Results 9,121-9,140 of 36,192 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Let us stick to what is existing exists at present. The Minister of State keeps referring to a Georgian house but that was replaced in the previous Finance Act by the term "relevant house".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The only property that could avail of it is a relevant house, which was defined as one with at least two storeys with or without a basement. Subsection 3 says that, in that case, people had to incur expenditure in the living quarters on the first floor or above.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I do not understand what is there at present.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: We will come to that but the impression has been given that if I was in Limerick or elsewhere and this was up and running, the only qualifying properties are two-storey houses constructed before 1915, with or without a basement. If I want to refurbish the commercial end of it, I would also be required to refurbish the living element of it, which had to be on the first floor.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Subsection 3 reads as follows: "shall apply only if the qualifying premises are comprised in the ground floor or basement [that is the commercial part of it] and qualifying expenditure (within the meaning of section 372AAB) is incurred on the upper floor or floors of the building". This states one must incur qualifying expenditure.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It is for the same building.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The building could only be refurbished if there was expenditure incurred in the living part on the upper floors.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Now we have clarified the situation for the scheme that never took effect. The only way to avail of the scheme is if the building has a living quarter upstairs.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It could involve different people or it could be paid by a company. The stated intention of the Living City initiative was for families to come back to live in those dwellings. The amendment gets rid of the condition that existed heretofore, namely, the properties can now be renovated without the requirement of anyone living in the properties.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The cap is coming from the EU, not the Government, and is a result of having to pass the state aid rules. The key point remains that there is no living requirement in the living city initiative. With regard to the single-storey case, we can argue whether it is worthy to extend this to single-storey buildings, built before 1915 or otherwise. Even if we were to agree to the merits of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I am sure the Minister of State is not deliberately doing this but he has made the point twice that subsection 3 only dealt with the specific situation where the commercial part was in the basement of a two-storey property. The legislation only allows for two stories, with or without a basement. It states, "subsection (3) shall only apply if the qualifying premises are comprised in the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: There is a residential element.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The residential element is not an issue. If somebody with a house built before 1915 wants to refurbish it and live in it then they will be able to avail of the relief for residential properties. That is not an issue. My point is that this is a major incentive to people who want to renovate their commercial premises without any requirement to refurbish the living quarters. If the Minister...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: No, I have a further comment. I want the Minister of State to address the specific point and give the reason why, in the case of the upper floor above commercial premises, we are not making it a requirement that the upper storey must be refurbished as a living area? Will the Minister think about that or come back to it on Report Stage? I tabled an amendment, which was ruled out of order,...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Deputy McGrath's amendment dealt No. 58 dealt with extending the scope to different areas. I come from a community in County Donegal where I can see islands that were deserted in the 1960s but thankfully some islands are now inhabited and in spite of all of the challenges, people continue to raise their families on those island. Why would a scheme such as this, not be introduced for island...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the fact that the double Irish has been closed down. I reiterate that the head-in-the-sand approach by the Government and the blatant misleading comments by the Government and the Minister that there is nothing in Irish legislation that can be done to close down the double Irish, is insulting, to tell the truth, when we all knew that it could be done. While I welcome the amendment...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State refuted the allegation that the Minister misled the Dáil and said the Minister was always clear on this issue. Let me quote what the Minister said in the Dáil in 2012 in response when both I and Deputy Boyd Barrett had challenged him on the issue of the double Irish. My final comment then had been: "While it may be the case that companies are paying tax at...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It has nothing to do with BEPS.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: This is the opportunity as we are dealing with the issue of the double Irish in the context of the legislation.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Pearse Doherty: He has spent all morning speaking on his behalf.