Results 27,921-27,940 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: That was not my question but that was a good defence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The council's report this time is different from what I have seen in other reports. It is probably the most critical of the Government's assumptions that I have seen so far. Even though everybody is fixated on the €2 billion target, when we look at the other targets and projections the council is signalling a note of caution. My question was more about a structural issue. The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: NAMA Loan Book (19 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 42. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of vacant residential properties the National Asset Management Agency is exposed to in Dublin by postcode; and the number by county outside Dublin. [26407/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 176. To ask the Minister for Health when a hospital appointment will be available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26404/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I am surprised that the view of the Department is that the 0.5% deficit is not the appropriate figure. We have had a referendum on this issue. As far as I understand, it is written in the legislation or the treaty that 0.5% is the figure. I will turn to other issues that have been identified and challenges we face in respect of the medium-term objectives. It has again been pointed out by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: We will return to that point. In respect of the budget, the Minister has made it very clear, as he has every year, that it is the deficit targets and not the adjustment that is at issue. I have made the point that it is not even the adjustment figure that we should be debating but rather how that adjustment is applied - who pays the price. The CSO is reportedly looking at our data in terms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: So it will be in excess of 1% of GDP?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: That saves a deficit reduction of about €800 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I understand that. That recalculation could lead to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: So that could deal with many budgetary adjustments without actually making any change just as a result of the recalculation of our GDP?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister previously mentioned to us in the Dáil that the rule of thumb is that for every-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: This is my last point. The Minister told us that the rule of thumb is that for every 1% increase in GDP, there is an adjustment of about €800 million that one does not need to make in terms of the deficit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: There is no tax coming in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It will have an effect but it will be much smaller.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It is a question. When I am sitting over there, then the Minister will be able to ask questions of me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: My view is that the Minister's negotiating strategy has been appalling. He should have stood up for Irish interests. He is about to amend legislation to allow for a banking union to exist with no real commitment to direct recapitalisation. We met with German Bundestag Members today who spoke about the lack of political opportunities and the fact that it is impossible to sell the Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: If the Minister would answer my questions instead of replying to my views, it would be more appropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that the Minister is a long time at this game and is just winding down the clock. We can exchange views for all we like. With respect, will the Minister answer some questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Have there been amendments to the country-specific recommendations for Ireland?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Minister for Finance (18 Jun 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The intention is to implement these recommendations. What has been the interaction between the Government and the Commission on the latter’s view that the tax base for property tax should be widened?