Results 8,501-8,520 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

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

Gerry Horkan: Over the past week, I have spent a great deal of time in this Chamber during debates on proposed amendments to the Finance Bill 2017, primarily as Acting Chairman but also in my capacity as Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on finance in the Seanad. It is good that the measures in the Bill will go back to the Dáil and consideration of them will be concluded before Christmas. A number of...

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

Gerry Horkan: I never said that, but if the Senator wants to say it, that is her own business.

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State for attending the House. I think the last time he was here he was dealing with the mid-term economic review. It is the season of goodwill to all, however, so I am sure we will have a nice, peaceful discussion this afternoon on the Second Stage of this Bill. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017. The Bill will...

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank Senator Burke for speaking up on behalf of those of us who are new entrants to the House. Our conditions will not be as good as the Senator's as he is here that bit longer.

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I think Senator McDowell outlined his own conditions earlier. He is probably okay relative to some of the newer Members.

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State and again thank all Members. It has been nice and peaceful this afternoon with a Christmas-like season sense of goodwill.

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (6 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I am aware of some of the other people who are yet to make contributions, and I will try not to replicate what has already been said. It is very important that we acknowledge all of our visitors today, including Mary Hanafin, John Hanafin, Des's wife, Mona, and their three grandchildren, MaryClaire, Darragh and John, along with Deputy Jackie Cahill, who is here from Des's native Thurles....

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

Gerry Horkan: We are dealing with section 2, to which no recommendations are proposed. Sinn Féin is opposing the tax cut proposed in section 2. It has proposed recommendation No. 1, which we will consider when we reach section 5. This recommendation would provide for a tax cut. Sinn Féin cannot propose tax cuts in its recommendations while opposing tax cuts under a different section of the...

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

Gerry Horkan: I agree with Senator O'Donnell. If we are not careful, the State will have to pay substantial fines for not meeting our targets in regard to carbon emissions. If we are to face such fines, it would be better to front-load that investment instead. I appreciate that technology is constantly improving and we will be discussing electric vehicles in section 8 in a moment but we need to rapidly...

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

Gerry Horkan: Recommendation No. 2 in my name is listed under section 8 but it might be more relevant to this section. Perhaps we should deal with it now and the Minister of State is half-----

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

Gerry Horkan: It does not.

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

Gerry Horkan: I will not miss my slot.

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

Gerry Horkan: I move recommendation No. 2:In page 11, after line 33, to insert the following:“8. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the possibility of extending the Benefit in Kind for electric vehicles beyond the current date of 31 December 2018.”. As regards benefit-in-kind, it is important that if we are asking...

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

Gerry Horkan: The Minister of State is committing to do what I am asking for.

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

Gerry Horkan: I ask for a timeframe for that to be done.

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

Gerry Horkan: The benefit-in-kind report will be published in the next 12 months or less.

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

Gerry Horkan: That is good enough for me. I accept the response of the Minister of State and I am not pressing the recommendation.

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

Gerry Horkan: I have a question for the Minister. My understanding is that the tax advantage would be accruing potentially to the employee but I wonder about subsection (3)(a) of the recommendation which refers to the total amount of tax advantages accrued to qualifying companies. The Minister might tell me whether there is a tax advantage to a company in retaining key staff. I cannot see one.