Results 32,321-32,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Absolutely. However, the Minister will note from the figures that since 2002, tax as a proportion of GNP has increased substantially. It has increased in absolute terms and as a proportion of income. I am not making that up; it is the truth. The statistic indicates that although we have enjoyed exceptional growth, we are increasing taxes. If we were achieving value in terms of public...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Considering that it is not delivering on the spending side, it must continue to seek more contributions, particularly through VAT and stealth taxes, from the ordinary family which is struggling financially. These taxes are not based on equity contributions but simply on the fact that they are easy to collect. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform does not even see these taxes on...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: There is an increased burden on companies that are trying to create jobs and maintain incomes.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: It is strange to hear the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decide without any concern that companies ought to bear taxes. It is crucial that we address the quality of our public spending and the fairness of our tax code. We have lost sight of both these goals through an exclusive focus on tax rates, which the Minister for Finance's predecessor regarded as the absolute pinnacle of...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: We will have plenty of time to discuss this further. I was very concerned at the information released to Deputy Burton that the queries from the European Union about stallion tax relief were not passed to the Minister. It seems an extraordinary lapse in procedures when there was a deadline of one month. Does this have implications for other elements of the tax code? For example, there are...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (3 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 41: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who fail to transfer from primary to secondary education for each of the most recent five years for which statistics are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2897/05]

Written Answers — Telephone Allowance Scheme: Telephone Allowance Scheme (3 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has considered the possibility of extending the free telephone entitlement to include a substantial contribution to free Internet access for eligible persons, particularly in view of the fact that this technology is growing in importance as a means for participation and access to information for the public at large and...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 208: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the income threshold for qualification for a rent subsidy under shared ownership and the subsidy awarded when the scheme was first introduced; and the percentage by which the subsidy and the thresholds have increased since that date. [3194/05]

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 209: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the 4.3% of the market value used to decide the rental payment under shared ownership and the annual indexation of this value by 4.5% per annum, is now out of line with the rent ratios and rate of increase in rents which apply in the private rented sector; and his views on whether persons undertaking...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 210: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the cost for a person on shared ownership of converting to a 100% loan is creating a disincentive for persons to move as quickly as possible to a standard mortgage; and if he will consider initiatives to reduce the cost of such a conversion which is now €650; and if he will...

Written Answers — National Anti-Poverty Networks: National Anti-Poverty Networks (2 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 279: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reasons the funding for the community workers co-operative under the national anti-poverty programme has been withdrawn without consultation with the CDWC, despite the high rating of the work of the CDWC in reviews of this funding mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3099/05]

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 138: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to increase the amount pledged by the Government in humanitarian assistance to the countries affected by the Asia tsunami; if further Government aid will be taken directly from the emergency relief fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2621/05]

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 158: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the humanitarian situation in India, in regions affected by the recent devastating tsunami; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2650/05]

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Finance if he plans to undertake a study of the impact of the maturity of SSIAs on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2793/05]

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the complaint by an organisation (details supplied) of discrimination in the operation of the VAT system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2416/05]

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 13: To ask the Minister for Finance if the termination dates set out in the Finance Act 2004 for various property-based schemes are subject to review under the public consultation which he has announced. [2557/05]

Tax Code. (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: In signalling this review in respect of schemes that have a fixed termination date of 31 July 2006, is the Minister inviting a whole lobby group to start converging on him and Members of the House to try to extend the closing dates of relief schemes or has he made a definite decision that the closing dates mean the end of those schemes and that the review will not reopen them? There is some...

Expenditure Review Initiative. (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself with the progress under the expenditure review initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2791/05]

Expenditure Review Initiative. (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: Was the Minister as shocked as I was to discover that the follow-up on the expenditure review process was so poor? Is he aware that, of 143 studies to be completed over the period, only 20 were completed? Less than one in seven was completed and more than 30% of them were totally abandoned. In some of these cases, they were abandoned with the clear acquiescence of the Minister's Department....

Expenditure Review Initiative. (1 Feb 2005)

Richard Bruton: May I correct the Minister?