Results 1,041-1,060 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The following table outlines the amount of waste in weight and the percentage of waste that was recycled in 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007: Year Waste Generated (kilos) Recycled (kilos) % Recycled 2005 185,440 147,220 79% 2006 208,740 170,520 82% 2007 (to date) 173,610 139,020 80%

Written Answers — National Honours System: National Honours System (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, I responded to Dáil questions on the subject of a proposed honours system in the House on 20 November. I have expressed the view that a national honours system should have all party consensus. I indicated in my reply to the House that I had recently written to opposition party leaders to enquire if their Parties would now be prepared to enter into discussions...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I wish to make a few points. On the historical background to this matter, the imposition of stamp duty on cheques, bills of exchange and promissory notes is a long-established practice. When electronic means of money transfers, such as credit transfers, ATM and debit laser cards were introduced, stamp duty was gradually extended to these products to ensure that the stamp duty receipts from...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. The elderly are making payments by ATM cards. Cards have been combined so that they can make electronic payments, while they can also extract cash from an ATM. They can also pay for goods and services with their ATM cards. Many people are using the An Post service, where they can use one cheque to pay a number of their bills. Credit unions also provide that service.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Some cards are not liable to stamp duty, such as store cards. The Revenue Commissioners have taken the view that products which are essentially gift vouchers paid for in advance to give a defined spending power to the recipients, often confined to a particular store or stores and usually having a defined life, do not have the characteristics of credit cards or charge cards which offer...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy's policy was to do it on the Internet. He was ahead of us and did not want the machines at all.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There are all kinds of security issues and customers must be wary. I am not saying that any of these things will resolve all the security problems. The reality is that there has been a very significant move by the public to use technology in one form or another. I do not think the charge is penal. The charge had moved from cheques onto the other methods. The vast majority of people are...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 72 of the Finance Act 2005 (No. 5 of 2005), that Act is amended, with effect as on and from 6 December 2007, by substituting the following for Schedule 2 to that Act: "SCHEDULE 2 Rates of Tobacco Products Tax Description of Product Rate of Tax Cigarettes .... .... .... ..... ..... €160.57 per thousand...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: We have the same problem with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Cullen, but it does not have much effect.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I will give the bad news first. Obviously, I hope Deputy Stagg, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Cullen, and others avoid it but the international statistic is that half of all smokers will die from smoking-related diseases. Unfortunately, that is a constant figure in this country and elsewhere.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I do not wish to in any way depress the Deputy but that is the figure. I will try to answer some questions. Deputy Varadkar and others asked about the statistics. I think I have stood here for probably 15 out of the past 17 years to speak about this issue and we say the same things. Consumption is falling in spite of the increased population and, as Deputy Varadkar correctly stated, the...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes. Even in terms of the population, it is having an impact. Information from very extensive surveys that have been carried out by the Office of Tobacco Control indicates that the proportion of the population that smokes is 24%. This compares with 27% five years ago and 31% eight years so it is coming down proportionally as well. Of course, the survey shows the proportion of smokers...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Monitoring of that takes place every year. This is not to say some will not try it. I remember when the increases were bigger years ago. They tried to hike up their own purchases in advance. I do not think there is as much of that as there used to be. There is ongoing monitoring of international courier and air freight. Of course, the indicative limit of 800 cigarettes is used by the...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It was roll-your-own tobacco.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: One could be growing it too. I thank Members for their support but as they can see, we are having an effect in overall figures and percentage terms. If there were a larger increase it would have a greater effect. We must seek agreement for that.

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: All the money we gain goes on the health budget.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: I move: (1) THAT in this Resolution "Schedule 1" means Schedule 1 to the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 (No. 31 of 1999). (2) THAT this Resolution shall have effect as respects bills of exchange drawn on or after 6 December 2007. (3) THAT Schedule 1 be amended in the Heading "BILL OF EXCHANGE" by substituting "€0.30" for "€0.15". (4) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duty (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: There will be savings of €22 million.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: It is also the case that many individuals would be subject to multiple warrants, which the Deputy will know from the list. I do not know the precise figure for the number of outstanding warrants that would be acceptable at any stage. Obviously, if there are 14,000 gardaí, there will be an increasing number of warrants. The last Garda Commissioner is on record as stating that steps need to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2007)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, but the point I am making is how many of those are multiple cases and how many of those people turn up? I am told that bench warrants continue to be issued for a large number of defaulters so they come into the total figure. I do not believe the figure is 36,000.