Results 5,441-5,460 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, but I was told I was talking about theory and that others were speaking about pragmatism. I would like to point out-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On Report Stage, we may hear an answer from the Minister of State in respect of the IMF analysis of real play-out in real economies in 100 countries over 30 years. It suggests that when the income share of the top 10% is increased, it damages GDP. When the income of the bottom 10% is increased, the effect on the economy is greater.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I need to make it in the sense of indicating I am not talking theory while others talk pragmatism. I am talking evidence and I would like to hear answers in terms of evidence. We can move on but perhaps we can come back to this point on Report Stage.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 1: In page 11, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “Report on special assignee relief programme 10.Within 6 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on special assignee relief programme to include a quantification of revenue foregone.”. The recommendation simply asks that within six months of the passing...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is recommendation No. 1. We are still on SARP. We have not got to the KEEP programme yet.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: When does the Minister of State anticipate that we might get the 2018 figures?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I oppose the section and I have also tabled recommendations to the section. Section 11 concerns the KEEP scheme. It is the one the Minister of State was preparing to discuss earlier. Section 11 is an extension of the KEEP scheme. My core issue is not with the measures concerning the extension, which relate to part-time, flexible working arrangements, although there is also a question mark...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I understand it, people can have up to €100,000 in stocks and shares, and up to 50% of their income come in the form of stocks and shares. This would mean people covered by this could be getting up to €200,000, which is quite a large amount. I would question the small-scale employee. The scheme is designed to be of benefit for those on €200,000, €150,000 or...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: While I agree that people get taxed on their stocks and shares, these people would have been taxed at 40% and are being taxed at a lower rate because it is on stocks and shares at point of exit. That is an overall reduction in our tax and revenue. The aspect of pay later and pay less has been the feature of a number of tax relief measures introduced by the Government over a series of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Skip the ideological-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Since I have been accused of an ideological-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a single question to move it on.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a single sentence.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In an earlier contribution I asked the Minister of State a direct question and did not get an answer. It might be useful on this. Does he believe in progressive taxation? Does he believe that the SARP scheme and the KEEP scheme satisfy the principles of progressive taxation?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Since I have been accused of having an ideological position, let us go there.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What is the ideological point on which the Minister of State disagrees with me?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Are the KEEP and SARP schemes progressive?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not ideology; it is a direct question.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am simply asking whether the KEEP scheme and the SARP scheme are progressive taxation measures. That is not ideological. The Minister of State has spoken about progressive taxation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not an outlier notion.