Results 1,501-1,520 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I will share my time with Deputy Ó Ríordáin. I wish to clarify a point in the context of the issue raised by Deputy Fleming. A review group on State assets and liabilities under the chairmanship of Colm McCarthy was set up by the previous Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes, an bord snip, as the Minister called it. My understanding is that when the discussions were taking place with the troika, it was intended that the savings set out by an bord snip would be put towards the payment of debt. The amount in question was approximately €5 billion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I just wanted to clarify that because a certain amount of mealy-mouthed comment has been made today. I welcome the decision on Coillte. It has been obvious for some time that the sale of the timber would not go ahead because the Government has always said it would make a decision based on evidence. The position has been obvious for some time and it has been indicated by the Minister,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Could it be part of a sale at a later stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Okay, it is not for sale at the moment. In terms of ESB and the power stations, when the roof is missing, I believe one must sell assets to put the roof back on the house because otherwise one will lose the house. I welcome the repatriation of funds from abroad to invest in this country, which is badly needed. I hope we will get the full value of the two power stations we are selling...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: My final question relates to Aer Lingus. The Minister is correct that we are a minor shareholder at this stage. The key element in terms of Aer Lingus is competition. Deputy O’Donnell referred to the slots in Heathrow. We must carry out an in-depth analysis of the importance of the slots in terms of connectivity. We are a small trading island. I am also concerned about the value...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: The percentage of shares we hold means we have very little influence on the issues to which the Minister referred. I accept the Minister is aware of the due diligence that has been carried out and he has more information than I have. However, looking from the outside in, there must be a question mark over whether the amount of money in Aer Lingus would be better spent elsewhere if we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I could not let the Minister go without raising a issue that is close to my heart.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I will be quick. On NewERA, the water supply for the eastern coastal region is important because investment is going into the city regions. If employment in the greater Dublin area is to grow, we need a water supply in 2020. It seems to be dragging its feet. Are there clear targets on how a water supply will be delivered to the greater Dublin area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: He has already answered a Topical Issue and questions on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It comes under NewERA. I worked in the pharmaceutical sector. Industry takes decisions three or four years in advance. If we cannot give an undertaking or clarity that there will be a water supply, they will not make that financial investment. That goes for the pharmaceutical sector, Intel and Hewlett Packard on all major investments. Where are we at this stage with this item?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Business of Joint Committee (20 Jun 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose Deputy Nash.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Overseas Development Aid Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 75. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline, in relation to the proposals on taxation in the Lough Erne declaration made by the G8 in June and the call for greater policy coherence in the recent Irish Aid policy paper One World, One Future, the way Ireland is planning to respond to the call for developed countries to help developing countries collect the taxes owing to them, and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Money Laundering (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 169. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are plans to change the anti-money laundering requirements that applies to the purchase of prize bonds; if anti-money laundering requirements will apply to purchases of prize bonds over €25; if he will consider setting the limit to €100; if he will elaborate on the reasons for such a low limit being applied; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Money Laundering (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 190. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to change the anti-money laundering requirements that apply to the purchase of prize bonds; if anti-money laundering requirements will apply to purchases of prize bonds over €25; if he will consider setting the limit to €100; the reasons for such a low limit being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31707/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 256. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that VAT is being collected on sales in Irish airport duty free areas to customers travelling within the EU and have these sales been audited in recent years to ensure VAT is applied to these sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32037/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 257. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the amount of VAT collected from sales in duty free areas in our airports in each year from 2008 to present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32038/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 258. To ask the Minister for Finance the ratio between duty free, and duty applied sales in Irish airports from 2008 to present; the way the application of VAT and other stamp duties are audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32039/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome Professor Kirby. He has said the Bill has no targets. However, head 3, which relates to the Kyoto agreement, ties in a 20% reduction on the 2005 figure. Is that not a target?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (2 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Professor Kirby mentioned earlier that we should adopt a year to year target. In the context of decarbonisation, there is no gradual drop year by year. Policy indicates a higher drop towards the end of a policy rather than a year on year target. Is that correct? Is a year-target not too short?