Results 3,301-3,320 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: I would like to ask the Minister about the standards adopted regarding accounting for pensions in the accounts of businesses. The Minister will be aware that the accounting standard dealing with pensions is extremely controversial in requiring a full liability provision. It has meant that many private sector pension funds have gone out of existence. I want to know if in the context of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: The explanatory memorandum refers to the anticipation of continuing development of International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS, and generally accepted accounting principles, Irish GAAP. This is probably the most difficult and certainly one of the most contentious issues in the field of accounting nationally and internationally because what has happened is that the accounting treatments...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: I am speaking to the general amendments to the section - there are numerous references-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: There are numerous references to accounting standards and to the development of accounting standards and there are references to them as well in the material produced by the Department.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: Amendments Nos. 28 to 36, inclusive, include multiple references to accounting, accounting standards, international financial reporting standards, IFRS and to generally accepted accounting principles, GAAP.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: Chairman, may I say that this is one of the most significant sections in terms of modern accounting and business. In the Bill we are changing what is happening and moving from one set of standards to another, the fact is that because of the devastation that these changes have wrought to lots of people's jobs and pensions in this and other countries, I am simply asking if it possible to get a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: May I ask a question on amendment No. 36, which deals with a really important point that has large taxation implications? It is a question of fundamental errors, changes and retrospection in accounting. This is one of the major areas in which treasuries lose taxes. Will the Minister outline the policy the Department has taken?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: Chairman, May I ask a question on this important and significant amendment? In this country we have had and have in process a great deal of correction of accounts because we have moved from a situation ten years ago of wholesale collapses which resulted in very significant losses to a lot of companies, including financial companies, in particular. In some cases, we know subsequently - but...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: I thank the Minister for his response but it is foolish to have as a fundamental part of a banking strategy the significant carrying forward of losses without any reduction or mitigations. I was involved in the discussions that resulted in increases in bank levies, which in my view are a relatively poor substitute for taxes. These rules were devised when the banks were mired in massive...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: Based on the position the Minister is taking I assume that if, as Minister for Finance, he is restricting the banking organisations and companies, which were bailed out by the taxpayer and subsidised by the State to an enormous extent, from paying taxation, he will also restrict them paying out dividends.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: I think it is.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: With due respect, I am asking the Minister about his policy approach to the treatment of losses in respect of companies. Very few other European countries allow-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: We are speaking about generally accepted accounted practices. The Minister referenced European models.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 22. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent discussions with President Macron of France and his proposals regarding further European integration. [44691/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Data (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 86. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of new housing units that will be built by Home Building Finance Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47246/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Agreements (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 96. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Questions Nos. 123 to 125, inclusive, of 17 October 2017, the analysis of cases settled by way of mutual agreement procedures, MAPs; the year and the amount of tax involved; the number of settlements open under MAPs; the tax potentially at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47306/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Agreements (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 97. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of advance pricing arrangements the Revenue Commissioners have agreed and which are currently in place, by country; the number of companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47307/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Settlements (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 98. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that with the current rate of progress at the Tax Appeals Commission it will take approximately 17 years to hear cases (details supplied); his plans to introduce measures to expedite the processing of these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47308/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Appeals Commission (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 99. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will request the Revenue Commissioners to offer alternative methods of settlement such as arbitration to persons in view of the fact that a prompt hearing before the Tax Appeals Commission is impossible in relation to the huge number of open appeals against tax assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47309/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Appeals Commission (8 Nov 2017)

Joan Burton: 100. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of appeals heard by the Tax Appeals Commission in each month since its formation; the number of determinations still outstanding for each of those months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47310/17]