Results 40,201-40,220 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (10 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 13: In page 13, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "4.—An approved body pursuant to section 848A of the Principal Act shall make available to the public sufficient particulars of its accounts and such other information as may be required by the Revenue Commissioners." The purpose of this amendment is to require that charities which benefit from the range...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (10 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. When Deputy Quinn was Minister for Finance, he proceeded with caution in this area because of the legitimate fear that, with the absence of charity legislation, it could be open to abuse. This fear remains. Members are aware of and support the fantastic work done by not-for-profit organisations in a range of activities. However, it is only...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (10 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 14: In page 13, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "4.—Where a person avails of tax relief relating to income including or consisting of rental income pursuant to the Principal Act, he or she shall furnish to the Commissioners sufficient information to demonstrate that he or she has complied with any requirement of the law regarding registration as a...

Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: The Minister has proposed major new amendments to the Finance Bill. The proposed amendments to section 58 will significantly water down the penalties imposed on advisers, bankers and others who are involved in aiding and abetting tax evasion. The imposition of a guillotine on the Report Stage debate will deprive the House of an opportunity to discuss the amendments, which are shameful and...

Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: Was it found earlier? Was it always there?

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she is taking to prevent many universities falling into deficit this year; if she will meet with the heads of the universities to discuss their concerns regarding a funding shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7983/05]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: Question 62: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the review of the proposed weighted system of allocation of resource teaching support will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7958/05]

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: I move amendment No. 12: In page 13, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "4.—The Minister shall review tax relief arrangements for private nursing homes to determine their compatibility with health criteria and in particular health and welfare related criteria regarding the size and location of facilities.". I appreciate the Minister may not have had an opportunity to get a...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: The Minister's predecessor, Mr. McCreevy, spoke about this issue on a number of occasions. He told me he introduced the system of tax relief for nursing home fees to reduce charges, rather then to increase the supply of beds in nursing homes. I do not see any evidence of a reduction or levelling off in charges. I hope this element will be concluded following the review. Mr. McCreevy...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: It would be interesting to extend the statistical exercise, with which the Minister's officials supplied him, to include the incidence of indirect taxation in the period of statistical analysis to which he referred. He said that he attends EU ECOFIN meetings. I am sure his officials are aware that when one takes the more complete picture, when one includes the impact of indirect taxation on...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: The VAT rate was increased in the budget before last. What is the Minister talking about? Does he not remember that?

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: What the Minister had to say was interesting. He approved of every piece of largesse by Government in recent years. The only thing he did not approve of was the notion that working class children, whose parents did not have a high income, should look a well-off person's children in the eye as they walked in the gates of Trinity College and had free access to university education. The Minister...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: Everything has a cost. It is interesting that the Minister has defended and made a cogent argument as to why the well-off should be even better off. If the Minister looks at the statistics from Patrick Clancy and others on who went to college before the introduction of free tuition fees at university level, the tax covenants that were available only to the wealthy — the Minister will...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: A bus driver's children could not go to college because their income was too high for a grant whereas somebody on farming income — and I say good luck to them because I think they should get it — could vary their income when their children were coming up to college age and they would get a grant. To add to that, the people who were really well-off could take out a covenant. The cost of...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: ——who were paying no tax.

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: It may have been RTE getting him wrong again. I think it was the Minister's sentiments that were being described.

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: Fine. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste both said to me, from where the Minister is now sitting, that they do not find it acceptable. They think it is not acceptable that people on an income of more than €200,000 should pay no contribution. This does not really excite the Minister's disapproval; what excites his disapproval is the most important measure to open up access to third level...

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: ——in Irish society to say that opening up third level education to children of all backgrounds——

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: ——is wrong.

Finance Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Joan Burton: I find it odd. I invite the Minister and his officials to look at Professor Clancy's work, which shows how access has been opened up. I refer to the CIE bus supervisor. That person's children were not able to access third level education but they are now able to do so. Like free secondary education, this has been one of the best steps forward this country has taken. I am sure the Minister...