Results 6,801-6,820 of 9,994 for speaker:John Gormley
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I thank Senator Coffey for his amendments and appreciate the sincerity of his motives. I acknowledge a number of the points made by Senator Glynn on the collection of moneys. He suggested town councils should be allowed to collect the moneys. The local authorities have assured us they have the capacity to collect the moneys and that they will distribute those moneys to the town councils...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: Section 15 will deal with this. It states clearly a county council shall make a payment each year to each town council within the county and such payment shall be calculated having regard to various matters. I do not want to go through the entire Bill but it is clear. Also, in discussions with the managers we made it clear we want to see the moneys distributed proportionately and fairly.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: It is referred to in the legislation.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: To deal with the Senator's point, it would be wrong of me, as Minister, to give him a commitment that the local authorities will be allowed to employ more people - I cannot do that. In these very difficult economic circumstances local authorities are redeploying their staff in different ways to try to achieve efficiencies. Given that there is an incentive for them to raise this money, they...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: Senator Doherty has given some very coherent arguments against the amendment and I understand fully the thinking behind it. It is seen to improve the efficiency of the collection system but I assure the Senator that local authorities have assured me very clearly that they wish to collect the rates themselves. As Senator Doherty stated, a centralised collection system in Dublin would not go...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I wish to clarify the matter for the Senator. I accept the PRTB system requires updating but it will work in transferring data, which is important. Any difficulties with that system would also apply to the Revenue Commissioners. I do not see how the amendment-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: The PRTB has a system, which requires updating, the Revenue Commissioners has a system and the local authorities have a system. This is the point. I do not understand how the amendment would deal with the matter in a conclusive and fully coherent way.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I am trying to explain that I do not understand how the amendment would deal with this issue. The PRTB seems to be the problem.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: That is a fair point.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: Senator Burke raised the question of barges. I do not think they qualify as buildings and, therefore, are exempt from the legislation.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: It is clear to me that barges are not covered by the legislation.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I suppose barges are at sea on occasion. Senator Bradford raised the prospect of the NAMA legislation. That legislation has not been published. This Bill states clearly that properties which are newly constructed but unsold are exempt. NAMA will be concerned with precisely those types of properties. They would not fall within the remit of the Bill. Nevertheless, I will take Senator...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I said I received amendments at the last minute.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I shall deal with Senator Cummins's last point. Section 11 deals with it clearly, stating: Notwithstanding any enactment or rule of law, a relevant person shall, upon a request from a local authority, provide the local authority with information in the possession or control of the relevant person or its subsidiary as the local authority may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling the...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: That is stated very clearly in the legislation. It is dealt with in section 11, on data sharing and exchange, and is clear. I must disagree with some of the comments made by Senator Coffey. I tried to be as clear as I could and we tried to offer clarity. The Senator raised the issue of the granny flat and I stated very clearly in my reply that it would not be liable for the charge if it is...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: Under this legislation, such people are subject to the â¬200 charge. That is the situation and I tried to make it as clear as possible. I see other Senators indicating and I am happy to take questions or points.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: The Senator referred to the final arbiter. Obviously, if there is a dispute the matter will go to the courts and the final arbiter in such cases will be the courts. Before that, it is a matter for the local authority.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I thought he disappeared.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: I heard the Senator make that point this morning, so I got information on it. It is not the case as laid out. I would be more than happy to consider the legitimate questions being asked by the Senators and I do not want to proceed until they are happy with my answers. I will happily remain for as long as it takes to tease out the issues. With any legislation, there are issues that are not...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)
John Gormley: Of course. What I want to do is-----