Results 4,061-4,080 of 33,118 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, but I think the Deputy will understand that we have to confine our engagement to representative bodies in sectors. It is unusual enough for the Department to meet representative bodies in a sector for which it does not have direct policy responsibility. We are responsible for section 481 and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is responsible for many of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: On the situation Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned where one has individuals who are afraid to, as he said, put their heads above the parapet, surely that is where organisations like SIPTU come in and surely this is the very valuable role trade unions play. Where workers are very concerned about their future, or are concerned that they are not being treated fairly, they have recourse to a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for tabling his amendment. I am very much aware of the impact the rising cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil is having on living standards within our country. I am aware of the great concern that many face this winter which has darker nights regarding how they can keep themselves warm and I am aware of the costs of using a car, commuting and going to school, etc....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with the retrofitting critique that Deputy Doherty has just laid out. Last night in the debate on the introduction of an accelerated capital allowance for retrofitting in the rental sector, the Deputy made the point that in his view there are not enough people available to do the work for retrofitting.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Fair enough.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I stand corrected if-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: If Deputy Doherty did not acknowledge the lack of skilled people available to do the work, then of course I apologise to the Deputy. I thought he did. If he did not, then I take that point back. The Deputy is aware, however, of the huge challenge we have in getting people to do the work and all of the training efforts that are under way, which I referred to last night, to build up the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The change to mineral oil and home heating oil tax will not come in until May 2023. We are already recognising that winter is a difficult period for so many. That is why we have phased increases to come in after the harsh weather of this time has hopefully faded. Going back to what I said earlier, on the one hand, Deputy Doherty wants more retrofitting programmes, but he is against the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: What the German finance minister does is a matter for him. It is not up to me to be critical of any measure that country brings forward. It will assess what is correct for its economy but-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: It is refreshing to hear Deputy Doherty recommit to his energy cap proposal because I have not heard anybody in Sinn Féin talk about it for weeks.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I am saying I have not heard-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I have not heard anyone. I do not want to breach committee protocol by asking Deputy Matthews a question because I am sure Standing Orders do not allow that, but I think he stated a moment ago that he had not seen any reference to the cap in Sinn Féin's energy document that was published today, where it appears to be missing in action-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: I am well used to this. Deputy Doherty's interruptions only fuel me to make the point even more strongly.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: If that is what we need to do, that is what we need to do. Not only does the policy the Deputy recommitted to appear to be missing in the document his party published today, it is not mentioned in any of his amendments. He has not brought it forward at any point in any amendment that is due to be debated in respect of the Bill. I think the reason it is not referenced relates to the fact...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: In asking for this measure to be extended, the Deputy explicitly acknowledges that it is a measure that helps and, as he said, that measure will be in place up to 28 February next year. By continuing it from 1 November to 28 February, the measure is aimed to provide support at what we know is the coldest time of the year. I would make the case to the Deputy that the appropriate thing to do...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said to Deputy Nash, this is a matter that will have to be reassessed when we get to the early part of 2023. While I hope the situation will improve by then, we cannot be certain of that by any means. The decision will be made at that point regarding whether this measure should be extended or, as we hope, moderated or even phased out if the living standard circumstances allow us to do...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: The case I have made to the Deputy is that I would ask those households to view the budget in the round. The reason the change in the carbon tax on home heating oil will not take effect until May is in recognition of the circumstances of those homes that are dependent on home heating oil. I have tried to give recognition to that by phasing in the increase in carbon taxes, so at least the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: That would only be the case if I were to include home heating oil in this particular measure.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Paschal Donohoe: On excise, I go back to our earlier discussion. In the round, I have to be confident that we are able to afford everything that we do. The parts of excise that still apply to home heating oil are mostly related to carbon tax and we have had this discussion before on carbon tax. Our carbon tax revenue is playing a very important part in investing into a lower carbon and better future for...