Results 6,181-6,200 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: The Minister of State clicked his fingers two years ago.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: What about roll-over relief?
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I hope the Minister of State's assumption is correct.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely,welcomes this budget.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I thank Senator Daly for allowing me the opportunity to speak in this debate. I join other Speakers in welcoming the fact that the Minister has been present for the duration of the discussion. It is an important debate. I suggested a debate on the world trade talks about five or six weeks ago. I am glad we are having this debate but we should have had it a couple of weeks ago when the...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: It was shocking that the Government and many of the farming lobby groups raised the white flag on the sugar sector. Over 3,000 farmers are directly involved, not including the people working in the plants and in transportation. It was given up at the drop of a hat.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: Now we are told that the bulk of the compensation to come to Ireland as a result of the abandonment of thesugar sector could go to Greencore. What a disgrace that would be. I accept that the deal has been done but I do not accept that it had to go the way it did and I do not accept the waffle that passes for comment from people who say this deal is being done to benefit poor producers in...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, to the House. His presence here on statements on the budget is becoming an annual event. I am conscious that tonight several television news programmes will have polls on the budget. I hope the Minister of State or any of his colleagues do not have their mobile telephones with them.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: TV3 will have a poll tonight on public reaction to the budget. I hope the Minister of State and his support group will not be engaged in manipulation of any of these opinion polls. I am glad to note the Minister of State has turned off his mobile telephone in the Chamber.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: Not surprisingly, I am not as overawed or impressed as the Minister of State is with the budget measures. We are disappointed in that what was promised on different items was not in the final budget. The scaleââ
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: ââand depth of commitment given by the Government to different initiatives is disappointing. The Minister of State is correct in stating that the public finances have never been better. The amounts of money coming into the State coffers on a weekly basis have never been more. However, the cynicism and the justified criticism of the public towards Government spending have never been...
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I am in favour of decentralisation. On that budget night I supported it in my speech. However, it illustrates a sincere commitment being made with a timeframe being put in place but still not delivered upon.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: We are now asked to believe this five-year plan for child care and the ten-year plan for Transport 21 will be delivered on time and within budget. The Minister of State must understand the degree of cynicism on the public's part that these initiatives will not be delivered upon within the schedule announced today. While the announcement on child care is a step in the right direction, it may,...
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I must bow to the Senator's superior knowledge on that as that was before my time.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: It is a tiny step in the right direction but in light of recent revelations in the media and the high level of VRT, there is a strong case for its reduction. If there is to be another budget from the Governmentââ
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: There cannot be six more before the next election.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I suspect the Progressive Democrats are interested in being in Government after the next election but with a new partner. However, they will have to sort this out themselves.
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I have always highlighted the increases faced by motorists in duty and motor tax. The VRT regime must be rebalanced, whereby those who use their cars more, pay more, while those who use them less, pay less. A flat charge for all car users is inequitable and must be examined. I was amused when the Minister claimed that because the Government did not raise the VAT rate this year, it showed its...
- Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)
John Paul Phelan: I am concerned about those whose income is barely above the threshold for the top income tax rate.