Results 20,441-20,460 of 35,894 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I raised this issue in my first year in the Seanad. It breaks my heart to think that there are people who are raising money for vital services the State should be providing and that the State is benefitting from that action. We must start to move on this area. It is complex. Obviously, the EU has a role regarding it but there are recommendations, and Deputy McGrath's amendment is worthy...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: On the section, does the Minister intend to bring forward an amendment to section 46 on Report Stage?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I want to tease out some issues regarding this section. When will the commencement of this section take place?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Section 86A states that a review will be carried out by the Revenue Commissioners. When will that begin?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: There is no automatic triggering of a review as a result of this.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I am trying to find the reference to the powers it provides to the Minister. It seems to be significant. The flat-rate addition can be taken from an entire sector. I am concerned about how it could be taken from an entire sector. What would prompt an entire sector losing this?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: It is interesting as the legislation speaks about business structures or models. In a sector, the same business model or structures would not universally apply. It allows for the entire sector to lose the flat-rate addition.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: In any sector there may not be universality in terms of the type of model applied. It is something we will probably return to on Report Stage but I just wanted clarification on whether an entire sector could lose the flat-rate addition.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I know this is an enabling provision and it does not trigger anything automatically but Deputy McGrath spoke about the sector. We know what Brexit has done to some farmers, particularly those in some sectors and where the activity is close to the Border. Any activity as described by the Minister of State, if it is going on, is not illegal. It is completely legal at this point so we are not...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: It goes beyond structures. Certain sectors may benefit from the structures, and although it may be simple enough to unwind a structure, it leaves a hole. Unless time is found to fill the hole with regard to income, the sector will be put out of business. That is the problem. The Government needs to reassure the sector that it wants to work with the sector and ensure the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome amendment No. 124 and withdraw my amendment as the former is one of the proposals that we put to his officials during the briefing meeting. The amendment will close the loophole. We do not know how much has been lost but we do know that the dwelling house exemption costs the State about €52 million. People argue over the family home and that is why we support the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I addressed this on Second Stage. The section involves a measure that is costing the Irish State €22 million in the increase of the threshold for CAT. It is my view that there is already a generous threshold at €280,000 for group A. We know that if we were to apply this increase to the 2014 figures, the people who would have benefitted from it would have been 2,128...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 128: In page 74, line 31, to delete “1 May 2017” and substitute “1 January 2017”. This amendment relates to the deadline in the legislation of 1 May 2017. My amendment proposes that it be 1 January 2017. The Minister has given individuals who have engaged in criminal activity until 1 May 2017 to get their house in order by allowing them...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I do not agree with the Minister of State at all but we will return to this on Report Stage. It is a question of judgment and when one thinks it should end. The Minister of State referred to the inconvenience of Christmas and the pressure it will put on the agents. It is criminal activity that is taking place and it needs to be clamped down upon. There is no reason for us to allow this...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: How long have these tax evaders been allowed to make voluntary disclosures, meaning that the measures that are currently there do not apply to them, as will be the case until 1 May? How long has that regime existed?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: We - the Irish State - have been saying to these tax evaders that if they come to us voluntarily, we will treat them in a particular way. That section says it will be game over from 1 May. The point I am making is that this is not something we are introducing now. It is not a window. It is not an amnesty that says if they come to us between now and 1 May, we will treat them in one way but...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 130: In page 75, line 5, to delete “1 May 2017” and substitute “1 January 2017”.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 464. To ask the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for an EEG scan in Temple Street Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34519/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 471. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for inpatient and outpatient neurology appointments at each hospital across the seven hospital groups, in tabular form; if he will provide this information specifically regarding those waiting for three months, six months, nine months, 12 months or more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34540/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (15 Nov 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 472. To ask the Minister for Health the number of neurologists employed at each hospital across the seven hospital groups, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34541/16]