Results 25,381-25,400 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to speak in support of these amendments. Deputy Burton referred to the point I wish to make in respect of orthodontic treatment. Public provision for orthodontic treatment is not great and is highly limited. Many parents have started their children on courses of orthodontic treatment that can take up to two or three years. They have committed to expenditure that is not of a type...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance when he proposes to introduce a supplementary budget for 2009 in view of the decline in Exchequer tax receipts to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45381/08]

Written Answers — Financial Institutions Support Scheme: Financial Institutions Support Scheme (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 68: To ask the Minister for Finance the measures he proposes to ensure that the recapitalisation of the banks will ensure that credit is provided to businesses and consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45382/08]

Fiscal Policy. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the impact on retail sales and VAT receipts of the differential of 6.5 points in VAT with Northern Ireland and the UK. [45546/08]

Fiscal Policy. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: On Committee Stage of the Finance Bill yesterday the Minister gave a commitment to produce a report on the impact of the VAT differential on retail sales and VAT receipts. Does that commitment still stand? When will the report will be ready, and will it consider the impact in terms of jobs and revenue to the Exchequer? Furthermore, the Minister should reverse the 0.5% increase in VAT, for...

Fiscal Policy. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: What I want to impress upon the Minister is that the Government should ask the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to look into this issue as a matter of urgency. Consumers are taking matters into their own hands. They are deciding they are paying too much and going directly to Northern Ireland. This is costing the Exchequer money and it is costing jobs.

Fiscal Policy. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister gave a commitment to the committee.

Fiscal Policy. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: When will that study be concluded and when will the Minister present the findings to the House? What measures does he intend to take?

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Finance if the departmental schemes of performance-related rewards have in all cases taken up the entire pool of 10% of the pay bill of the groups concerned since they were first instituted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45547/08]

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Could the Minister give an indication of the number of people who have applied for this scheme, the number who have received awards under it and the amount of money that has been paid in the form of bonuses under it for 2007 and 2008? Is the Minister satisfied that the taxpayer is getting value for money? The output statements for the top-spending Departments for 2007 show that 37% of...

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister has not dealt with the question. Does he not agree that people might look in on this and think it is a cosy club? He mentioned that 194 civil servants qualified for payments under the scheme. How many in total applied for the scheme? What percentage of this is represented by the 194 who qualified for payments? We must bear in mind the fact that 37% of targets were not met...

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister has not.

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is the key question.

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Was the full 10% taken up? Was the full funding taken up?

Public Sector Remuneration. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: It was all taken up.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The problems in the banking system arose because there were technical problems which required knowledge of derivatives and in-depth knowledge of banking. The people the Minister has appointed are excellent people in their own field but I question their lack of banking experience. Is the Minister satisfied they will have adequate knowledge to deal with issues? On the question of their...

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister misunderstood the questions. The gentlemen in question are excellent in their fields of expertise. However, this is an unprecedented situation. Will they be reporting to the Minister? Is he giving them a mandate for small businesses? It is of no benefit if directors are put on the boards in the public interest just for the sake of it.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is not quite the case.

Banking Sector Regulation. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: In terms of the European Investment Bank funding, the banks have provided business plans. What measures does the Minister propose to ensure the banks access this funding? The critical issue is that funding is provided. In line with what Deputy Burton has said on venture capitalists, has the Minister had discussions with institutional investors in Ireland regarding a consortium to invest in...

Banking Sector Regulation. (11 Dec 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Irish investors.