Results 34,841-34,860 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: We in Sinn Féin put down a Private Members' motion yesterday to scrap the universal social charge and replace it with the system that was in existence prior to the December budget. Everybody on that side, including Labour Party Members, voted to keep it there. They voted to keep the tax on the working poor. It would cost €420 million to revert to the old system. That is a great deal of...

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Those are the priorities of both parties in this Government. They have stolen the clothes of Deputy Micheál Martin and the former Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, and are wearing them proudly on the Government benches today, along with their smiles. It is sad to see people who so convincingly and eloquently articulated positions in this Chamber, which I believe came from their hearts, smile...

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: One of the major issues that has arisen, and the figures regarding Permanent TSB amplify this issue, is that the capital requirements of that bank are now €4 billion. The head of that bank told us two years ago that only about 1% of its loans would be bad loans. Permanent TSB did not get involved in the speculative development lending. It was more conservative than that. It dealt with...

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: We have the figures now for one half of the problem, namely, the banks, but we must now come up with solutions for the problems of the mortgage holders because people with two incomes who were getting two pay cheques every Thursday are now relying on social welfare payments. People who bought property at the height of the boom have to make the decision to put food on the table——

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: ——or pay their mortgage, and they are rightly deciding to do the former. We must examine a scheme which deals with debt forgiveness and non-recourse mortgages but one that bails out those people also. The Minister is going down the wrong track and I appeal to him——

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: ——to change direction. In particular, I appeal to the Labour Party members to use their influence and go back to what they said they believed. For God's sake, pumping more money into defunct banks does not make sense. They are about to sink the Irish State and they will be guilty of reckless trading.

Order of Business (31 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate the earlier response to allow for a further and more in-depth debate on the results of the stress testing of the banks, possibly next week. The Tánaiste will be aware that the stress tests only deal with four of the guaranteed banks and the State is transferring €2.53 billion to Anglo Irish Bank and a further €0.5 billion to the Irish Nationwide this morning. This is aside...

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeframe within which the commission on taxation and social welfare will examine and publish recommendations on the interaction of the taxation and welfare systems as promised by the programme for Government. [6002/11]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on the programme for Government commitment to expand eligibility for the back to education allowance including a timeframe and the intended form of expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6001/11]

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Are there any proposals by the Government to introduce legislation on-----

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: It is promised, actually.

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: It is promised, and I am asking whether the Government is proposing to introduce that legislation.

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: It is promised.

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: There was a promise to address the issue, and I am asking whether it will be addressed in the form of legislation. I refer to mortgage defaults, about which promises have been made outside the House, and it is in accordance with the Standing Orders laid down by the House to raise matters of promised legislation.

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: To restart, when will there be proposals to deal with mortgage defaults? This is an issue that we in Sinn Féin have raised consistently. It is serious and it is coming at us down the road. This is highlighted by the fact that Irish Life & Permanent has been delisted from the stock markets here and in London, given that fact that the bank was heavily involved in mortgage and development...

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Is there a proposal to deal with debt relief or debt forgiveness, as distinct from interest relief, which is being talked about at this point? We will hear the results of the stress tests-----

Order of Business (30 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: -----which will allow relief for the banks, but what about the other end - relief for the people who have to pay the mortgages?

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (29 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: Question 48: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation when he will implement the temporary, partial credit guarantee scheme as provided for in the programme for Government; the time scale for the implementation, duration and cessation of this scheme; if there will be a cost of providing this insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/11]

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: The Deputy should read the motion and be honest.

Universal Service Charge: Motion (29 Mar 2011)

Pearse Doherty: The motion calls on the Government to revert to the existing system.