Results 21,481-21,500 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: On the issue of the budget, as Professor McHale is aware, the Government has signalled that there will be some reductions in income tax, focusing on the income threshold at which a person enters into the marginal rate. What are Professor McHale's views on whether it is an appropriate policy at this time to reduce income tax and, if we do reduce it, what is the best way to configure it by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Professor McHale has made some comments on the issue of whether it is wise to reduce the income earning capacity of the State at this time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: I want to probe Professor McHale further on the medium-term objective of a balanced budget in structural terms by 2018. Yesterday, the Minister for Finance stated that the Department's assessment is that if the growth projections are achieved, beyond the budget for 2015 there will be no need for any further fiscal consolidation to achieve a balanced structural budget by 2018. We can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: If I interpret him correctly, Professor McHale is saying there will not necessarily be a need for new budget day measures in terms of fiscal consolidation, but if we are standing still in terms of spending levels and on the tax side - credits and so forth - in real terms vis-à-visthe nominal GDP and inflation, that is a real cut in terms of standard of living, which is what it will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: I welcome Professor McHale and his colleagues. I thank him for his opening statement. We have already looked at the report. To continue on from where the Acting Chairman left off on the €2 billion adjustment – Professor McHale made his views on it very clear – does he think that if the Government goes with its stated intent of making an adjustment of less than...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions Regulation (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: 45. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland is conducting an inquiry into certain matters at a credit union (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26494/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (19 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: 175. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a vital item of equipment is provided to a child with special needs (details supplied) in County Cork as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26402/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: The Minister is giving me many reasons it will not happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: It is all negative, so, in terms of getting the deal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Is the Minister acknowledging that it has become more difficult due to the change in circumstances? That is the tenor of what he is saying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: The Minister is not committed to applying for it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: The Minister used the word "whether". Surely there is no "whether" about it. We will be applying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: There is no "whether" about doing it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: I know, but we want to benefit from winning the argument.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: For the record, I support the Minister's approach on the budget and the public finances because I fully appreciate that we have to stick to the deficit limit. There is no choice in that matter and we need to do what is required to achieve that. If that can be secured with considerably less than the €2 billion adjustment, we should do so. We have heard trenchant views from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Sticking to the public finances, our medium-term objective is to have a balanced budget in structural terms by 2018. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council made the point that that is an unnecessarily short period in which to achieve a balanced budget. Today, the IMF said that it could require a fiscal adjustment of about €7.5 billion between now and then in order to achieve that. Does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Is it the Department of Finance's analysis that, beyond October's budget, if the growth forecasts are achieved there will not be a need for any additional fiscal consolidation between now and 2018, and that the structural balance will be achieved through growth?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Does the Minister intend to raise at ECOFIN the deal for Ireland on bank debt retroactive recapitalisation under the banking union or any other business? We are now approaching the second anniversary of the agreement by Heads of State and Government to separate the sovereign debt from banking debt. To say the least, however, there has been considerable delay in implementing that in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the Minister and his officials and thank him for his opening statement. Continuing from where the Chairman left off on country specific recommendations, does Ireland have issues with the recommendations made by the European Commission in the report? Is it the Minister's intention to address all of the issues raised or does he take issue with any of the points the Commission has made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Michael McGrath: Certainly, there are common themes running through the report and the report of European Commission staff. The IMF's report was released today. These issues are not on the agenda, but many of them run through all of these documents. Let me take the Minister to the issue of the public finances and the excessive deficit procedure which is dealt with in the country specific recommendations....