Results 2,881-2,900 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: It was Warren Buffet, the American investor, who said when talking about the stock markets that we know who is swimming naked only when the tide goes out. If members of this Government were showing a builder's bum last September, they most clearly need those discarded builder's helmets in this month of January 2009 after what has been announced in the past couple of weeks. There has been...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: I thank the Minister. We know very little about why we are taking this action with regard to Anglo Irish Bank. The Minister told us why it is being nationalised. However, if we consider some of the facts the Minister has been given over the past 24 hours, and some of the facts in the accounts of Anglo Irish Bank, the bank has in excess of €100 billion on its balance sheet and €70...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is €10 billion on which it is difficult to get our hands and we are not even sure to what we are being exposed in regard to the banks. These are the sort of figures we should be getting.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: There is no need for the Minister to nod at us as if we are being stupid and annoying him. These are the sort of figures he should be giving to both Houses. Sections 22 to 32 deal with compensation for shareholders. It was interesting to hear the Minister discuss this issue in the Lower House. He said the shareholders will be entitled to know what value the assessor, and by extension the...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: I want to see the report. I am not saying I am more expert than those companies.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: That is rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: I fully support everything Senators O'Toole and Fitzgerald have said to the effect that it is ironic that on the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil all major announcements by Government are being made in Dublin Castle. It seems the views of those meeting in Dublin Castle count for more from the viewpoint of the public than those of the elected representatives of the Oireachtas. That is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: That is no excuse.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: It does not matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2009)

Liam Twomey: This is legislation, it has nothing to do with statements.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Senator Doherty was being hard on the Tánaiste, Deputy Coughlan, when he referred to her comment about not owning a shop. People have been going to Newry since the Tánaiste said that we should shop around. Perhaps that is why she is afraid to say anything at present. Senators on this side of the House are in favour of this amendment because, as Senator Quinn said, the decision to increase...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: On the basis of what is being discussed here, the Minister should consider this measure. For example, the ESRI report from yesterday states that it sees overall consumer prices falling next year for the first time since 1946. We actually have the wrong budget. With all the increases we have been talking about, we are doing everything to make sure this happens. There has been a debate in...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Fine Gael also supports this recommendation for the reasons outlined by Senators Quinn and O'Toole.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: What does that mean in plain English? Will stamp duty be paid on public private partnerships? Will an arrangement be made for people to have their commission returned if a PPP falls? In plain English, what is the substantive change?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Is there any scope for review?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: In the current environment when we are bailing out banks and developers, it is a substantial cost to keep it.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: The point the Minister of State is making is that people will take a hit because valuations can work both ways. If the Revenue took a hit during the past decade in terms of inheritance tax because of rapidly rising property prices, that was an issue for Revenue to decide whether it would accept that risk but the converse position is not true. If people's inheritance is being put at risk...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: Is this section just a technical amendment?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: With regard to the €200 levy on second houses or holiday homes, is it up to the individual taxpayer to list their properties in their tax returns to pay the levy to the county councils or is it up to the county councils to identify the properties?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Liam Twomey: With regard to section 16, it should be borne in mind that many private hospitals which benefit from these tax exemptions are not very profitable at present. They are not in a great financial state. This issue needs to be examined in the context of restricting the number of people with medical cards and people not paying for private health insurance because of what the Government plans to...