Results 7,921-7,940 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. Duggan for his input on that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In regard to the large schemes, which may be public, private or a mix of the two and involve tailored products produced for the investment market, would the ethical investment concerns that may arise in terms of State investment and the constraints already in place in that regard affect what types of packages are acceptable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that under the mandate they have?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Would something similar to the insurance scheme referred to by Deputy John Brady be considered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There was a 30% fall in pension funds in 2008. I guess it is balancing out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It would be useful if that costing could be sent on to us. I have looked for it before with the provision going back to 1973.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know a check was done on 1953. It would be useful to go back to 1973. It should also look at the women, for example, who are on a reduced rate contributory pension who may be impacted by it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It might give an estimate of one likely scenario of cost. I do not believe many people will switch whereas I believe those on the reduced rate might get an increased rate. One would have to give them the entitlement to switch. It would be worth bearing this in mind as another scenario. Of course, one must consider all scenarios.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would be very cautious on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A huge amount of unpaid care is provided and is still being provided by all the women in Ireland.

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not see anything in the amendment that dictates which parts of the country things would take place in. The amendment says this is a substantial tax expenditure. It allows for a shortening of tax from 12.5% to 6.25%. It is a significant expense that may well be worthwhile but we need to evaluate its benefits. The amendment seeks to simply say we should have ongoing cost-benefit...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is really unfortunate because we are going with the Minister on this. This an attempt to extend the application and to ensure that the knowledge box is not just available to international companies but to Irish companies too. In principle, we are already recognising that it is important that there be benefit in Ireland so I find it of concern that we will not have any information...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is the Minister's concern around the retention of regional or local information or is it a question of the place of production as against the location of research and development? Is she saying that this Bill relates to research and development and not to the place of production? It is important we have a sense of where research and development is taking place regionally. It may be that...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the amendment, which is important in terms of good archival practice. The issue was highlighted recently by Catriona Crowe, the former head of the National Archives, and others. In terms of good archival practice, we must ensure that the records are kept for a future controller or in case there is a concern in relation to a controller and another has to replace him or her or if...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a number of amendments in this section. I anticipate the Minister's concerns over my amendment No. 6 and I will be happy to work around it. It suggests that the report the Minister receives from the controller should be made publicly available. It comes to the same crucial question. If we are to have this knowledge box and it is an expenditure, as it is, the case for it needs to be...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 9 relates to the Minister having the information I believe she needs to have. I was concerned to see that the Bill provides that the controller simply shares information on the number of reviews. It is a set of numbers that could almost be put on a Post-it. It is simply the number of applications received; the number withdrawn; the number in respect of which a certificate was...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is money. Why would there not be a tax related to money?

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a tax measure, so it clearly has an expense.

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: May I-----

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A point of clarification-----