Results 23,621-23,640 of 35,893 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Mr. Ahern, it's the second time I've listened and read some of the testimony and maybe you'll start by explaining why parts of your opening statement to the banking inquiry are taken directly, word for word, from your autobiography?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: And the years haven't ... you haven't reflected on those positions here? You're happy with what ... as time passed, you haven't changed your position on it?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Okay. In 2004, very soon after coming into office, the Minister for Finance commissioned two reports on ... to review property-based tax incentives, which had already been extended from 2002 to 2004 by his predecessor. Who decided to commission these reports, Mr. Ahern, and did you support the decision or did you argue for the abolition of these tax incentives in 2004, as was originally...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Did you argue ... did you argue for the abolition of the-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: But they were supposed to cease in 2004-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: -----they were extended to 2006. Did you support the extension-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Sorry-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: -----did you support the extension of the reliefs from 2004 to 2006, even the ones that you say today that may have been dubious?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: And you were aware that-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: -----the Department-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Okay. Do you believe that they had any effect on creating or sustaining a property bubble?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Sorry, Mr. Ahern, we're on a time limit here and I appreciate-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: If just maybe you could answer the question first, I would appreciate that there-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: -----which the question is, is do you believe that the extension of these property reliefs to the construction sector sustained and helped create a property bubble?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Okay, and when did you become of that view?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Okay. When did you believe that a property bubble was in existence?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: So when did you believe personally? We've heard from Central Bank and other agencies over the last number of months in this inquiry; when did you believe personally, as Taoiseach or as ... whenever, that there was a property bubble in existence in this State?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Yes, sorry.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: So-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (16 Jul 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Okay. Okay, so in 2006, when you say the boom is getting boomier, what did you mean by that?