Results 13,821-13,840 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the three delegations and thank them for their opening statements. I will begin with Ms Lavin, who made a very strong opening statement. It was powerful stuff on her experience with Ulster Bank. She made very strong allegations about engineering a default and manipulation. She alleged it lied when it came before the committee in December. In her opinion, where should all of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: How widespread does Ms Lavin believe the practice was among SME borrowers who ended up in GRG?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: My next question is for Mr. Beades. We have heard strong testimony on Ulster Bank. The question must be put whether the same practices were prevalent in other banks. They also had sections for problem loans and customers ended up in the sections and many of them did not come out. If there is to be an investigation into Ulster Bank, are the characteristics and traits similar in other banks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: On the role of receivers, does Mr. Beades think receivers are properly regulated in Ireland? This is an issue I have pursued by parliamentary questions. Receivers can be appointed under company law or land and conveyancing law. It appears that the framework around the appointment and conduct of receivers is weak. Instances have been brought to my attention where assets were mismanaged,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: With regard to public banking, Mr. Ó Muilleaneoir said that credit unions and post offices offer the ideal platform to develop such a model. At present, credit unions are sitting on billions of euro that they cannot lend because of lending restrictions and long-term lending restrictions. Many credit unions have a monthly cap on what they can lend and many have a maximum loan size. Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business and Banking: Discussion. (26 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: Yes. I thank the witness.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Meetings (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 128. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of discussions with the Brazilian authorities regarding their decision to designate Ireland as a tax haven; his views on whether the decision will be reversed; if further meetings with the Brazilian authorities are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4011/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Treasury Management Agency Data (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 130. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of employees of the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Asset Management Agency who were in remuneration categories (details supplied) at the end of December 2016. [4151/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Staff Data (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 131. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount which was paid out by NAMA in 2016 in respect of redundancy payments; the number of employees who received payments; the terms of the redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4152/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to approve a third ASD class in a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork; the position in relation to accommodation for this planned new class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4215/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 427. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the action plan for rural development involves a commitment to provide grant assistance to persons that wish to refurbish old residential and non-residential buildings in rural communities; if so, the details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4517/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 529. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will have an assessment of needs done under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3998/17]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Staff (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: 783. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has made a decision on the payment of a further allowance to Naval Service personnel serving on the humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4140/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: Five minutes or thereabouts for each speaker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the Commissioner and her colleagues and thank her for accepting our invitation. She said this morning and previously - we also heard this from other Commissioners and spokespersons - that the European Commission respected Ireland's sovereign right to determine its own corporation tax system and that she saw this very much as a separate issue in the application of state aid rules,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: With respect, Ms Vestager did not answer my question about the basis for her conclusion in this particular case that there was selective treatment that amounted to state aid. As the Commissioner has acknowledged, every tax ruling or, as we call them in Ireland, "advance opinion" from the Revenue is based on the particular circumstances of the case. In the case of Apple, one had two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: How does the Commission know that dissimilar methodology and characteristics were used by the Irish Revenue in issuing advance opinions to other multinationals that operated in Ireland? Ms Vestager is saying it was particular to Apple but she is not backing that up by giving the evidence that it was unique. How does Ms Vestager know it was unique?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: It is a different interpretation from the one we have. One element many people found strange, if not bizarre, in the Commissioner’s finding was that she put an overall - mouth-watering - figure of €13 billion plus interest owed to the Irish State in back taxes. Equally, she dangled the carrot to a whole host of other countries in Europe by saying if they believed they should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: EU State Aid Rules - Investigation into Preferential Tax Rulings: European Commissioner for Competition (31 Jan 2017)

Michael McGrath: Is the Commissioner repeating today that some of the tax the Commission believes is owed may not be necessarily owed to Ireland but to other member states if they calculate, based on their own tax systems, the taxes owed to them?

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National Asset Management Agency: Statements (1 Feb 2017)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate this morning. It is my clear understanding that there is agreement in principle among the party and group leaders that there will be a commission of investigation, particularly to investigate Project Eagle. What I am hearing from the Minister this morning, however, is something of a row-back from that. He has said that, in...