Results 6,281-6,300 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: No doubt this property will add to the burden and, indeed, hardship, of many throughout the country, and that is unfortunate.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: There are many who are on low incomes going through rough times and who cannot afford to pay the €100 household charge all at once. I would plead with the Minister to include in this legislation an easy payment system for the less well-off-----

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: -----similar to what-----

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: -----applies in the collection of motor tax. There is an easy payment system of motor tax and it is something the Minister could include in this Bill.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: That would be important. I also fear-----

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: -----that a penal property tax could lead to the loss of our architectural heritage.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: Back in the 1940s and 1950s when rates were in being, many fine period residences were unroofed because their owners were not able to meet the cost of high rates.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: Our heritage is important to us and it is the cornerstone of our tourism industry. There should be provision in the Bill to protect heritage homes.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: Our heritage is about what we inherit from the past. There is a need to protect heritage, in particular, the built heritage which includes homes, monuments, parks, gardens, historic sites, etc. Heritage provides links to the past. It is important that we maintain those and make some provision in the Bill to protect heritage homes.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: There are grants from the heritage Council to refurbish some of those buildings-----

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: -----but there should be some provision made.

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: The cost of maintaining a heritage home is excessive. Many would say that they would prefer to rebuild a house rather than refurbish it, but they are important links with the past. Perhaps the Minister would concede to some provision or maybe, in conjunction with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, he could look at this important area. We all are suffering...

Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: -----that has left the economy in complete meltdown. This is why we had to bring in a tough budget and take tough decisions. Hopefully, there will be light at the end of the tunnel and we will rise, like a phoenix from the ashes, as a better people and society.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the property charges pertaining to an unfinished housing estate (details supplied) in County Longford which has been exempted from the household charge and a refund made to the residents, but in view of the fact that the estate remains unfinished, the residents are concerned that what they regard as the entire fiasco be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Fund Levy (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reverse the decision to impose a 0.6% levy imposed on private and occupational pension fund assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56804/12]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will set up a jobs task force, similar to that in the south east of the country to fill the employment vacuum in counties Longford and Westmeath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56798/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56802/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for one parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56807/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Careers (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the possibilities there are for civil servants in her Department to take a career break; and if regulations pertaining to same are common to all Departments and to all civil servants. [56808/12]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (18 Dec 2012)

James Bannon: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding agricultural entitlements for 2011 and 2012 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56806/12]