Results 3,181-3,200 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: I wish to share time with Deputies Cregan and Dooley. I will take 20 minutes.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House this evening on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, on the air travel tax and the wide range of issues raised by Deputies so far in the debate.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: Yes, it relates to the tourism sector and the economy as a whole.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "— notes the unprecedented reduction in international economic growth and disturbances in financial markets over the last two years and the impact this has on all sectors of the Irish economy; — commends the Government for its policies to return stability to the public finances, which is...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: In that regard, the 2010 budget forecast the stabilisation of the deficit in 2010, notwithstanding declining economic activity. Many of these measures have been difficult and painful but we are committed to reducing the general Government deficit to under 3% of GDP by 2014. The strategy behind the Government's medium-term fiscal plan is based on two interrelated areas: inspiring confidence,...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The difficult trading period in the airline industry arises primarily from weak world economic activity. The present decline in air travel is an international phenomenon and as a result, aviation services are contracting on a global basis.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: Passenger numbers through Irish airports have declined, as have those of our international counterparts, including those where there is no travel tax in place.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: This downward trend is evident for periods prior to the introduction of the air travel tax. Furthermore, passenger numbers for other modes of transport have also experienced broadly similar declines. While this is not a desirable position, it is clear that the air travel tax is not the substantive cause for the decline in passenger numbers. Ireland is not unique in applying a tax on air...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The UK recently revised its air passenger duty; with the minimum rate at £11 and is up to £55 for long-haul flights. Those rates will increase again later this year. Similar taxes apply in France, Australia and New Zealand.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The rates for the Irish air travel tax are not unreasonable both for shorter and longer journeys when compared to rates in other countries. Taking the UK as an example, a person travelling within the UK will be liable to pay the UK air passenger duty of £11, or €12, on each leg of the journey. Therefore, a passenger departing from Manchester to London will be subject to the £11 tax and...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: In Ireland, a person travelling within the State will be liable to pay €2 in tax on each leg of the journey, giving a total tax liability of €4. Furthermore, the UK rates in respect of longer flights range from over four times higher to five times higher than the Irish rate. The Government acknowledges that low-cost travel has been good for Ireland.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The pioneers in this area deserve to be commended. However, we must, in analysing the new tax, not overplay its impact. For illustration purposes, the House might wish to note that at present a fare from Shannon to London Stansted that is initially presented as €15 with a similar €15 return fare will actually cost a passenger over €100 when all charges are included, excluding the air...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: In addition, there is a recently introduced on-line check-in fee of €5 per flight segment. If a person cannot check in on-line, there is a €40 check-in fee per flight segment. I should point out that a person flying from any airport in the UK to Ireland is already paying, through the airlines, £11, or around €12, in air passenger duty to the UK Exchequer. Airlines do not appear to...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: At home, strong disposable incomes and consumer confidence led some people to take several air trips per year. It should come as no surprise, however, that in view of uncertainties in the economy generally, consumers have shown some reluctance to take or plan trips abroad. An air trip abroad generally involves expenditure of several hundred euro. To solely blame the introduction of a...

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: I cannot quite understand how an airline that has complained vigorously about the €10 air tax, on the basis of price sensitivity of customers, can then introduce a non-discretionary on-line check-in fee of €5 per flight or €10 per return flight.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The introduction of a relatively modest air travel tax is an important revenue-raising measure in the context of the significant financial challenges we now face.

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Minister for Finance has no plans to abolish the air travel tax because, in essence, it is fair-----

Tourism Industry: Motion (23 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: -----and will raise approximately €125 million in a full year in circumstances where additional revenues are required to narrow the budget deficit. In addition, it also serves to widen the tax base.

Report of Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Statements (Resumed). (11 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank Members for their contributions to this constructive and well informed debate. It is a timely discussion given the many issues that have arisen in the past two weeks in respect of children and their care. I thank the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, and the other committee members for the hard work and expertise they...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Review of Rent in Certain Cases) (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Mar 2010)

Seán Haughey: In opposing the Bill, the Government is very conscious of the fact that many in the retail sector have welcomed it and have approached Deputies on all sides of the House seeking their support for its content. It has been presented as an emergency solution to a very pressing problem. However, the solution proposed will not work in practice and is not legally tenable. Reference has been made...