Results 6,841-6,860 of 6,901 for speaker:Ruth Coppinger

Public Health (Standard Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: It is incredible that the House is debating the issue of deglamorising of one of the most deadly products on the planet. Tobacco smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland and the percentage of smokers in the population remains high, at 22%. After many decades of lying and deceit by the tobacco companies, we know their product leads to a...

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: It is perfectly true.

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: The estimated potential of our oil and gas reserves should be outlined and examined further. It is estimated that €420 billion of reserves have been discovered recently under the Irish Sea but there has been a lack of exploration of late. In his speech the Minister mentioned that of the 158 exploration areas and wells drilled offshore, two thirds were done in the 1970s and 1980s, so...

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: The Minister was not even here when I spoke before so he should allow me to finish. There is a neoliberal mantra which the Minister seems to have adopted which dismisses out of hand any State interest in such endeavours. The report mentions Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as other areas where this has been done. The State could develop expertise in this area if it put the work in,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 4. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the Bank of Ireland selling part of its mortgage loan book to Dilosk Limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28626/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: What are the Minister's views on the Bank of Ireland selling off its mortgage loan book to Dilosk Limited, an unregulated company, and does he intend to stand idly by and allow this to happen given the huge subsidy put into the banks by the taxpayers of Ireland, or will he take action to prevent this happening?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Why is the bank selling loans that are performing perfectly well? It is alarming that this is happening and that no action is being taken to prevent it. On its website, Dilosk says that it has a focus on residential investment property, that is buy to let. Therefore, it is not the case that it is focusing on ordinary residential lending; it is investment lending. The bank's shareholdlers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: People took out those mortgages with ICS Building Society. Building societies were regarded by people at that time as safe and secure places. Now they will be with a company about which we know little or nothing. The Minister appears hell-bent on increasing competition in this sector. Sub-prime lenders who are operating in this sector were brought in for the same reason, to increase...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Competitiveness is the argument that is often used, but pay levels in Ireland are still far below the EU average. The Minister is underestimating how much they have fallen since the crash. They have increased by 12% for managers and professionals, but there has been a decrease of 5% for lower paid production, transport, craft and other manual workers. Wage increases are superior to tax...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I do not agree with the Minister about public sector workers. The economy would benefit considerably from the increase in consumer spending that would follow increases in public sector pay. Wealthy people who receive tax cuts tend not to spend in the economy to the same extent. Dr. Micheál Collins of NERI has estimated that an hourly increase of €1 for a low-income worker is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 2. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has estimated how much a 5% or 10% rise in wages for low and middle income workers would boost tax receipts and reduce welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28546/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Has the Minister considered the impact on the economy of a 5% or 10% pay increase for low and middle income workers in terms of tax receipts and a lowering of social welfare? The reason I ask the question is that the Minister has touted the benefits of a tax cut over pay increases while calling for employers and, indeed, the Government to suppress wage increases.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 12. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will apply for funds from the Ireland strategic investment fund to invest in the construction of thousands of social, affordable and local authority homes [25440/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 13. To ask the Minister for Finance the effect the Government policy has had since 2007 of downsizing of the public sector and cutting wages on the wage share-wages as a percentage of GDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28548/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Abolition (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 16. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will abolish inequitable tax reliefs in the budget such as tax relief on pension contributions at the marginal rate. [28547/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Charges: Commission for Energy Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Is that just for the first two years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Charges: Commission for Energy Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I am equally dubious about how the timeline has been completely thrown off by the lack of information from Irish Water. The public is being deliberately kept in the dark. This is the only conclusion we can draw. The water charges are political dynamite as everybody who canvassed knows. CER states the average charge will not be more than €240 on average. From where does it get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Charges: Commission for Energy Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: It will take a long time to answer the questions. It would be better to group them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Charges: Commission for Energy Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I am just saying it will take another hour or hour and a half to answer the questions. Would it not be better to group them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Charges: Commission for Energy Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I am just proposing that we consider the option. Senator Keane did not listen to the previous responses.