Results 3,761-3,780 of 5,098 for speaker:Mairéad Farrell
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: Since we have not done this in a year, for clarity, in relation to section 2, does this amendment go first or can we speak at this point on section 2? Apologies, I seek clarity because it is only my second time doing it.
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: This amendment to the USC 2% threshold is to account for the increase in the national minimum wage in 2022. It moves the threshold from annual income of €20,687 to €21,295 to ensure that the 2% rate remains the highest rate of USC charged on the income of full-time minimum wage workers. This has arisen from the 30% increase to the minimum wage that was recommended by the Low...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: We all agree that we want to see an increase in the minimum wage. Anyone on the minimum wage would want to see that. We are speaking on the Finance Bill and the everyday impact it will have on people. It is important to raise the difficulties that people face with the increase in costs and inflation. What happened to the plan to abolish the USC? The Minister can correct me if I am...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: On the amendment, I agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett that we need to have a conversation and a debate in regard to wealth taxes. We have long been arguing that those people who earn more should be paying more and we have been quite clear on that, budget after budget. We would probably look to have something a bit broader than this but the fact we would have a discussion and that this report...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: It is a missed opportunity not to have this report. The IMF has said that post-pandemic, we should look at a solidarity tax. In terms of where the conversation is at for a lot of people, it is a missed opportunity not to prepare this kind of report looking at the possibility of a wealth tax. In 2016 the ESRI prepared a report entitled Scenarios and Distributional Implications of a...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: Apologies, Chairman, I had my hand raised.
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: Sometimes it is easier to intervene at this point. I will brief on this issue. We have been clear in our support for the introduction of that type of a tax on multiple homes. I will be supporting the amendment. The only issue I have with it is that it does not deal with the issue of sweetheart deals for funds. The number of vacant homes is a major issue. There is a large number of...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: I would like to speak on that amendment so can I do that?
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: Can I still speak on it?
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: I can speak on that amendment when I speak on the section. Is that the way it would work?
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: There are some sound issues. I do not know if it is just me or if Deputy Nash's microphone. This is an interesting amendment and I commend Deputy Nash on bringing it forward. As the Deputy said, the structure of partnerships, families and so on has changed and it would be remiss of us not to mention the many people who have been trying to get married for the past two years but who have...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: In general, on section 2, is that correct?
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: My apologies, I am unable to raise the hand signal for some reason. I am not sure how comfortable I am about moving in on the big screen, but we are where we are. I welcome this amendment. I commend Deputy Nash on bringing forward this amendment on bogus self-employment, which we know is occurring in many areas. As highlighted by Deputy Nash, it is happening in the aviation sector, the...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: I, too, thank the Minister for his response. We need to realise that the issue of bogus self-employment has a knock-on effect in terms of bid-rigging. We know that there are concerns in regard to bid-rigging. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been requested to get involved. Bid-rigging is a process whereby bidders for public work contracts co-ordinate bids to keep...
- Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)
Mairéad Farrell: Yes.