Results 2,061-2,080 of 7,582 for speaker:Rónán Mullen
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: On each point, as I think I said to you,-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: -----there is no repetition and I think you will agree. A number of prominent sporting figures whose earnings are not in the public domain, but whose incomes are known to be high, have also qualified. Each of these exemptions applied in respect of books they had written. Why should any of these people qualify for a tax exemption designed to assist low-paid artists? By allowing high...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, I have not got to the amount of money it is costing in each case. Without the exemption they would have paid tax at the top rate of 40%. In the case of the current and former public officeholders and the prominent broadcaster, as well as funding their salaries and pensions, the taxpayer is also potentially gifting them an extra €20,000 per annum in respect of a...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: Why should these individuals not pay standard income tax on income derived from work?
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: What possible case is there?
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: Public figures, media personalities and sporting figures who have additional earnings from speaking engagements or company directorships pay income tax on those earnings at the normal rate. Why should earnings from publishing books be any different?
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: The amendment, which is called a recommendation, would have brought about-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: As I have said already, I am putting this to the Minister of State because I am asking for this to be considered on Report Stage.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: Public officeholders, within the meaning of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010, would be precluded from availing of the exemption. This would exclude the President, Members of either of the Houses of the Oireachtas, members of the Judiciary, military judges, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General and Members of the European Parliament.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Members of local authorities would not be precluded-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: -----as they were removed from this definition by the Social Welfare Act 2016. They could still qualify for the exemption, subject to fulfilling the other necessary criteria.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I seek your indulgence, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It is simply not sustainable for serving Members of the Oireachtas to be availing of a tax break-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: -----which was designed to assist low-paid artists. As I said earlier, since 1998 six exemptions have been granted to serving Members.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: To allow this to continue would be the very definition of the golden circle political establishment protecting its own purse.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I will conclude very shortly.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: Former public officeholders who are in receipt of a public service pension would also be excluded, as I said, in cases where they receive more than €20,000 from their pension.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I think that is a reasonable threshold because it allows that individuals who served in the Oireachtas only for a short time-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: -----and who might-----
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I accept that, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I have accepted your ruling, but I am speaking to the section, as you permitted me to do.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)
Rónán Mullen: I promised, and I intend to keep the promise, that I do not intend to repeat a single thing. I want to make important points for the Minister of State to consider ahead of Report Stage. The threshold of €20,000 for retired public officeholder is reasonable. It will ensure that individuals who have served only for a short time and who might have a relatively small or no pension at...