Results 27,561-27,580 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: I reiterate the general observation that I am not entirely convinced of the confidentiality and urgency that would prevent the Minister coming back to the House were he disposed to put more capital into the banks than he has to date indicated.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: I wish to make a brief point before the Minister responds. I would not be completely opposed to giving discretion to the Minister, if I thought this threat was realistic. I refer to a scenario that was of such urgency that the Minister could not come back before the House for approval. However, our banks have been in trouble for a very long time and even under this recapitalisation...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister talking about disposing of equities or acquiring more?

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Minister could come back before the House.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: I do not mean to be obstructive on this issue. The National Pensions Reserve Fund has shareholdings in companies quoted throughout the world. People are not basing their determination of the value of these internationally traded shares on the investment strategy of the National Pensions Reserve Fund. The Minister had no compunction about talking openly for weeks and months about the...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: We were given a figure of €4 billion and there was talk at an earlier stage of a larger sum being required. It was not clear at all stages that the Minister intended to produce the double contribution from the State in one year. I do not want to be made a fool of in this matter. There was speculation that the National Pensions Reserve Fund might have to sell some of its shareholding to...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: No. I would like to hear the Minister.

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am surprised by the Minister's response given what he has said about the need to have a dramatic change in the banking culture. Let us not forget it was by buying into risks which these executives did not understand that we are in our present position. If they had any science about them they might not have been doing this sort of thing. Bogus science was behind the enormous explosion,...

Investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: One of the issues we discussed with the Minister in the committee last week was the status of people who have received very substantial pay-offs from the banks. The Minister indicated that legal advice would be required to determine the status of those payments. Has the covered institutions remuneration committee taken such advice? One of the aspects which people find extremely galling is...

Written Answers — Visitor Attractions: Visitor Attractions (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 51: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had contact with the Office of Public Works in relation to opening hours and staffing levels at visitor attractions under the remit of the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8590/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the plan to refurbish Iveagh House, Dublin; the planned cost of the refurbishment; if he will proceed with the refurbishment in view of the financial crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8319/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance the buildings which have been vacated by Departments in Dublin to facilitate a move to another location within Dublin; the reasons for such moves; if he will indicate the use to which the vacant buildings will be put; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8284/09]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the National Roads Authority estimates that 3.5% of the cars in Dublin are foreign registered; the steps he will take to ensure that these cars are registered, and therefore taxed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8342/09]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 118: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will exempt medical card holders from payment of the pension levy under section 8 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8417/09]

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Finance the assumptions used by his Department in estimating the so-called tax buoyancy effects of tax and spending changes in 2009. [8921/09]

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 136: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated average direct and indirect impact of €100 million investment in infrastructure on GDP, employment and taxation receipts. [8922/09]

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Finance the latest estimate for price deflation in Exchequer-funded capital investment projects in 2009. [8923/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 138: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the Exchequer capital programme for 2009 that has been committed. [8924/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 139: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the annual general Government savings in 2009 to 2013 of an indefinite suspension of the national pay agreement. [8929/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Mar 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 140: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the annual general Government savings in 2009 to 2013 of a suspension in the payment of annual salary scale pay increments to public sector workers. [8930/09]