Results 7,341-7,360 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Dr. O'Sullivan for her presentation. I want to pick up on a couple of the themes that have come up. As we will produce a report, we want to gather data to inform the recommendations we bring forward. I want to focus on two areas. The first, which was touched by Deputy O'Dea, is the question of compulsion. This has been a key debating point and Dr. O'Sullivan talked about it very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to elaborate on that. It is perhaps the case that people are not able to be part of the vanguard of the jobs of the future. We know that in some cases people are getting degrees now for jobs that have not been invented yet because the workplace is changing. This is something we afford to all our young people when they choose their courses through the CAO but we do not do it for others.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 3:3. In page 20, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:“(3) The Minister for Finance shall, within thirteen months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on—(a) the total amount of tax advantage accrued to qualifying companies in respect of the Key Employee Engagement Programme, and (b) the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify two points on which questions were put, Senator Horkan referred to the amount of tax advantage granted under the section. The reason I phrased the recommendation that way was because that is wording from the Bill. Paragraph 8 on page 19 specifically states that a qualifying company shall, when required to do so, by notice in writing by the Revenue Commissioners, furnish...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that the figure for tax forgone? It is estimated as €10 million.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the clarification.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State. It is interesting because I had a different reply when I inquired about the €10 million previously. I appreciate that the Minister of State has clarified that €10 million is the estimated total cost, including tax forgone. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could indicate that this is very different from, for example, the estimate put...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief. I was going to call a vote on this but as time is pushing on I will not do so. I will call a voice vote instead as I know that we need to get through this. I am going to flag this now as something I may raise on Report Stage and it is something I have raised here before, but with all of this talk of small companies I feel I need to bring up the point that, when it...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 5:In page 34, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:"(4) 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—(a) on the impact of Irish Real Estate Funds and the Real Estate Investment Trusts on the Irish property and housing sector, including rental prices and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand there is a Government recommendation to be moved so I am happy not to dwell on this issue.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, while the Minister of State says he cannot accept the recommendation and its provision in respect of a report, will the issues arising from Revenue's investigations and his conversations be brought into the public domain where we can debate them? I understand his concern. This is what I meant. He has an issue of willingness to engage on the issues and has expressed that concern...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a concern that these are such major actors in our economy and we are not able to discuss them. We are not simply talking about the very small number of REITs; we are talking about IREFs as well. Perhaps we can revisit the matter, but it is important, not only in the context of the tax strategy paper, that we can have public debates on the actions of these entities and the relevant...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Given the Minister of State's comments, I will press the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the recommendation. We did not have an opportunity to debate it due to time constraints, but I was very supportive of the recommendation on banks and their losses. I reserve the right to raise on Report Stage the issue of banks and their losses which was discussed previously by Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In reviewing the 9% VAT rate as the year goes on, will the Minister of State consider hotels' compliance and engagement with joint labour committees? If we want to see real economic benefits from these measures and the hospitality industry, we must ensure that those working in it, who often have homes locally and who are there when the tourist season is over, have sufficient incomes. That...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In regard to the discussion on labour rights and employment pay rates, while all Members know good and bad employers, there are facts and figures provided by the Low Pay Commission with which to work. There are also very clear targets relating to this area, such as those under the sustainable development goals and gender equality. The figures and information we have, such as the Low Pay...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 11:In page 88, line 2, to delete “9 months” and substitute “6 months”.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 13:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:“86. The Minister for Finance shall—(a) within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas an equality statement to examine how the measures contained in the Finance Act 2017impact upon equality in Ireland, and (b) ensure that Budget 2019 is...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 14: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 assessing the impact of Finance Act 2017on Ireland’s progressive implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the target under...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 15: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 on—(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 private...