Results 27,481-27,500 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: One of Irish Rural Link's other proposals - this is also contained in a number of the other submissions made to the committee - relates to the cut the Government introduced last year in respect of the telephone allowance. Almost one year on, how big an issue is that for Mr. Claffey's organisation? I note Irish Rural Link's submission contains a call for a reversal of the Government's decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: One of my constituents recently contacted me via Facebook and informed me that their parent is elderly, vulnerable and lives in an isolated area. The elderly individual in question was affected by the cut to the telephone allowance but has accessed a 24-7 alarm service from the FOLD Ireland housing association. I understand FOLD Ireland has written to all of its customers in the Twenty-six...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: In the context of the HCCI's submission, this committee is always interested when someone puts forward proposals relating to savings. The suggestion is made that the private sector could deliver home-care packages for 30% less than the public sector. In addition, the submission states that the system should be loosened up, that there should be more transparency and that the private sector...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Am I correct in stating that sector in which the organisation Mr. Harty represents operates is not yet regulated by the State?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The HCCI claims that its members can, on average, provide home help services 30% cheaper than the HSE. How is that possible?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Loans (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance the value and number of commercial loan books that remain at Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, and the value of the commercial loan books sold at IBRC. [31926/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Loans (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 64. To ask the Minister for Finance if the non-performing commercial loans at Irish Bank Resolution Corporation are to be sold, or have been sold, in a portfolio or portfolios; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31927/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Loans (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 65. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will name the investment funds behind the purchaser of commercial loans at Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, including the investment fund behind Kenmare Property Finance which was set up only one day before the sale of a commercial loan book to it was agreed. [31928/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Loans (16 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 66. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure the commercial loans at Irish Bank Resolution Corporation have or will not be sold to vulture funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31929/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Compared with the Department, IBEC has underestimated the cost by 25%. I cannot imagine that strong growth in the economy-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: IBEC claims it is a gross calculation, which is €240 million, and the Department states it is €312 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The other IBEC proposal is to reduce the marginal tax rate, from 41% to 40%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: IBEC claims this would cost €130 million. This goes to what TASC has stated, which is broadly in line with that the Department states, that only 18% of employees in the State would benefit from either of those proposals. Why would IBEC like to confer €500 million of a tax reduction on 18% of the workforce and confer nothing on the other 82% of the workforce?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I will move on because my time is limited, but I make the point that I disagree strongly with that. The employer is interested in how much it costs him or her to employ somebody and to pay the worker the wages necessary and that is where the issue of tax wedge comes into it. Ireland, in the case of those incomes, is not above the average. Indeed, we are below the average.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: No employer looks at tax rates. He or she looks at how much it costs to employ.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I have one question for TASC. In terms of reducing and eliminating tax reliefs, TASC singled out two in particular, health and pensions. Will Dr. O'Connor discuss the effect on low and middle-income earners if one were to eliminate or standardise tax reliefs in the form TASC suggests?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I thank Dr. O'Connor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the witnesses. We do not have many members of the Government parties here today. They have all been elevated to higher offices.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Deputy O'Donnell rightly feels aggrieved that he has not received the call, although the buzzing sound is still the hope that the Minister might call. We will forgive him for the interruption. We are having a discussion with four different groups and have received different submissions from each. Some of them contradict each other in terms of what they seek and they have different...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: What about the argument that if the Government were to reverse its decision and decrease excise in this year's budget, the off-trade would reduce the cost of alcohol because it is absorbing the excise duty on other products? Therefore, the cost of the bottle of Jameson or bottle of wine would reduce in the off-trade comparably with the on-trade, so the position would be the same as the...