Results 1,361-1,380 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Budget Deficit: Budget Deficit (7 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance the size of the Exchequer deficit in national budgets between 2006 and 2011 as a percentage of GDP and in monetary terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14399/11]

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (7 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 279: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Reserve members operating in County Donegal; the areas in which they are operating; if there are any plans to increase the numbers in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14348/11]

Written Answers — Mine Disaster: Mine Disaster (7 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 281: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider issuing an apology on behalf of the State to the families of the people killed in the Ballymanus mine disaster in 1943 in west Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14386/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 293: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the basis upon which he calculated the standard cost which was used in an application for grant aid under the farm waste management scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14394/11]

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (7 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 321: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to review the transport charge introduced by the Health Service Executive through the rural transport initiative levied on persons with disabilities attending training centres and day centres in County Donegal; his views on whether this additional burden should not be imposed on the disabled in view of the budget cuts to their payments;...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the State child care support that is available to single parents who are looking to upskill, move on to further education or take up the proposed new internships or the jobs initiative. [14473/11]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 37: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an explanation for the withdrawal of special needs assistant services from a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14472/11]

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (8 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an up-to-date list of the total cost of bonds held by each of the five guaranteed banking institutions, broken down into senior bonds guaranteed, senior bonds unguaranteed and secured, and senior bonds unguaranteed, unsecured and subordinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/11]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive have any proposals to close facilities in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14688/11]

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: I support the amendment, although I believe the two month criteria may be a little excessive. It is important we examine all of the decisions taken in relation to finance to see if they have resulted in the creation of jobs, extra revenue to the Exchequer and are supporting sections of society that are vulnerable or under immense pressure at this time. Many of the initiatives announced in...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: As I said earlier, the two-month criteria would be almost impossible to meet given the data that would be available, and the Minister responded to this effect in his answer. However, we should look to have some type of report or review carried out on an interim basis, and we should not have to wait for the full review. An opportune timescale would be to have a six-monthly report prior to...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: My point concerns section 1. The Minister made an interesting comment on the application and duration of the reduction in VAT, stating the reason the review is built in is that we may not be able to afford - I paraphrase - the decrease to the new VAT rate of 9% until the end of 2013. However, that was not what he led us to believe when he announced the jobs initiative in the House. At that...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: At the start of Committee Stage on the Finance (No. 2) Bill, the Minister has landed an almighty bombshell in the middle of the debate. He stated that a review of the biggest ticket item of this Bill, the reduction of the VAT rate to 9% which will cost €350 million in a full year, is built in because we may not be able to afford the measure in the future. The review is to be completed...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Maybe we got off to a bad start on Committee Stage. With respect, I am not making any allegations against the Minister or the Government and I ask him to clarify what he means by that statement. We are seeking information and I acknowledge he is imparting information here in a genuine and open way. However, it was he who stated that the purpose of the review was not to ascertain how many...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: That is not what the Minister stated earlier and I welcome the clarification. Would he consider accepting an amendment on Report Stage which would link any reversal of these initiatives, particularly in VAT because it involves €350 million and is the big ticket item? Would he consider accepting an amendment on Report State that would link the pension levy and a reversal of the reduction...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: I wish to make a general point because I would have supported the proposed amendment. We must consider the issue of the Opposition putting forward amendments to finance Bills. It is ridiculous. We sit down and draft amendments about laying reports before the House but amendments are ruled out of order. I do not question the rulings of the Chair but we must deal with the issue that we...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: The proposal would get rid of the pension levy but bring forward another mechanism to fund the jobs initiative to the same amount. We have put forward proposals to abolish the universal social charge and other measures that would replace the money that would be lost to the Exchequer as a result. All of these measures and amendments are ruled out of order. I welcome the Government...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the Minister's clarification. However, I would contend there is a substantial difference between restoration of lost routes and additional passengers. For example, we might see an airline reaching capacity on existing flights but not restoring routes. There is a difference there and when dealing with legislation one word can alter the whole spirit of particular provisions. I also...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: I am pleased that Fianna Fáil Deputies seem to have discovered there is an issue of fuel poverty which has existed for many years, given that their party made the problem worse in previous budgets by reducing social welfare payments and increasing fuel prices through carbon taxes. The proposal to address the issue in this legislation has merit. The amendments have been deemed out of order,...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister should inform Members as to whether any of his proposed amendments will have an effect on the net yield from the pension levy. Will the yield increase, decrease or remain the same as the amount presented in the jobs initiative?