Results 4,521-4,540 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Select Committee on Social Protection: Business of Select Committee (18 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: We have no apologies. I remind members, officials and those in the Gallery to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when they are on silent. I also remind members of the importance of cleaning and sanitising their desk space and chair when leaving the meeting, in the interests of health and...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate, Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development and Islands, which has been referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann. I welcome the Aire Stáit, Deputy Joe O'Brien, and Ms Sheenagh Rooney, assistant secretary general of the Department of Community and Rural Development. I thank the Minister and his...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Supplementary) (18 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister of State for that update. If we could return to the Estimate before us, are there questions on the Supplementary Estimate?

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to expand the role of the Air Corps air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36565/20]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to expand the cybersecurity capacity of the Defence Forces; the engagement of the Defence Forces with the National Cyber Security Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36566/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the cost-benefit analysis for flood relief works to incorporate turlough flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36128/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 125. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to include specific provision for turlough flooding in the cost-benefit analysis for flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36129/20]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 342. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to allow swimming lessons to proceed under level 3 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36828/20]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 130: In page 42, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “Report on extending 10-year ownership and usage period for Capital Gains Tax retirement relief 25. The Minister for Finance shall, within 90 days of the passing of this Act, publish a report on extending the 10-year ownership and usage period for Capital Gains Tax retirement relief to a spouse...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I listened to what the Minister said. None of us is trying to create loopholes in the tax law or encourage tax avoidance. That is not the objective behind the amendment. I am seeking a report into the issue to see whether it is possible to ensure that a mechanism is in place that will not discourage the joint ownership of farmland. There are many barriers to this happening. From a policy...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis of the Minister's response. I thank him for that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 131: In page 42, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “Report on determining land area for solar panel installation 25.The Minister for Finance shall, within 90 days of the passage of this Act, publish a report on addressing the current ambiguity on the calculations used to determine the area of land on which solar panels are installed, for Capital...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his clarity on that. The nub of the issue is that I do not think any of the Revenue Commissioners is a sheep farmer. The problem is with the definition. The definition, as outlined by the Revenue Commissioners, is that the area around and between solar panels is considered the area for calculation that is suitable for farming. The reality is that under these...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I will come back to the Minister on that. I take him at his word. The difficulty is that I am talking about genuine farming and the grazing of this land. I am not talking about people who are trying to avoid paying tax. It is a significant barrier to the roll-out of renewable energy across the country, in particular the deployment of solar panels. We have the mother and father of all...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I will withdraw it, with leave to reintroduce it on Report Stage and give the Minister time to think about it.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: With the amount we are getting for them, he can have more than two.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 133: In page 44, to delete lines 12 to 37, to delete page 45, and in page 46, to delete lines 1 to 30. I will speak to amendments Nos. 133 and 134 together.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Amendment No. 133 seeks to delete the carbon tax on agricultural diesel. Amendment No. 134 is, relatedly, to have a report on that proposal. The Minister and I have had this discussion on a number of occasions in the past. The reality is that within the agricultural sector, there is no alternative to diesel at present. We do not have electric tractors or hybrid vehicles and the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: The difficulty I have is that not only are we discussing the increase in carbon tax from next spring but we are looking at increasing the carbon tax for agricultural fuel from now until 2030. I will deal with this incremental increase in carbon taxes in far more detail when discussing one of my later amendments. Specifically at this point, we are looking at an additional carbon tax on the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I accept that for farmers who have a tax liability the changes made in 2012 will benefit them. I do not dispute this but the fact is that a very large proportion of farmers in this country do not have a tax liability because they are making very little, if nothing, from their farms at present. The reliefs are all well and good but farmers cannot access them unless they actually have a...