Results 81-100 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Supplementary)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Damien English: Can spending beyond this year still count for the BAR funding?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Supplementary)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Damien English: That is fine. I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Damien English: It would be nice to hear the answer.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I have a few quick observations. The Estimates are fine. We talked much about the flooding. I compliment the OPW and all involved in the response to the weather events over the past couple of months right across the country. I am delighted that the public finances were in order and we could do that. There was no delay in stepping up across a number of Departments to provide support to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I raised the matter because taxpayers would like to know that we are not always getting the raw deal that people believe we are. In many cases, the situation is comparable across the board and we face similar challenges. However, that is often left out of the discussion.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I will speak to the overall concept of this and then make a number of comments. First, I welcome the changes the Minister is making in respect of the cap. That is a positive for the future of the sector. While everybody here might argue over different parts of it, we all agree with the concept of section 481 and increasing the cap, putting money into film production and trying to encourage...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I just want to say that I welcome the Minister's response to all the points that have been raised. Co-ordination across the Department is key. Apart from the amendments, there has been a good discussion here, with some good outcomes from it to back up the changes contained in the Bill.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I welcome this initiative. It is something that has been called for for a number of years. We can build on it, but it is certainly a great start. We must remind ourselves that we are constantly competing for investment. We have many start-ups and innovative companies with good ideas and projects, and it is not always easy to get the money they need to invest. This initiative will help in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I want to comment on the same topic with regard to the illicit trade of cigarettes. We were talking about all of the taxes earlier on with regard to the supply of coal. There is an enforcement issue here when we have public policy for the benefit of the health of individuals and families, but also when it comes to climate matters and the aims we have there. As a Government we must look at...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: This is not for anyone who falls under the new regulations. This is for those who are outside those, unless I picked the Minister up incorrectly.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: The Minister might be able to clear up a mix-up. That would not be the case if the loans were from three lenders. The €335,000 threshold applies where the loans are from one family member. It does not apply where the loans are from two brothers and a sister, for example.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I am sorry. I had misunderstood.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I support the extension of the help-to-buy scheme. It has been a significant scheme which has helped more than 40,000 people to buy a house since 2017. We have to remember why it was brought in in the first place. It was because there was a barrier to purchasing a house. People could not get a deposit and the supply was reflecting that, since that house type was not being built and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Damien English: I will make a quick comment on this. I have listened to a great deal of commentary about the help-to-buy scheme for many years and have seen many reports about it. Every report and comment nearly misses what we were trying to achieve. In that regard, this has been one of the most successful schemes we have ever had. Builders were building different types of homes for different customers...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Damien English: The original efforts to try to step in to help people were discussed during parliamentary questions in April or May. The Minister said he was willing to try to assist people. The conversation and context was about those who are being hit with massive rate increases, mainly those outside of the non-traditional banks and funds. The Minister was very clear that he was attempting to try to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Damien English: My understanding was that it was to give the owner of the PRSA more time to draw down the percentages they want to draw down. Is that not correct? They do not have the rush to take it down, if they are working till 70 or longer than they used to work. That is my understanding of it.