Results 26,661-26,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I was looking at the table to which the Minister of State drew Members' attention. I refer to example 5 in table D. It shows that the impact on people with different levels of income is approximately -7%, -6%, -5% and -1% for those with incomes of €15,000, €20,000, €25,000, and €250,000, respectively. The Minister of State is completely wrong. This budget asks for seven times the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I refer to example 5 in table D 10 on the effects of the budget changes on different categories of single and married income earners. The Minister is-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: How many seconds did the Leas-Cheann Comhairle give the Minister of State to say "No"?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: This is an important issue in that people look up to or ought to look up to the judges as being fair and independent in the way they deal with every case. It is regrettable that judges now find themselves in a category where rules that are being applied to everyone else are not being applied to them. I do not believe that was ever the intention of those who wrote our Constitution, an issue...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Minister of State appears to have conceded a point that is different from that made by the Minister of State, Deputy Carey. The Minister of State, Deputy Carey, stated clearly that people who were not in the pension levy net would not be caught. We now find that temporary teachers who are not eligible for a pension are being brought into this net. Only a few minutes ago the Minister of...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Apparently they are not being released.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: We were, yes. It seems strange-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I do not want to hold up the debate but it is important that we address the interpretation provisions and understand the justification. The Minister of State appears to be somewhat stung that people would suggest that those earning €21,000 should be asked to contribute. He is saying this is a necessity but he will recognise that when Fine Gael put forward proposals we deliberately excluded...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: No, because we have been tested and found that we did not come up with that proposal. We deliberately exempted people who were earning under €30,000.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: The health levy was on people who do not pay 20% tax, a 4% health levy, a 4% PRSI contribution-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: -----7% on the pension contribution the Government asked of them and now a further 5%. The Minister should top up those figures because it means he is asking someone on €21,000 to pay a 43% marginal tax rate. Riddle me that and I will give you a pipe, as my mother used to say. How did the Minister come up with that? How does all the wisdom that is assembled on that side of the House...

Written Answers — State Properties: State Properties (15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 117: To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue which will be raised from the sale of State property in 2010; the property which will be sold; the location of the property which will be sold; the current use of the property; the reason for the sale of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46614/09]

Written Answers — National Asset Management Agency: National Asset Management Agency (15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 118: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has sought advice from the interim chief executive of the National Asset Management Agency regarding the impact the revisions in upwards only rent reviews will have on assets being transferred to NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46615/09]

(15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: As a stand-alone initiative, this set of proposals is indefensible. When the Minister first started to talk about the need for savings of €4 billion, his first thoughts were about an adjustment of €2.5 billion on the spending side. He rightly recognised that this was too little and the implication of a further €1.5 billion coming from tax was not a tenable position. Has he not...

(15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Yes, we were to have 43 major rationalisations, but how many did the Minister adopt? None. We were to have a major assault on the administrative budgets of Departments. What has the Minister done? He has taken 1% out of the departmental administrative budgets. We were to have an efficiency agenda that was to deliver close to €3 billion in cuts, but what did the Minister do? He...

(15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Yes, that needs to be addressed. We need to see that up front. Not only has the Minister hit people immediately, but he has also created the fear that he will now dramatically change the terms under which they get pensions. At a time when they are still smarting from the payment of a pension levy, it seems less than fair that the Minister would not address this wider agenda. We need to...

(15 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I look forward to the debate and, hopefully, the Minister will be willing to accept changes on Committee Stage. Those changes are needed to put this proposal back into a context of fairness. Fine Gael will put forward proposals that will be cost neutral and that will achieve an exemption for those on a salary of less than €30,000.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the restrictions that apply to grant eligibility for undertaking study at undergraduate level; his plans to introduce other tailored re-skilling or back to education programmes for graduates in job arrears in which demand has collapsed. [46424/09]

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (9 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to any initiatives for skilled professionals such as in architecture or information technology who see no immediate prospect of re-employment getting the opportunity for supported career change either through a once-off grant or through a back-to-education type scheme; and if he will make a statement...

Budget Statement 2010 (9 Dec 2009)

Richard Bruton: I agree the Minister has adopted the residency rule and set a maximum tax but the figures tell it all. Nothing will be achieved from that measure this year and even next year it will only be €55 million. We were targeting a contribution of 600 million contribution from the better-off in our community. That balance was needed and it has been missed. However, there is a greater unfairness...