Results 8,801-8,820 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: They do here.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister for Finance. We were the class of 1977 and a great class it was.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: We will not go back to Senator Norris's proposal, attractive though it may be. It was attractive at the time and the economy was shattered after the dreadful Government of Liam Cosgrave.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: Doom and gloom.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It was the easiest election I ever fought. It was a marvellous manifesto. I did not read it all but it sounded very good. I was too busy canvassing. We will not go back to those issues. This motion is not about the Minister. It is about the work of the Government but the Minister for Finance has been tremendously innovative and I will give an example of that. The tax incentive scheme for...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It is marvellous.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It is drawing activity into an area that never had a pub. The last pub was a shebeen in the 1800s. Where else would one see that activity?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It is also happening along the Shannon basin. There are housing developments and builders were never busier. The Minister was responsible for the development of Carrick-on-Shannon and the towns of north Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford. That is one of the greatest schemes ever introduced as far as rural Ireland is concerned. Along with the CLÁR programme, that scheme has made a great...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It has created more tax income. As the Minister has all the figures I shall not dwell on them. He reduced capital gains tax from 40%. At one stage capital gains tax was 60%. The difference now is that people are prepared to buy and sell so that there is development and innovation. That is the difference. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are pro-development, pro-progress and...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: ——and to pay 20% tax. People are delighted to pay only 20% tax. The Minister has got more funds in the Exchequer and there is more money for schools and the health service.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: The Minister introduced the special savings investment account which was revolutionary. Members of my family who would not usually have saved are now saving. For the first time young people are saving and are looking forward to the day when the money will be available to allow them to start building a house, build an extension or buy a car. It is a tremendous scheme. I strongly recommend a...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: ——regarding the €1,000 baby bond. Did one ever come across anything as daft?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It was devised by Fergus Finlay and a few other gurus as something innovative at the Ard-Fheis.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: Fergus Finlay is close——

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: I will not mention them again. The €1,000 baby bond scheme came from a party that was led by Proinsias De Rossa, former president of the Labour Party, former leader of the Workers Party and former leader of Sinn Féin the Workers Party. When he was the Minister for Social Welfare, he gave the smallest increase ever for babies in Ireland. Yet the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, is...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: I do not know why I prepare scripts when I do not need them.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: Does the House recall the last general election and the compensation for the Eircom shareholders?

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: It is well known that if one invests in shares — I invested — one may lose or win. He was also going to compensate those who lost in the derby. What kind of a party is that? It is gone to hell.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: Now it is joining up with Green Party and recommending that people give their number two vote to that party, which is opposed to the live export of cattle and to farming. I predict a day when we will bring Fine Gael under our wings, a day when there are six or seven Fine Gael Deputies and we need them to form a Government.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Terry Leyden: In fairness, the Fine Gael Party has a fine and proud history and it has made a contribution to the country.