Results 701-720 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: This Bill seeks to put on a legal footing a policy decision taken two years ago that responsibilities for indigenous industry held by Shannon Development be transferred to Enterprise Ireland. This has been happing at an operational level for some time. This legislation gives legal effect to that decision and transfers shares and assets in various companies from Shannon Development to...

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: Those who usually buy new cars can just as easily afford to do so this year as they could last year. It is a question of confidence. It is up to the Government to commence the task of restoring confidence. We have already had several budgets. I hope next month's budget will restore confidence. Confidence is seeping away because the Government is handling this crisis in an uncertain...

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: The co-op to which I refer is one of the biggest in the country. It will have to let people go if the banks do not give it working capital. They are not getting it, however. There is no confidence in the sector. When we have been trying to explain the jobs crisis, we have concentrated on the lack of competitiveness in Irish industry. However, I suggest that more jobs are being lost...

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: Fine. I will come back to my——

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: I will be brief. We need to resolve the fiscal crisis by taking action in the banking sector. We cannot afford the kind of stimulus plan that is being implemented in other countries. We do not have the resources to do what is being done in the United States, for example. We need to invest in certain sectors to stimulate them and increase confidence. In my home city, for example, the...

Social Welfare: Motion (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: Ireland is facing a massive jobs crisis. Thousands of jobs are being lost every week. Some are being lost because Ireland is no longer competitive and the difference in wage, transport, telecommunications and energy costs explains succinctly how we recently had 1,900 redundancies in the Dell plant in Limerick. The chairman of the jobs task force set up by the Government after the Dell...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Mar 2009)

Michael Noonan: Question 443: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to an application to his Department under the emergency works scheme by a school (details supplied) in County Limerick for the provision of a boundary wall and fence around the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13182/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the arrangements that have been made with regard to remuneration for staff in her Department and agencies who are engaged in strike action or other industrial action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13544/09]

Financial Resolution No: 2: Income Tax (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: I wish to comment on the income levy and whether it is fair and equitable. A number of issues come together in this regard, including the doubling of the levy across all ranges of income and the change in the thresholds so that taxpayers who formerly paid 1% are now paying 4% once they earn more than €75,000. Add to these the health levy and the new arrangements for PRSI whereby the...

Financial Resolution No: 2: Income Tax (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: My view is simple. The Government should have taken up Deputy Richard Bruton's proposal to do what they have proposed in Germany, which is to divide the existing banks into bad and good banks. It could be worked out that way so that bond-holders, shareholders and those who cannot get credit lines would share the pain. That is my view, which is simple enough. It was explained in detail in...

Financial Resolution No: 2: Income Tax (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: I accept what the Taoiseach is saying but the Government needs to release details of the banking proposal very quickly. Otherwise, the proposal will go off the rails by the time the details come out.

Financial Resolution No: 2: Income Tax (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: It was based on the Department's tables.

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: I do not know about Deputy Varadkar's attitude to Milton Friedman, but it was the great American investor Warren Buffett who said recently that it is only when the tide goes out one can see who is swimming naked. After 12 years with the tide in, it has now gone out, and Fianna Fáil is swimming naked tonight.

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: I think the water is colder off Donegal than around my way.

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: They have the Gulf Stream.

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: They can hop in and out in Cahirciveen every day.

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: The constituency calls are coming in already and I have just one question to ask the Minister, which is with regard to the withdrawal of tax reliefs for nursing homes. I do not want to comment on the merits or demerits of the issue, but will the measure apply from midnight tonight or will provision be made for persons who have poured foundations? Will they have to go up to the wall and...

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: Consequently, the provisions must be made in the Finance Bill. Will the Minister indicate whether these have been worked out?

Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties (7 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Minister.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)

Michael Noonan: Question 497: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will contact his EU colleagues and seek their support for the Mexican position being advocated at the UN Security Council on the conflict in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15292/09]