Results 10,021-10,040 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: The site value tax is a policy that has floated around in my party for a very long time. Economists tend to like the idea because it is very clear and effective. However, very few EU countries apply it in its purest sense and tend to use a much more mediated version. Certainly we looked at the report compiled by the Commission on Taxation and Welfare that recommended we keep the current...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: Is Dr. O'Toole describing what we have now in terms of housing taxation as a subset of site value tax?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I will ask a final question and then bring in Deputy Canney. We talked a little bit about inflation and we have the Central Bank coming in after this session. Would the witnesses like to make a comment around the current banking crisis in the United States and whether they believe it will impact on rates and inflation in general? I presume they are keeping an eye on that.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: Deputies Canney and Durkan have joined us. I advise them that we are running a little late due to the vote that took place at 5.30 p.m. We have two sessions tonight. I am very aware that representatives from the Central Bank are waiting outside, so I might ask people to keep their comments fairly short if that is okay. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae has also arrived.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: The next speaker is Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, followed by Deputy Durkan. I ask Deputy Healy-Rae to be mindful that I need to conclude this session at 7.30 p.m.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I will ask the witnesses to come in at this point. The Deputy's question is about access to mortgages. There is a broader question about access to credit more generally, including for businesses.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I know Deputy Healy-Rae wants to come back in but we have witnesses from the Central Bank waiting outside the room and we have another session to get through tonight.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I ask the Deputy to do so quickly.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Deputy. I will not bring him back in because I want to give Deputy Durkan a chance. I encourage the Deputy to be brief as I will soon look to start the session with the representatives of the Central Bank.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: The representatives of the Central Bank might be able to answer the Deputy's question.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: We learned that the hard way in recent years. I am going to pause Deputy Durkan there and conclude the session because I am aware our next group of speakers is waiting outside. I thank the representatives of the ESRI for coming to the meeting. As always, they produced an astute and useful opening statement. I thank them for their attendance.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I welcome Mr. Vasileios Madouros, Dr. Martin O'Brien and Dr. Robert Kelly from the Central Bank. Before we begin, I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I thank Mr. Madouros for his opening statement.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: It is totally valid to ask the same question to another group.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I think that might be outside the remit of the Central Bank.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: That is an issue around consumer protection as well. We will put that to the Central Bank.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I remind the Deputy that he has named a bank and used certain language - misleading, lies and words like that. I caution him to be careful with his language.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: Fair enough.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I want to return to the issue of the labour market which has come up in other contributions. We are at pretty much full employment now and that is challenging for a number of sectors. Which ones do the witnesses think are particularly challenged? Why do the witnesses believe it has happened? We have talked here before about the impacts post Covid of a certain cohort of people leaving the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Barry Cowen: I have a quick question on the National Reserve Fund, NRF. Would our guests expect to see the Department of Finance, or whoever might be tasked with the role, to remake the limits of that fund at some stage, as in, the fact that it has a limit that is set out in a very specific way? Are we looking, in the immediate future, at a rewriting of how that fund is set out?