Results 8,461-8,480 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 321. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for not allowing children's swimming lessons under level 3 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36549/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 459. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Honey Park, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, is excluded from the catchment area of school patronage for Blackrock, Booterstown and Dún Laoghaire (details supplied). [36159/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 494. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the school transport for a school (details supplied) has been further increased to allow for the safe transportation of physically very vulnerable school children during level 5 or other levels as children are in overcrowded buses and are at increased risk of Covid-19 infection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36480/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care Services (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 744. To ask the Minister for Health the solutions the HSE have come up with to find residential care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36447/20]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The amendment was tabled by Deputy Barry but, unfortunately, he is tied up with Leaders' Questions in the House. While the amendment is in our names too, I should have said that People Before Profit holds a slightly different position, namely, that of raising the tax rate to 25%. I nonetheless think that the spirit and thrust of the amendment, in focusing on this issue, is correct because,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 127: In page 40, after line 35, to insert the following: “Report on compliance of producer companies in receipt of section 481 tax relief 22.The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, produce a report on the extent to which producer companies in receipt of section 481 tax relief are complying with requirements to provide quality...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am sorry, Chair, but may I respond briefly?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I genuinely appreciate the Minister's engagement and his statement that he would examine this matter further if needs be. We have had an extensive debate on it. However, I will make a few final points to him. A key aspect of quality employment and training, particularly as set out in the fixed-term workers legislation at European and national levels, is recognition of service. The...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I also want to speak to the section. In that context, I seek clarity from the Chair. I have an amendment which relates directly to this section and I am not sure why it is not being taken now. I am a bit confused as to the process. There is another amendment we tabled which relates directly to the knowledge box and research and development. Could somebody clarify the position?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was not talking about either of those two amendments. There is another amendment that deals directly with section 21 and the knowledge development box. I do not understand why it is not being taken now.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is exactly it. Could somebody clarify why it is not being taken when we are dealing with the relevant section?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Okay.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I just have to be careful. One never knows.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: May I speak briefly to the section?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This is a point that I have made to the Minister before and it is a serious one. We all want to expand knowledge, see innovation and research to improve our society, develop technology and advance enterprise and industry that is beneficial to society. That is a no-brainer and a noble objective. However, I put it to the Minister that the mechanisms by which we do that, including the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 8: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on abolition and replacement of Universal Social Charge 11. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, produce a report on abolishing the Universal Social Charge for all those earning less than €70,000 per year and replacing it with an emergency Covid-19 Solidarity...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am aware that over the four-year period and for the reasons set out by the Minister present, the tax liability of the people who availed of the PUP is probably not huge, as he has described it but I still think it is unfair. Frankly, it is meanspirited because the Minister has not taken into account that the people who were on PUP are the people largely who have economically suffered the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will comment first on the point about not looking back. The comparison Deputy Doherty makes is right. Let us consider Seamus Coffey's proposal relating to 80% or 100% tax relief on intangible assets. He said the companies should not have got 100% tax relief. He was referring to those big multinationals which benefited greatly from the reduction of 100% rather than 80%. The Minister...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Between 70% and 80% of working people cannot afford the average house price on their incomes. That is a damning indictment of the Government's failure to solve society's most basic need, namely, to provide an affordable roof over someone's head, particularly for those who would expect that the fact they work hard and earn a living would give them an income sufficient to buy a home. The vast...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The central point is that the problem we have is house prices are, in general, way beyond the affordability of the vast majority of working people. The fact that some people load themselves up with debt and take on mortgages that need an excessive proportion of their income to pay for accommodation does not mean that the system is good or working; it just means that people are desperate and...