Results 5,861-5,880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: All the Tánaiste's colleagues have taken to the lifeboats.

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: On a point of order, I honestly believe it is a serious discourtesy to the House, which is about to debate the extension of a €4 billion guarantee to the banking sector, that a Minister of State is sent to deal with it.

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: That is no reflection on the Minister of State, but he does not have discretion on behalf of the Government to offer changes in any of the details of this scheme. We are having a meaningless debate because whatever the Opposition says, the Minister of State does not have the discretion to alter anything. There is no point in having those sort of debates. From the outset, the banking crisis...

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Will a second round of speakers be facilitated?

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: In that case, I wish to share my time with Deputy Kieran O'Donnell. The Acting Chairman should tell me when I have spoken for six minutes.

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: First, the Minister is asking the taxpayer to provide yet another line of defence for the banking system. The critical issue that must be addressed is whether the banks have changed sufficiently and whether there has been a transformation in the banking system that would warrant the taxpayers dipping into their collective pocket once again to underpin them. Quite plainly, the answer to this...

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the comments made by senior bankers to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service that the transfer of loans under the National Asset Management Agency would neither reduce the cost of credit nor increase the availability of credit to businesses and persons; and if he will make a statement on the...

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree with the statement he read out, that there is no shortage of credit in the economy?

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: He read that out as the inference that he drew from the discussions by the banks. I am asking the Minister for his opinion. Does he believe that there is no shortage of credit in the economy? That is what the banks stated and he is now repeating that. Does he agree with them when they stated that NAMA will not improve in any way the availability of credit and will not reduce in any way...

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Specifically,-----

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Minister absorbed virtually all of the time and the Ceann Comhairle should have called a halt when he overran his time.

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am not objecting but I do not want to be squeezed out by the Minister's long answers. As a result of the Minister's guidelines, will we see cheaper credit coming from the banks? That is a specific question. Will we see guidelines that will increase the flow of credit? Can the Minister give categorical commitments to the small businesses which will be listening to what he has to say?...

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Why did the Minister tell us and all his spokesmen that this new ECB money at 1.5% rate would dramatically reduce the costs of borrowing and we would see a reduction in credit costs?

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: So the Minister will issue guidelines to-----

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Minister can understand-----

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I do not want to hold up the time, but the Minister can understand Deputies were lining up to tell us that access to 1.5% money from the ECB would see a dramatic reduction in the cost of credit. Now that is evaporating, the banks will not deliver it and the Minister will not insist upon it.

National Assets Management Agency. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Live horse and one will get grass.

Tax Yield. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Finance the latest estimate of the revenue to be earned from the air travel tax; his assessment of its impact on foreign visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/09]

Tax Yield. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister aware that the number of visitors to Ireland has fallen by approximately 700,000 since the introduction of the air travel tax? Contrary to what the Minister suggests, the information I have seen demonstrates that Ireland has moved from being one of the fastest growing destinations to now being among those worst hit by the reversal. Has the Minister had sight of the study...

Tax Yield. (3 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister aware the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish Governments all have removed such taxes in an effort to try to stimulate their respective tourism sectors? Furthermore, is he aware that many Irish airlines are moving their aircraft out of Ireland to other destinations to achieve cheaper onward movement? As the Minister is aware, even Aer Lingus is doing this and effectively is...