Results 7,321-7,340 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I note that the Minister of State did not answer the very simple question I put to him as to whether joint procurement contracts would be subject to the triple lock mechanism. I am sure he will have to answer parliamentary questions on the subject. It was the single question I put to him. As it has been not been answered, we can perhaps assume that they will not.

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a pity the question was not answered here.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 3:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"86. The Minister for Finance shall ensure that Budget 2019 is gender and equality proofed and accompanied by an Equality Statement.".

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This recommendation relates to the potential for ensuring budget 2019 is gender-proofed, equality-proofed and accompanied by an equality statement. I recognise that progress has been made in this area. I am making this proposal again now because we did not have an opportunity to debate it fully on Committee Stage. I am disappointed that budget 2018 does not deliver on the Government's...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the recognition of the SWITCH model which has been used to date. While it captures the distributive effects, it misses many other social impacts, as we have been flagging. I know that it has been flagged by the community and voluntary pillar to a significant extent. We need to look beyond the distributive effects and consider the social impacts. In terms of their assessment, has...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not press the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw it, but I would like a response first.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw my recommendation for now, but I will continue to press the issue.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Have we skipped a recommendation?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to clarify whether recommendation No. 2 was taken.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is the recommendation on tax treaties. Was the recommendation taken?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sorry, I have the recommendations in the order they were submitted. I will be very brief.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 4:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:“86. The Minister for Finance shall, within twelve months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a review of Ireland’s trade tax treaties including an assessment of the role tax treaties might play in relation to the global achievement of the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am ask that within a year of the passing of this Bill, the Minister would prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a review of Ireland's trade and tax treaties. This refers to our bilateral tax treaties. I ask that this would include an assessment of the role the tax treaties might be playing with regard to the global achievement of the sustainable development goals, and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am aware of the spillover analysis that was done. I welcome that and the renegotiation of the treaties. I was trying to highlight that the context has since changed. Since that analysis two years ago, we have had both, as the Minister of State mentioned correctly, the Paris targets which have been set and also our commitments under the sustainable development goals. Would it not have...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 5:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"86.The Minister for Finance shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report with recommendations as to- (a) how Part 30 of the Principal Act might be amended to allow for replacement of the current marginal rate tax relief in respect of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is the most crucial recommendation and, therefore, I would appreciate it if the Minister could indicate how intends to tackle this issue. There has been extensive media coverage of the deep structural inequities within our contributory pension system, which ensure that those who have taken time to care for someone or to contribute to society in different ways have been penalised through...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am aware of the intention to develop a new five-year pension reform plan, as flagged by the Minister of State's Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty. Her Department is considering an auto-enrolment pension system. That will be given due consideration in these Houses, particularly by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Employment...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief. I second Senator McDowell's comments on the effective tax rate and how it can be better. We can look to achieving this and, at this point of the year, we send an arrow towards next year's Finance Bill and the considerations involved in it. There is a question about the effective tax rate and how we can bring it forward but there is also a question about our tax reliefs....