Results 721-740 of 34,777 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Spent Convictions Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Spent Convictions Bill 2011. I am pleased that my party, in its new found role in Opposition, is producing constructive legislation. Private Members' time is traditionally used to attack the Government on the basis of the most recent story in the national media or the latest protest outside the House. While it is important that the business of the...

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears: Mortgage Arrears (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on Allied Irish Bank's recent statement that it would consider debt forgiveness in certain cases on its mortgage book. [14158/11]

Written Answers — Personal Debt: Personal Debt (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects financial institutions to implement the recommendation for a deferred interest scheme in the final report of the expert group on mortgage arrears and personal debt. [14159/11]

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity of speaking on the motion, a Revised Estimate for the CSO for €80 million for the current year. We support the Revised Estimate and it is necessary that this is done. I am keen to ensure there are no difficulties with the matter. The reason the Revised Estimate is so large this year is because the census was held on 10 April. Excellent work was carried out by...

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: It is a shambles of the Minister of State's making. This Estimate was published six months ago and the census was conducted on 10 April. The Government has had 91 days to pass the Estimate.

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: We are in a shambolic situation. In less than 36 hours' time, 5,300 enumerators are due to be paid for the field work they did in conducting the census. That money will have to be in their bank accounts by Friday, according to the Minister of State's note, which means it must be transferred at five minutes after midnight on Thursday night if it is being done by electronic transfer. It...

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I suspect the Minister of State had no concept that these payments had to be paid in 36 hours' time. His persistent interruptions suggest he is not on top of the job. Another issue is the Government's proposals regarding the establishment of Oireachtas committees whereby no Opposition Member will chair any direct-line departmental committee. To reiterate, the Government's decision at the...

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: If the Minister of State has any respect for the House he will arrange for all Estimates for all Departments to be brought forward next week so that the Government cannot continue spending money without Dáil approval.

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: On a point of order, we are not passing a Supplementary Estimate; it is the original published Estimate which includes the figure for the census.

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: No, I have it right.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position with regard to students from outside the EU studying for a three-year degree course in computer science, who were informed by a college before the end of the first year that the remaining two years will not be provided (details supplied); the implications for their study visas of transferring to an alternative college to...

Written Answers — Foreign Divorces: Foreign Divorces (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 160: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if divorces granted in Switzerland fall within EU regulations or some similar agreement or fall under the Lugano Convention in terms of the recognition of foreign divorces here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14685/11]

Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Government will accept it, so.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister might advise Members as to the identities of the organisations, companies and representative associations with which officials from his Department and the Revenue Commissioners met specifically to discuss these issues between the Bill's publication and the present, as well as whether the Minister was personally involved or has been briefed on an ongoing basis. He should provide...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this group of amendments. I will discuss amendment No. 23 which is in my name. I acknowledge the rationalisation of the payment dates as proposed in the Minister's amendments. I had tabled two amendments to do with payment dates but these were ruled out of order. I am still wondering as to the reason. The first payment date was scheduled to be 25 July...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the fact that the valuation has been moved to the end of June because I had a problem with basing a levy this summer on a date that had passed several months ago and that is the reason I regarded it as a retrospective levy based on a valuation date that had since passed. However, the Minister has made the change and it is not an issue. I am pleased there will be a single valuation...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, I had in mind the rate proposed by the Minister.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for his response. As regards the latter point, the maximum cap of €470 million might mean that if more was collected the Minister might have to give a refund, which would be a complicated exercise. I understand that. If I was in the Minister's position and got a bit more than the €470 million, I would take it. I am concerned, however, because some people will say...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Seán Fleming: We did. To come back to what we were discussing earlier, there is a simple way of handling approved retirement funds or ARFs. The Minister could table an amendment to increase the 5% tax to 6%. The Minister said that the rate that went to 5% in the last budget is taxed at a person's marginal rate and is effectively the equivalent of about 2.5% at the top rate of tax after the universal...