Results 6,601-6,620 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I ask the Minister to respond directly to the questions. Then the amendment has to be dealt with.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I want to move it along.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have to ask the Deputy-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: This is not in the Deputy's amendment at all. It is not relevant and he is repeating himself. It has to be new information. I want to let the Minister respond and move along. Please wrap up.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry to have done that. Can we ask the Minister to respond?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I really have to ask Deputy Boyd Barrett to wind it up because I have given him more time than anybody else. He has covered his amendment adequately and comprehensively. I must ask the Minister to respond and then-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that but I have a responsibility to move the debate along-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and call the Minister to respond.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: As all members are not present, we will wait eight minutes or until all members are present, then we will proceed with a roll call.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendment No. 26 has been ruled out of order.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendments Nos. 27 to 29, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are about to break at 1 p.m. if the Minister wishes to respond.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. We will suspend from 1 p.m. and will reconvene until 2 p.m. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome this increase in the vacant homes tax. When we discussed this with the Minister’s predecessor, Deputy Donohoe, I made the point that the introduction of a vacant homes tax was very positive because it is the nudge that is needed sometimes. I understand it is not designed to be a revenue generator but to push people to do something with the home; either to sell it or...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is positive. Last year, I was told it would be kept under review and they would see how it works out. The Minister is saying that we do not know what will come in from it until later this month and when the returns are made at the start of January, but we should keep it under review, see how it is working and increase it if necessary. Introducing a vacant homes tax, and essentially...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I was happy to see the vacant homes tax introduced for the first time last year, although at too low a rate. I was very pleased to see it increase to where we thought it should be placed last year. I was also happy to see the zoned land tax introduced last year as a land activation measure. Its aim is to stimulate the use of that land, or to have it sold on to somebody who is going to use...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister for the clarification. I have a couple more questions on it. Could the Minister give me the dates again? A final map will be produced in February 2024; is that correct?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: A landowner will have until what date to contest that zoning?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: May 2024?