Results 7,601-7,620 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: When does Ms Nolan expect to complete them?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: I presume the Department will make a recommendation to the Government.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: Is there no chance of making it to the current Government?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: That does not sound terribly hopeful.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: May I raise one further point in respect of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA? What is the expected return from NAMA? Does the Department expect NAMA to deliver entirely on its debts? While I believe it was indicated that NAMA would produce a surplus of approximately €1 billion, the Department expects NAMA to complete its business in 2018.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: I refer to the debts it has drawn down-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: -----at the cut-off price for which it has got those debts. I believe the figure was 45% or 55% of the par value.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: At this point in time, we are 50% of the way through NAMA's remit. It was set up in 2010 and is due to go out of existence in 2020. It has paid off or is on the way to paying off 80% of its debt by next year. That was €32 billion, of which twenty-something billion euro has been paid off. At this point, NAMA has accumulated a considerable profit and is it not time to review the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: While it is a policy matter, the Department of Finance is responsible for advising on this policy matter. Ms Nolan indicated there would be a review. I do not believe there is provision in the legislation for a review.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: That is another one for the new Government.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: While I believe NAMA has done a good job, it is time for a redirection into a more dynamic area of operation. Finally, if I read it correctly, the Department's borrowing rate is approximately 3.5%. What is the current mixture between short-term and long-term borrowing? The rate still seems very high, considering what is the international rate and that Ireland has a pretty solid rating...

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: Most of it is in the form of long-term maturities but there still are some expensive short-term debts.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: I do not have it here.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: That then would suggest that the vast majority is medium to long-term debt.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: At 3.5%, which is the overall average, in the current market, this would appear to be very high or is it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: Will there be rollover-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: Would now not be the time to do it, when interest rates are so low?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: Moody's is still giving us a rating below A. Will that change in the right direction?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2014
Chapter 2 - Government Debt
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2014
Finance Accounts 2014 (3 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: That is for the next Government.

Topical Issue Debate: Community Development Projects (9 Dec 2015)

Joe Costello: I apologise for being late, which was the result of a misunderstanding. I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the important and exciting innovation that is the men's sheds movement, which provides a way of engaging with men within their communities. It is an idea that came from Australia and has spread like wildfire through many parts of this country, with well in excess of 200...