Results 1,881-1,900 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Guarantee (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 355. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the management and governance of the youth guarantee here; if she will give a commitment that the initiative will be overseen by a high level group made up of the key stakeholders such as young jobseekers, youth organisations, education and training providers, career guidance experts, employers and relevant Government Departments as required by...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The reason I went further than the Minister proposed was to prevent people from entering long-term unemployment. All of us are aware of the compelling research showing that while long-term unemployment is not a binary state that begins directly after 12 months, it is associated with a range of socioeconomic problems. As the Minister has already stated he will not accept the amendment, I...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: On the figure of nine months, approximately 60% of the total who are unemployed are long-term unemployed. We have a serious long-term unemployed problem which the Minister is trying to address and it is a good initiative. I can think of three reasons to reduce it further. First, if we were to bring the period of eligibility to nine months, we would give more people this opportunity....

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The Minister might consider it next year. There might be something very useful in offering someone the chance before he or she becomes long-term unemployed. As I said, this morning's CSO figures are optimistic. Some 58,000 net new jobs were created in the 12 months up to the end of September. Some 4,000 of these jobs are in construction and 15,000 in the hospitality industry. In...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I agree that the purpose of the amendment is to close a loophole which may have been abused by some people who were caring for children for a short time and claiming a full €2,500 in tax deductions. The point of the tax credit is to offset the cost of raising children for separated parents. I propose three changes to make the credit work much better. The first of these is amendment...

Bond Repayments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Some people have asked why we have tabled a motion on the promissory note bonds at this time. I will explain the reason. Every Sunday, in towns like Ballyhea and Charleville, people march to protest against Irish citizens being forced to pay the bad debts of private banks. We do not know to whom we are paying this money because neither this Government nor its predecessor has taken the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide county councils with the ability to waive or reduce rates in specific areas such as community initiatives and not-for-profit organisations (details supplied); if not, if he will consider such provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50952/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 158. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that gardaí are paid all outstanding allowances in December for hours worked in November this year, rather than in January, as has been the case in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50905/13]

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: My query is a follow-up on the Chairman's question. The provision only applies to market bonds issued by Irish Water. I would not like it to suggest that equity in Irish Water could be issued. Does the provision open up the issuing of equity?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Okay.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I opposed the section but did so through Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am concerned about the lack of evidence. One of the things that section 30 does is increase the fund exit tax for life insurance and investment fund policies from 36% to 41%. The reason that I oppose it is not necessarily because I disagree with the measure. I oppose it because there was insufficient analysis to accompany the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate the Minister's answer. My concern is not the yield although it is the concern of the Minister because he must hit the budget figures. My concern on this, as with as my concern about changes to DIRT and tax treatment of health insurance, is in respect of behaviour. I am less concerned about whether the change will bring in €14 million, €16 million or €18...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (3 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the application process for access to ACELS recognition is opening only for a temporary period; the way a language school can obtain ACELS recognition outside of those dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51591/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (3 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 291. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if precedence will be given to Garda reserves in the upcoming recruitment drive recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51580/13]

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Today Bank of Ireland announced a plan to return €1.8 billion to the State. This is welcome and I hope that the Tánaiste and his Government put the money to good use. However, as we get ready to take this money back, we must be cognisant of where some of it has come from. Some of it has come from citizens whose lives have been ruined by the behaviour of Bank of Ireland. Of the...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. The targets, while well-meant, are being gamed by all of the banks. We know from the finance committee hearings in September that the way they have met the targets is by issuing tens of thousands of legal letters offering to evict people from their homes. The Central Bank has colluded in this by accepting that a threatening legal letter counts as a...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I welcome the Tánaiste's statement that no bank should be seen to be holding back. The reality is that one bank, at least, is - namely, Bank of Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: It is not acting irrationally because it is the job of the board and its executives to make the bank as much money as possible. A bank makes money by taking money in from people, giving them as low a rate of interest as possible on their deposits, lending it out while charging as high an interest rate as possible and then squeezing and squeezing as much as necessary to get that money back....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Shared Ownership Scheme (4 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any recourse in the case of a person (details supplied) who bought apartments from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority under the affordable housing scheme in 2009, which have subsequently fallen considerably in value. [52151/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (5 Dec 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 173. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) employed in his Department who was recently on sick leave and who is now owed both sick-pay and earned income; if he will expedite payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52236/13]