Results 9,361-9,380 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Labour Party supports the broad thrust of those proposals. Again, there is no indication in this budget that they will be implemented.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: While I welcome the pension increases announced, I am disappointed that there will be no reform of the fuel allowance. Given the recent major hikes in fuel prices it was particularly important that the Government should have assisted elderly people with their heating bills. The €4 increase does not impress. The fuel allowance should have been increased by more and, crucially, the income...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: While the cost of this payment is small, it is targeted at the least well off.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister also doubled the cost of gas and electricity and if we did not have a general election coming he would not have done a U-turn. There was a 34% increase on gas prices and 20% on electricity, and he gave older welfare recipients €4.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: As I said, there were welcome features in this budget, but the imagination deficit meant that the real issues which affect real people in their real lives were dodged. The budget contains few reforming measures, either of specific spending areas or the budgetary process. Once again, the budget confirms that Fianna Fáil and the PDs are determined to privatise health care. More money has...

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government co-operated with me at the beginning of this year in putting through a Private Members' Bill to reform the coroner service. However, in November of last year, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated the heads of a comprehensive new coroners Bill would be published to facilitate discussion. When will it be before the House? Does the Taoiseach intend to make...

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Could the Taoiseach be any more explicit than "soon"?

Order of Business. (7 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It did not arrive at all.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 70: To ask the Minister for Transport the funding stream for the provision of quality bus corridors; the amount available in 2007; the amount available under Transport 21; the amount provided in each of the years since 2002 and to date in 2006; the amount drawn down in each of those years; and the persons by whom it was drawn down and the project in relation to same. [41646/06]

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects the 100 private sector operated buses to be fully deployed and operating in Dublin; the areas they will serve; the estimated cost of these buses and services to the Exchequer; and the funding set aside for these buses in the Book of Estimates 2007. [41658/06]

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Tánaiste referred to a 27% increase for VAT registration.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not oppose either of these resolutions. In the area of services we are spawning a number of new companies and we need to increase this. The threshold of €35,000 turnover is very modest. Many small businesses are overwhelmed by bureaucratic requirements. Is this the main thrust behind this change, as distinct from the imposition of VAT? The amount of €52.5 million per year is not...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The removal of 8,000 small companies from the register for VAT seems high. Are the figures entirely negligible in some cases and substantial in other cases? I presume some would have minimal liability and others would have a higher figure.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I am rooted in it and was raised in it.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Would the Minister have been above the threshold?

Financial Resolution No. 1: Income Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: One is snookered.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Income Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has the Tánaiste where it wants him. I never thought I would see the day.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Income Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: That is what he said when the Minister, Deputy Cowen, told him he would not do it.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Income Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: In your dreams.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Income Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to raise a point which the Minister might take on board. Recently I dealt with a case where a young couple in my constituency bought a site and built a house on it. They were put to the pin of their collar to do this on modest incomes. They received a significant bill for stamp duty on the site. As they did not build the house themselves because they needed to get a builder to...