Results 34,541-34,560 of 34,833 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Question 405: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of the trustees in respect of a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Laois. [21850/08]

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: I look forward to debating the motion tabled by the Fine Gael Party, but I can condense it — Fine Gael wants to increase capital taxes and reduce VAT. It is nice to know there is new policy from the Fine Gael Party on increasing taxation. It is a pity it did not tell the electorate about its policies 12 months ago. Had it done so and revealed that it had these stealth taxes up its...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: ——depending on the economic situation, there would have been a different outcome to the last election, with Fine Gael being more disadvantaged than was the case.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: I am surprised Fine Gael wants to introduce a special——

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: ——capital gains tax on electricity generation. This is camouflaged by proposing a reduction in VAT from 13.5% to 12.5%.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: I will revert to Fine Gael's comments on the Irish experience. Such a measure was tried a number of years ago. In the 2001 budget, the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, reduced the top rate from 21% to 20%.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: At the time, people on the other side of the House stated the reduction would reduce inflation and prices, the benefits being passed on to customers by retailers and producers. We all know this did not occur. The following year, the Minister decided to reverse the decision because the reduction did not have the intended effect. He gave the Opposition the benefit of the doubt and, seven...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: To its credit, Fine Gael has had a slogan for the past year or so, that is, "Rip-off Ireland". Given that its tax reduction proposal is a front, the benefits of which Fine Gael Deputies know in their hearts would not be passed on, the slogan is now resting in peace.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Despite espousing the slogan successfully for several years, Fine Gael is walking away from it.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: The Deputies opposite know the reduction will not be passed on.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Had this policy of capital taxes on electricity generators been proposed by Sinn Féin, we would have put it down as the usual stuff expected from that party, but I am surprised it is Fine Gael's motion. If its Deputies paid attention to what was occurring in the country, they would know the ESB has put in place a new €22 billion strategy up to 2020. This will see a major investment in...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: European finance Ministers, who met recently, understand the situation. While there are inflationary pressures, I cannot excuse Fine Gael's knee-jerk reaction of attempting to introduce new taxes when the economy is starting to get into difficulty.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Were Fine Gael allowed, this would be the essence of what it would try to do.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Fine Gael would fund this tax cut by placing a levy on windfall gains of electricity. In my terminology, this levy would be taxation.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: It would be a levy.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Fine Gael does not have the guts to specify the level of the levy, be it 10%, 20%, 40% or 60%. When Fine Gael was last in Government——

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: ——it was happy with 60% tax rates. Income tax and PRSI were more than 60%.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: Are we returning to the high-tax Fine Gael policies by placing a levy on electricity generators? Why did Fine Gael not call for 60%?

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: I understand it well.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Seán Fleming: The Exchequer returns are less than projected in the budget, but the difficulties were signalled at the time.