Results 2,101-2,120 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 5: In page 108, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: "Report on Kerosene Subsidies 52.The Minister shall within 6 months of the passing of this Act publish a report outlining the amount of fossil fuel subsidies provided by the State, through tax relief or revenue forgone, in respect of jet kerosene."

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Government provided nearly €2.4 million in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in 2019, which is more than 70% higher than the subsidies given in 2000. The allocation has been growing substantially. I focus in this recommendation on one aspect of fossil fuel subsidies, namely, the excise duty exemption for jet kerosene used in both domestic and international commercial...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is important that the issue be examined in the round, not solely from the business perspective but also from the perspective of our carbon budget targets, which are one part of it, and also the State's general international obligations.There is the additional tax argument but also the idea of the tax exemption by which we are effectively subsidising something. There are strong arguments...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second Senator Sherlock's recommendation and also have a number of recommendations of my own in this group. When a new scheme is brought in, it is important that it is targeted as effectively as possible. Any new scheme comes with significant cost. Being responsible means that we target it as effectively as possible. I am concerned by those who are included and those who are excluded in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 7: In page 242, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "Reports 103.Within three months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the potential savings and benefits from excluding data centres from eligibility for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.".

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 8: In page 242, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "Reports 103.Within three months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on options for excluding companies with annual turnover of more than 20 million euro per annum from eligibility for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.".

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 9: In page 242, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "Reports 103.Within three months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the cost and potential benefit of including charities and community and voluntary organisations in eligibility for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.".

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 10: In page 242, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "Report on taxation and expenditure competence 103.The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the potential for the transfer of certain taxation and expenditure competences from the Government to local authorities...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Recommendation No. 10 proposes that within 12 months of the passing of the Bill, the Minister shall lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas examining the potential for the transfer of certain taxation and expenditure competencies from the Government to local authorities and the potential implications of such a transfer in respect of the delivery of public services, the responsiveness...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the Aylward family. In relation to this recommendation, the direct comparator is Dublin and our capital city certainly makes a point of going around comparing itself to San Francisco when it is seeking investment from many of the same kinds of companies that have a home in that US city. Many of us will have had the experience, which does not just apply...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I look forward to the wider debate and I will not need to press the recommendation. I hope we have started the debate.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 11: In page 243, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “Report on the extension of period for which properties must be in use as a dwelling under Vacant Homes Tax 106. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report reviewing the definition of vacancy to include any property...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Recommendations Nos. 11 and 12 relate to the concern about the required threshold of only 30 days of annual occupancy in order for a property to be considered exempt from the proposed vacant property tax. This threshold is extremely low with regard to international norms. Dr. Gerard Turley, an economist at the University of Galway, noted that in other countries and cities throughout the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I note the examples provided by the Minister of State would not fall under the 90- or 180-day thresholds. It is not about those who are commuting or are out of the house for two or three days per week because the standard to be set is that there would be electricity to the house and a person literally dwelling there. It does not state that a person must physically sit in the house all day...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Report on returned carers’ PRSI credit 5. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on options to ensure that those who have returned from overseas who care for a family member are not excluded from qualification for...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The habitual residency condition is eligible under the European laws but it is not necessarily required in the sense that we are able to have nuanced policies in this regard. The Minister listed the kind of criteria used to establish habitual residency, such as length of living somewhere else and length of living in Ireland. The criteria even include future intentions. Often, when people...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “Report on care credits 5. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on options to introduce care credits which ensure that periods of time spent caring are recognised not only in terms of pensions, but also when assessing...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My amendment does not relate to the carer's allowance or carer's benefit but to care credits. For example, that is caring for children or family so care as recognised within the pensions system. I understand what the Minister said but many people do not receive the carer's allowance or benefit but deliver care to children in their family. My amendment concerns the disconnect that happens...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I urge the Minister to build on the scheme in terms of other social welfare provisions.