Results 1,001-1,020 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Order of Business (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Is there any chance-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Before getting into the detail, I want to echo Deputy Michael McGrath’s comments that getting the SPU, stability programme update, at 3.30 p.m. today was extremely frustrating. I now have to read it in conjunction with last year’s SPU and other documents. Germany submitted its fiscal statement and annual budget on 17 April and many other member states have followed suit. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Does the Minister think it would be sufficient next year to give three hours for the committee to prepare to debate this document and then an hour to discuss it while giving no time to the Seanad or the Dáil?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I have to say I find the Minister’s attitude extraordinary. This is really important stuff. The Minister talks about a new budgetary process. All I am asking for is comfort that next year we will have sufficient time to look at the SPU. Of course, I have been looking at the other documents for the past 12 months. As the Minister will appreciate, what is important for us to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I believe the best effect is giving some meaningful input to this committee when this document comes back from the Commission with binding recommendations. When compared to last year’s SPU, there are noticeable changes. Current expenditure, for example, goes up €2.5 billion but capital expenditure falls by €3 billion. Why is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Why has current expenditure increased by €2.5 billion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I am comparing the figures for 2013 and 2014 from last year’s SPU to the figures for 2013 and 2014 from this year’s SPU. The interest rate holiday is already accounted for. Why is the figure for current expenditure €2.5 billion higher now?

Order of Business (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: This year, to comply with the European semester, the Government must submit a draft budget in October to the European Commission. This is a great opportunity for the votes to be taken as normal in December which would give the Oireachtas and the committees a fantastic opportunity of having several months, as is best practice in other countries, to interrogate the budget proposals. However,...

Order of Business (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: -----will be voted on in October. Is this the intention for the timing of the legislation or will there be a gap between the submission of the draft budget in October to the Commission and time for the Oireachtas to debate it and vote on it at the end of the year as we did last year?

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: My view on the Bill is that it is unpalatable but necessary. Home ownership, as we know, is particularly strong in this country. It is something of which we should be proud. The figures are quite interesting. Our repossession rate is 0.25%, as opposed to figures we heard from the Secretary General of the Department of Finance who said that in the UK it is 3% and it is up to 4% or 5% in...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I will finish now. I apologise, as I thought the Acting Chairman would tell me when I had two minutes remaining.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate that. I do not know the answer to this issue but I would hate to see a case of people losing their homes because they bought an apartment in 2005. Although not strictly connected to the legislation, the next issue should be considered in conjunction with the Bill. This is funding on the borrower side for representation. There is a range of organisations, including the...

Organ Donation: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I start by congratulating Deputy Fleming on putting down this very sensible motion. It is fantastic that we have the time in the Oireachtas to raise it. As I examined the statistics of the issue, I was most puzzled by the fact we do not have a donation programme, and it is obvious that this is the right way to go. There is no compunction on anybody to be a donor and it is a very simple...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Compliance (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 16 April 2013, regarding prosecutions for non filling of returns, the number of unsuccessful prosecutions since 2008, and the number of companies prosecuted, overall, defended by free legal aid since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20544/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bond Redemption (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 89. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will release all materials in the possession of his Department and the Central Bank of Ireland which reference payments/redemptions made by the Irish Government, or Irish banks, from September 2008 onwards, to holders of senior bonds which were issued by covered Irish banks before the State guarantee, that is, payments of senior debt issued prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 168. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a cost benefit analysis was performed on the policy of local government/local development alignment before formally adopting it as a policy; if he will provide same if it was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 169. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the intended consultation and consultation to date with staff that was conducted prior to and during the development of the local government/local development alignment policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20675/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Management (1 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 170. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the current policy and implementation of the local government/local development alignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20677/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Issues (7 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 122. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a copy of the Crisis Management Manual, also known as the Black Book, as it existed at the end of 2006 and/or as redrafted during the period August 2007 to September 2008 under the auspices of the Domestic Standing Group, as referenced in the Honohan Report and the Nyberg Report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Minister for his detailed statement. He asked for observations and questions. I will make one observation and then put some quick questions. I strongly support the Minister’s position on the primacy of deposits. It seems like an odd thing. It does not pass any common sense test that people who put a few quid in the bank should be on a par with professional investors....