Results 2,281-2,300 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: A less chivalrous explanation.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: No.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Thank you.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I ask the Deputy to be brief.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Barrett.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Mr. Tutty. I thank all the witnesses for attending this long but informative meeting. Everyone got to ask what he or she wanted. I am sure we will get back to the witnesses if we have any more questions for them. This year's process has been a little truncated. I am sure it will be different in years to come. I thank everyone for their attendance at the committee today. I...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Whip's office for allowing me a few minutes to speak on this issue. I agree with Deputy Troy about the importance of confidence. It is unfortunate from his point of view that the issues being referred to in terms of the guidelines issued by the Revenue Commissioners concern a timeframe during which Fianna Fáil was in office. Indeed, it is also interesting that Apple's...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome our witnesses from the ESRI, Professor Alan Barrett, director, and Professor Kieran McQuinn, research professor and head of economic analysis. They will be dealing with Ireland's economic and fiscal position. I wish to bring to the attention of the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: The fair deal process is being reviewed at the moment.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We are not going to get an answer. In fairness, there is probably no answer.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We might take those few questions and come back to the Deputy.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: As soon as possible.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I have a couple of brief questions. Yesterday, we had a number of witnesses, one of whom was Dr. McDonnell from the Nevin Economic Research Institute. Would Professor Barrett concur with his point, which was news to me, that the Irish tax and welfare system was, according to an OECD comparison, "highly redistributive" and one of the most progressive systems that exist?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: On regional development, Professor Barrett stated that various policies to implement regional economic development were almost akin to holding back the tide economically and that it is a difficult task. We had this discussion yesterday with Dr. McDonnell. How does one explain the differences that exist across the country? The issue I come up against quite often is that when people talk...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: That bears out what I might think myself. Professor Barrett made a comment earlier about how broadband impacts best where the people have higher qualifications. It is something of a chicken-and-egg argument in the sense that there is poor broadband infrastructure in parts of rural areas, in particular, not to make it too parochial, in parts of the south east. If infrastructure is...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: That is fair enough. My final point is in regard to the USC. I do not wish to argue with Professor Barrett's view in terms of the overall taxation system. Having spent far too long of my life in the banking inquiry discussing the hollowing out of the tax base, I can see the argument that is being made. I studied economics for years and I never found it to be, as it is often referred to,...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Not long ago in Glenties the Minister for Social Protection floated the notion of indexing welfare payments. He was harassed and harangued from right and left. Perhaps it goes back to what Deputy Ryan said about new taxation being introduced and how no one wants it. Perhaps it is the same for indexing.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: That would never be the case. I understand. Thank you very much. It has been a far longer session than planned. The danger of having only one group of witnesses is that politicians expand the time of their questioning to fill the available space. Thank you sincerely for coming in. It would be great if we could get the extra information requested at the earliest possible opportunity....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Analysis of Economic Forecasts: Central Bank of Ireland (6 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We are joined at today's public hearings by Dr. Gabriel Fagan, who is the chief economist of the Central Bank of Ireland. He is accompanied by Mr. John Flynn and Mr. Terry Quinn of the Central Bank's economic analysis division. They are very welcome. Dr. Fagan will deal with the macroeconomic outlook for Ireland, including potential risks to growth, which is an issue that we have been...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Analysis of Economic Forecasts: Central Bank of Ireland (6 Sep 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I call Deputy Pearse Doherty.