Results 8,521-8,540 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

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

Gerry Horkan: I asked whether the companies would gain an advantage.

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

Gerry Horkan: I just wanted the Minister of State to say that.

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

Gerry Horkan: This scheme has merit and there is a benefit to it. It is important that companies grow and manage to attract staff. As Senator Kieran O'Donnell outlined, people can and will be poached and there has to be a reason or incentive for them to stay. Companies do share option schemes all the time and there is often a very delayed mechanism so that people are incentivised to stay. We are very...

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

Gerry Horkan: I must say that I am very disappointed. I know that Sinn Féin tried to abolish the Seanad but it is now actually tabling a recommendation that a Minister prepare and lay a report before Dáil Éireann. This is Seanad Éireann. I would not mind if the recommendation referred to both Houses of the Oireachtas, or even just the Oireachtas, but I find it unfortunate that all of...

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

Gerry Horkan: Senator Conway-Walsh must obviously be expecting to be in the Dáil, but that is separate point. I am just saying that we should have-----

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

Gerry Horkan: We in Fianna Fáil campaigned to keep the Seanad-----

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

Gerry Horkan: ----- and we are not going to-----

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

Gerry Horkan: We are not looking for an election, by the way.

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

Gerry Horkan: I cannot talk with interruptions. I thank the Leas-Chathoirleach. To return to the substantive point, we in Fianna Fáil do of course have reservations about the help to buy scheme. At the briefing this morning I made the very point that Senator Conway-Walsh officials must have picked up and put in her script. I said it this morning, namely, this incentive scheme only applies to new...

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

Gerry Horkan: First-time buyers cannot buy second-hand houses, just as the first-time buyers grant only applies to new houses. This is unfortunate because many people want to live in the area in which they grew up, if they can afford to, and near their families. If there are no new houses in supply, however, they either have to move area or not benefit from the help to buy scheme. I have reservations...

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

Gerry Horkan: I had reservations that when we were talking about this scheme, were we talking about houses costing €400,000 and €600,000. Like Deputy Boyd Barrett, there would be very little for sale for less than €400,000 or even €600,000 in the council area - the Stillorgan electoral area - I represented before I became a Senator. The fact that people can buy there does not...

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

Gerry Horkan: I point out to Members that the Order of Business reads, "Finance Bill 2017 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 1.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 4.15 p.m., if not previous concluded, by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government". This discussion will therefore end at 4.15 p.m. I ask...

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

Gerry Horkan: That is fair enough.

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

Gerry Horkan: Is the recommendation being pressed?

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

Gerry Horkan: Go ahead.

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

Gerry Horkan: Is the question agreed?

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

Gerry Horkan: The vote has been called.

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

Gerry Horkan: We used 20 minutes of the remaining 30 minutes on a vote.

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

Gerry Horkan: As it is 4.15 p.m., I must interrupt the Senator.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (6 Dec 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Is that agreed? Agreed. The Order of Business has been amended and Committee Stage on the Finance Bill will finish at 4.45 p.m., which gives us an extra half an hour. I am sorry to have interrupted Senator Conway-Walsh, but she has a little bit more time now.