Results 42,901-42,920 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Finance has advised that Revenue guidelines will address this matter, but the period of 20 hours sounds about right. The matter will be clarified by Revenue guidelines, as opposed to through the Bill. It is important to clarify that there is now a broader range of criteria under which one can qualify.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senators for their contributions and recognise the strong views of Senator Maurice Cummins which I have heard him express in dealing with other measures in the House, including the Betting (Amendment) Bill. When I was before the House to take that Bill, I made the point that there was a broader societal issue around gambling, including online gambling and the changing nature of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: They can open all week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., April to August.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I apologise; my point is that for a certain period of the year, the opening hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., from April to August, including Sundays. This provision merely extends these opening hours to the rest of the year. I do not necessarily envisage every shop opening for these hours and appreciate that employees' concerns must be addressed by employers. This legislation merely seeks...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to be argumentative, but I must point out to the House that in the 1998 Finance Act changes were made to allow these opening hours from April to August. Since 1998 nobody has suggested these hours should be restricted to the summer period and I find it peculiar, from a legislative point of view, that we say it is acceptable to open a bookmaker's shop from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: To reiterate, the Revenue Commissioners made inquiries and have not found any evidence that it applies to any other institutions, but should that change it can be addressed in due course. As of now, however, there is no evidence to suggest that it applies.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this. It is an important issue for him, Waterford and, indeed, all Members of the Oireachtas who live in cities which could be in line to benefit from the initiative. It was announced two years ago but it has taken some time to get European state aid approval. In fact, the passage of this Finance Bill is an important step in our application for European...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: If it is helpful, I can provide the Senator with a briefing.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I do not mean now. I can provide the Senator with a written brief and if she wishes to table a recommendation on Report Stage, we can discuss it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: In this recommendation, Senators Quinn and Zappone are seeking to extend the amendments made in section 19 of the Finance Bill relating to the National University of Ireland Galway to the broader university sector. However, the motivation behind such a wide-ranging extension of this provision is not clear to me. It is important to appreciate that the purpose of the amendments made in respect...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: No.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: We might not have the debate on the budget completed by the spring, but-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: There will be no budget announced in the spring. We have factored into the annual budget how much we expect to spend and take in during the calendar year; therefore, we have forecasted the reduction we will make in the burden on the people. Everyone from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste down within the Government has stated we hope and expect to be able to do more and target low and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Reilly. This is an important matter that was raised with many Members in advance of the budget. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, considered the proposal for the introduction of a tax relief for graduate entry medicine loans in the context of the recent budget. He decided at this time that the tax system is not the appropriate way to address the affordability of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The universal social charge generates revenue of approximately €4.5 billion per annum. While I differ with Senator Bradford on his political commentary, as I am sure he will appreciate, I agree with much of his analysis of the burden of income tax. The greatest concern of the people I meet in my clinic and as I go about my daily life is not the name of a tax or the composition of the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: A substantial amount of analysis covering some of the groups to which the Senator refers has been published by the Department of Finance or is due to be published in the coming months by Departments or other stakeholders. A detailed distribution analysis was published by the Department of Finance in sections B1 to B26, inclusive, of this year's budget book. The analysis sets out the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I note Senator Zappone tells us she always does what Senator Quinn says and refers to Senator O'Brien as an expert in this field, which I am sure he is. I am not sure what weight she attaches to my words, but I will give it a go anyway. For the information of the House, because I think the information is useful, the average cost of the USC charge on PRSAs, in respect of the employer's...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators Feargal Quinn and Katherine Zappone for tabling this recommendation. I know that recommendations are tabled in this House, but the concept is the same as amendments and I take them seriously. It has been useful to hear a wide range of views on this issue. Senator Feargal Quinn is correct that we must address the issue of pension scheme take-up. As Senator Aideen Hayden...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: That is okay.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: From Brussels, anyway.