from the health food...

Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Feb 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I must say to the four Deputies of experience that their cynicism is staggering. They seem to have collective amnesia. Projects such as the Jack Lynch tunnel, Dublin Port tunnel, Luas and terminal 2 at Dublin Airport were examples of cost overruns. Another example was the PPARS project. All of these projects occurred under Fianna Fáil Governments.

Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Feb 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I did not interrupt once. I sat here and took it. On radio last week, Philip Boucher Hayes featured ten projects in the history of the State that involved overruns. I am not sure whether they were all on Fianna Fáil's watch but I believe nine out of ten were.