Results 20,701-20,720 of 26,960 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We have had an interesting debate and it has given me much to think about as we moved through the different Stages of the Bill. However, the more often I hear the Minister of State's case on this particular issue, the less I agree with it. His main argument against my proposals is the very implausible suggestion that a person might give up his or her job in order, the next day, to avail of...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Okay; we will call it very modest. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, was very frank in his acknowledgment at the committee that several of the initiatives he has brought forward are experiments which may or may not work. That is an honest approach. Given the scale of the crisis we face, we have no choice but to thrash out different ideas and schemes and give them our best shot. It...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 8:In page 16, line 35, to delete “continuously”.Again, we discussed the matter fairly extensively on Committee Stage. It is hopefully a point of agreement between all of us that we need to do something about long-term unemployment and that we must take measures that avoid people falling into long-term unemployment or help them to get out of long-term...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: On a point of order, why can it not be moved?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is it counterpoised to amendment No. 5?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, I know it was discussed with that amendment, but do we not have to go through the formality of pressing it?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Standing Orders are such fun.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We have discussed the matters at length, but I make one point that has not been made but was sparked by Deputy Michael McGrath's comment. One could argue the opposite of what the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is arguing. Somebody might be more likely to make bigger refurbishments or adaptations to his or her house anyway, to use the Minister of State's criteria, because he or she...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We had an extensive discussion on this tax relief on Committee Stage. My amendment splits the difference between the figure we proposed in committee and the Minister's threshold of €5,000. I do not generally favour tax breaks and, in so far as they are discussed in the Chamber, I spend most of my time railing against them because they are given primarily to people who do not deserve...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is the garden of a former council house in Sallynoggin. I suspect it could be landscaped for €2,500. This tax break could be the difference between the work being done and not being done. Deputy Doherty referred to the replacement of windows, which is another good example of works that would be done if they fell within the scope of the relief. It would be positive if such works...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I ask the Minister of State to consider splitting the difference between his figure and the figures proposed by Deputy Doherty and me.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Should the legislation not the refer to "years of assessment"?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In addition to the points made by Deputies Doherty and McGrath, I also cited a further example which is relevant to the argument for not excluding newly built houses. I referred to NAMA properties or properties that are currently empty, but which should be occupied. We should do something about the ghastly situation whereby according to the CSO there are 320,000 empty properties throughout...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Will we still get to discuss the section?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We get to discuss the amendments only.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has any knowledge of actual production of oil from the Connemara field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51906/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Time and again the Minister has told the House that the justification for a low tax regime on oil and for licensing arrangements whereby ownership of our gas and oil reserves has effectively been handed over to oil companies is that we only have potential reserves, not actual reserves. If that is the case, could he explain how this jar of light crude oil, just a small sample taken from a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will put it down. An oil tanker was filled-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----in 1997. A week's pumping filled a tanker. Where did it go, who took it and did we get any money for it? This is real oil, not potential oil.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (4 Dec 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The story shifts as we investigate further. I will quote something that the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, told me a while ago. He stated: "Since the early 1970s, we have had four gas finds and no oil finds."