Results 25,201-25,220 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (Resumed) (14 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: On a point of order, this is an absolutely outrageous scenario. It is a measure of the Government's abandonment not just of the customers of Permanent TSB, but of all distressed mortgage holders. It is an absolute disgrace that the Government does not have the courtesy to bring forward a Minister to sit, to listen to the debate and to respond. There must be some mechanism within Standing...

Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (Resumed) (14 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Hear, hear.

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: More arrogance.

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: That is slap down for Labour.

Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I propose to share my time with Deputies Sean Fleming, Dara Calleary, John Browne and Éamon Ó Cuív, with five minutes for each of the first three Deputies and ten minutes for Deputy Ó Cuív. The motion covers three main issues: first, the unjustifiably high standard variable interest rate being charged by State-owned Permanent TSB on residential mortgages; second, the ongoing lack of...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have identified a pattern of compliance issues with regard to leased licensed premises, or public houses, in recent times; if they are carrying out significant enforcement activity in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13528/12]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Question 157: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 March 2012, if he will provide details of the number of cases in 2011 and to date in 2012 in which the Revenue Commissioners has denied mortgage customers the benefit of mortgage interest relief by virtue of the level of mortgage arrears they have; the criteria used by the Revenue in making such...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Question 344: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the case that, as part of any residential development, a builder must have cover in place in respect of structural aspects of the development; when these rules came into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13456/12]

Written Answers — Marriages of Convenience: Marriages of Convenience (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Question 427: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to address the issue of sham marriages involving certain immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13515/12]

Written Answers — Illegal Moneylenders: Illegal Moneylenders (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Question 445: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any additional enforcement measures are planned to tackle the number of illegal moneylenders operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/12]

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 20: In page 221, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: 137.--The Minister shall within 12 month from the passing of this Act prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the contribution made to the Exchequer by the domicile levy and in particular the contribution in that regard as a result of the measures introduced in this section by the Finance Act...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I accept in good faith the Minister's comments. I welcome the fact that the report to which he alluded will be published. Most reasonably minded people want to see fairness in our taxation system. At times, this issue attracts more debate than is warranted. Various efforts have been made by Revenue to extract as much of a return from these individuals as possible. This process should...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for Finance, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, and their officials for the work they have done on this Bill. This has been my first opportunity to deal with a Finance Bill as Opposition spokesperson. We have been debating the budget since it was announced in the first week of December but it is now time to get on with it. We have...

Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the level of mortgage repayments, negative equity and mortgage arrears is imposing a significant burden on many thousands of Irish families; — the latest mortgage arrears statistics from the Central Bank show that the level of arrears is increasing at an accelerating rate; — the standard variable interest rate for residential mortgages charged...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the commencement of Report Stage. The only point I would make on amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Doherty is that if one is conducting an analysis of the impact of the budget - I assume that is the spirit in which this amendment has been tabled - then the Finance Bill does not represent the totality of those measures. If one is looking at the impact on every income group,...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 5: In page 11, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: 2.—The Minister shall within 12 months from the passing of this Act prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on a cost-benefit analysis of tax expenditures provided for by this Act, setting out the costs of tax foregone, and the benefits in terms of job creation or otherwise.". The Acting Chairman is...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: What is the cost of this proposal and where does it stand in the context of the efforts over recent years for the burden of taxation to be spread? Some 5% of income earners pay approximately half of the income tax take and 40% of income earners were outside the tax net. The universal social charge made inroads into that because it brought people on very low incomes within the net, which...

Finance Bill 2012: Report and Fiinal Stages (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: Can the Minister clarify whether his consideration of the review of the universal social charge has been completed and that the change he has proposed in the Finance Bill arises from that review or is it something he intends to revisit on an ongoing basis? In terms of the issue with the way it was structured, and over time its structure will have to be examined, if the Minister increases the...

Special Educational Needs (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for debate. I am please the Minister will attend. Sonas special junior primary school in Carrigaline, County Cork, caters for autistic children between three and six years of age. Late last week, the teachers, parents and everyone associated with the school were devastated when they received the news that the...

Special Educational Needs (13 Mar 2012)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister of State for setting out the Department's position on this issue. This was a callous decision and one which should be revisited. I welcome the confirmation from the Minister of State that the final allocation for 2012-13 has not been made yet. However, parents are frightened that their children will lose the SNA support currently in place. The Minister of State...