Results 441-460 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: But what was the difference at the time, Mr. Kenny, between you receiving donations, substantial enough for golf classics, from property developers or construction interests as the Fianna Fáil Party?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes. Mr. Kenny, in the last few days when representatives of the Fianna Fáil former Government and, indeed, developers were questioned, they answered, if I may say so in more or less the same terms that you did now. What was the difference between your approach to accepting donations from developers and the former Fianna Fáil Government?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: The former leader of your party who is now Minister for Finance, in 2001 prohibited corporate donations voluntarily to Fine Gael. You reversed that when you became leader in 2002. Is that correct?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Last question for you, Mr. Bruton, if I may. Mr. Bruton, in a budget delivered by the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat Government in December 1997, the Government reduced capital gains tax from 40% to 20%. In the subsequent ten years, during the property bubble, massive profits were made by land speculators and developers. There was ... it was said at this tribunal when Mr. Derek...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Mr. Bruton, that election was still held in the ... at a time of property prices and land prices being massively higher. Did you think that it was correct that individuals who buy land, sit on it for a few years, then get planning permission - therefore, the benefit of that land has hugely increased - and they sell it on, that they should be rewarded by halving the capital gains tax as the...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Did you take any measures-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Did you take any measures to distinguish what you call an entrepreneur, or a genuine entrepreneur creating wealth, from property speculatory ... speculators?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: What would ye have done in 2007, Minister?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: But just to clarify, Mr. Bruton, because we have ... my time is up and we have to have a break. In the 2007 manifesto, did you make any provision to distinguish between what you call genuine entrepreneurs creating wealth, etc., and people making massive speculative gains from land dealing?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: But how?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: How did you do that when you maintain that-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes, but-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: But just-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes, the net ... the net point, Mr. Bruton, is this: in the 2007 election manifesto, when you elected to maintain capital gains tax at the 50% cut introduced previously by Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, did you thereby make any distinction in relation to the tax treatment of what you call the genuine entrepreneur creating wealth and individuals making massive profits from...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes. Thanks, Chair. I'm gratified that we can see that as well as the insomniacs and alcoholics, we can now add a new cohort of viewers - demoted Ministers. Chair, Tánaiste - Deputy Burton - just very briefly, you both touched on the issue of Oireachtas oversight but, for evidential reasons, I just want another detail. You don't need to repeat the points. But, in your opinion, to...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: So, expertise was available, you're saying?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Okay.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Right.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (23 Jul 2015)

Joe Higgins: Right.