Results 1,021-1,040 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Before it happens.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: That would be a good message to call out. Does the Chairman think the headquarters in London can help us? Does he think it would be a suitable request for representatives of the HSBC headquarters in London to come before this committee and that they would have the relevant information on the lines of the hearings in the United Kingdom?

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: They had other options, which quite clearly, Revenue has been successful in pursuing.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Revenue has been successful in securing approximately €2.75 billion through the offshore accounts unit with regard to 35,000 or 36,000 Irish account holders over the past 14 or 15 years, which is highly impressive. Clearly, HSBC Geneva was a small player in that respect. How can a bank of that nature still secure a licence to operate if Revenue already has prosecuted some people in...

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: However, the Chairman already has mentioned how it was in one of the newspapers that, during all of this hullabaloo, the Swiss bank actually was advertising and emphasising the importance of secrecy.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: People were able to read between the lines as to what it was all about. It is not just simple confidentiality.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: No, my point really was to ask how come that bank still can retain its licence if this country, Argentina, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and so many other jurisdictions find clearly that what has been going on in this particular bank has been pretty rotten and corrupt in respect of facilitating tax evasion.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: So there is no way to deal with a matter of that nature, despite the fact that a section of the bank involved is operating in our jurisdiction.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: I appreciate that. However, we are discussing an institution that has been found to be totally wanting in terms of proper practice and procedures and to have abused the system. Is there no way for the authorities in Ireland, Argentina, Belgium, France or elsewhere to state that they would like to oppose a licence being granted to such an operation?

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Is there an answer to my question? Is it the case that there is no mechanism in place? I accept what Mr. Cody is saying about good practices-----

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: And Mr. Cody cannot point us in any direction in that regard.

Public Accounts Committee: Revenue Commissioners Investigation of HSBC Offshore Accounts (12 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: I thank Mr. Cody.

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2015, acknowledging the decision of the Court of Appeal this morning. It is timely for the Minister for Health to have the Bill ready and before us so quickly to deal with the lacuna created. The decision that certain classes of drugs are legal, which leaves open this loophole which must be closed urgently, is a...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht an seans chun labhairt ar an mBille tábhachtach seo inniu. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. This is a ground-breaking, long-overdue Bill. If the referendum is passed, it will mean that we will treat all our citizens, irrespective of their sexual orientation, equally. The amendment to the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: It is strange to see how some in Dublin can say they have no relevant information or documents. Surely HSBC is a single organisation with different branches and structures. If there were so many Irish HSBC accounts in the Swiss section, surely there is some procedure between the bank's offices here and the bank's offices there. There must be something about the process under which they...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Arising from what the Comptroller and Auditor General told us, what he is outlining is a process which is ongoing where he has provided certain documentation. He has asked the HSE for a response to that documentation. It is its response that has come into the public domain rather than the documentation he submitted to it. Have both come into the public domain?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: Was it the intention that the Comptroller and Auditor General would bring that to our attention in a report at some stage?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: It was not going to see the light of day with this committee.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (5 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: I am not clear how that would work out but very substantial issues have come into the public domain. If there is a mechanism for us to bring this to the attention of the committee and to bring in the HSE, I think we should pursue that.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Living City Initiative (3 Mar 2015)

Joe Costello: 209. To ask the Minister for Finance when the living city initiative will be introduced in Dublin; the criteria that will be used to assess properties; if projects that commence in early 2015 will need to apply for relief retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8983/15]