Results 9,241-9,260 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (24 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The River Lee catchment flood risk management plan, (CFRMP) is the primary output of this pilot project for the national Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme. The draft CFRMP was exhibited for public consultation soon after the significant November 2009 flood event. Since 2010 substantial resources have been assigned to analysing the data of the November 2009...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: So the Deputy would default.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: Tell us then - €10 billion.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: Perhaps 100%.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: On mobile assets.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: If we have defaulted, no one will give us the money.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I am pleased to have an opportunity to reply to the debate. The Government genuinely welcomes the debate that took place today and yesterday and the suggestions that were put forward. Yesterday, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, outlined recent developments in the economy and the nature of the short-term and medium-term economic challenges we face. He also outlined...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I apologise. I will not get a chance to read my script. Perhaps you are lucky, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is a good yardstick of the progress that has been made in a short period. Deputy Boyd Barrett said he is seeking default as an alternative approach. I heard him say in the course of the debate on the fiscal treaty that he believed it was possible to obtain an extra €10...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: But the submissions must be credible.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I look forward to Sinn Féin’s submission.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I genuinely look forward to Sinn Féin’s submission. I note that Sinn Féin wants a wealth tax. It is an interesting proposal but it is one based on information contained in a Bank of Ireland report that is six years out of date. In making a submission Sinn Féin did not tell us about it. All I ask is that people be credible.

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: Deputy Boyd Barrett stated he would hike up corporation profit tax. The truth is that last year some €3.9 billion was obtained on the tax side from this source. Will the Deputy double the tax or treble it? Will he raise it by four or five times? He needs to set out the rationale and the underpinning statistics. That is the challenge I give to everybody, including the Government....

Topical Issue Debate: Negative Equity Mortgages (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy Donohue for raising this matter on which the Minister for Finance has asked me to respond. The Deputy is correct that to qualify for mortgage interest relief an applicant must live in the property and may not rent it out. Those in receipt of mortgage interest relief who choose to rent out a property immediately lose the relief. I would be interested to learn when the...

Topical Issue Debate: Negative Equity Mortgages (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy Donohoe for raising this significant issue and highlighting the circumstances in which people have been caught which prevents them from selling their property. To answer his question on what can be done, the banks would have ultimately to write down the loss in circumstances of catastrophic non-failure, but in the cases in question the individuals are meeting their obligations...

Topical Issue Debate: Farm Inspections (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister is acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by farmers as a result of the prolonged adverse weather conditions in the current year. In so far as the direct aid related inspection regime is concerned, his Department is required to carry out a mandatory range of inspections to meet European Union requirements. In carrying out...

Topical Issue Debate: Farm Inspections (25 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I do not pretend to be an expert in this matter and I defer to Deputy Michael Moynihan’s knowledge in this area. I give him my word that I will raise this matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who cannot unfortunately be here this evening. It is true to say the weather this year has been atrocious, circumstances which have made it ten times more difficult for...

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion [Private Members] (6 Nov 2012)

Brian Hayes: Thanks be to God for that.

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion [Private Members] (6 Nov 2012)

Brian Hayes: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“takes note of the Government’s leadership and strong policy of remuneration restraint and sustainable pension reforms since taking office in March 2011, and in particular: — acknowledges that all members of the Government accepted reductions in their pay on...

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion [Private Members] (6 Nov 2012)

Brian Hayes: This Government has never defended extraordinarily high pensions in this regard but because of contractual decisions taken by the previous Government, the scope for change in this area is very limited.

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion [Private Members] (6 Nov 2012)

Brian Hayes: I did not interrupt the Deputy. It is a basic rule of common decency and manners. I did not interrupt the Deputy so he should give me the chance to speak. We stand over our decisions since coming into office in February 2011, and any fair minded person would see that substantial progress has been made in reducing the public sector pay and pensions bill. I will put a number of facts about...