Results 11,721-11,740 of 35,639 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 897. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by commuters owing to the recent changes introduced to rural bus services in Inishowen, County Donegal and routes operating between the peninsula and Letterkenny; if his attention has been further drawn to the considerable price differential which exists between rural transport...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 1007. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a funding application by an organisation (details supplied) was refused to allow for an increase in support staff at the facility; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision to refuse the application has resulted in children that previously attended the facility no longer being able to do so owing to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 1202. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will co-ordinate a range of appropriate State commemorative events to mark the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of St. Colmcille in December 2020 in co-operation with the National Museum, the National Monuments Service, an organisation (details supplied) and Donegal County Council; and if she will liaise with...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: What votes are likely to be called?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: There is as yet no agreement as to whether we will suspend the meeting to vote.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I wish to discuss the amendments ruled out of order. I find it difficult to understand because in different circumstances where a rate is to be changed, amendments to alter the rate have been accepted, but they have been ruled out of order. If, for example, the Government wished to change the rate from 20% to 25%, that could previously be amended to change the rate to 24%, 23% or whatever...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I wished only to make the point. It is fine.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: There is a tendency for the universal social charge, USC, to be extended, as it will be again until the end of 2020. Does the Minister suggest that a reduced USC for medical card holders is still under consideration? Is a cut-off point in the legislation appropriate? The provision has been extended but it is unlikely that the Government will continue, in each Finance Bill, to extend it...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I do not have a problem with reports, in principle, although I do have an issue with abolishing a tax that catches all income, including that of the top 10% of earners, notwithstanding that the Deputy has suggested the introduction of other income tax bands. I am sure there are pictures of the Minister carrying posters stating "Abolish the USC" during the campaign for the previous general...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Can the Minister tell me what is the position on USC? Is it still the case that USC will be merged with PRSI? Is that the position at this point in time or is he returning to the previous position whereby USC will be abolished? The Minister has produced papers but what is the current position? This committee is dealing with the Finance Bill, which leaves it as is, and this was promised a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I support the increase in the home carer credit. Can the Minister clarify that the credit is not available to couples who are cohabiting? Is this not an issue that has been flagged before? Cohabitees are at a disadvantage. One can have a cohabiting couple with a child who-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I would appreciate that. Take the example of a cohabiting couple with a child who has severe disabilities, where the parent is a carer. Home carers are entitled to this credit and they should not, in my view, be disadvantaged because they are not in a civil partnership or formal marriage union. I seek a clarification. I would appreciate if a note could be provided before Report Stage.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the point made by Deputy McGrath. To add to it, I hope that when the Minister clarifies the issues in respect of co-habiting couples that he will also examine, prior to Report Stage, whether an amendment is required to deal with this unfair situation. As Deputy McGrath said, this issue is not going to go away. As we know, more and more people are not getting married and are...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I wish to tease that out. Where one party of a married couple is at home and their child is at school, he or she is entitled to claim this?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The definition of "permanently incapacitated", either physically or mentally, may not refer to someone who is a child or that the person is in receipt of child benefit. It could be a next-door neighbour. Where are the definitions? They cannot be found on the Revenue website. This throws up some queries. What does "permanently mentally incapacitated" mean? There are different degrees...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, line 3, to delete "€1,500" and substitute "€1,650". This amendment relates to the earned tax credit for the self-employed. The policy objective of the Government and Sinn Féin is the same, if we are to take as read what the Government stated in the programme for Government that it would end the anomaly whereby the self-employed were...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: As I said, the Minister committed to delivering on this commitment of the Government two years ago. It is right and appropriate that the self-employed be treated fairly and equally with PAYE workers. I will be pressing the amendment. The Minister stated the change would give an increased advantage to the self-employed over PAYE workers. When we come to subsequent sections we will deal...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: This relates to the special assignee relief programme, SARP. The Minister proposes to extend this programme, which was due to run out at the end of the year, for a further two years. It provides a relief of 30% of income for tax consideration for individuals who are assigned within their companies from abroad to take positions in Irish-based operations of their employer or in an associated...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: It relates to money messages and in a way to why some of these amendments are ruled out of order. I would prefer to attend the vote.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I do not want to diverge into a debate on autism services. Any parent of a child with autism will say he or she needs access to services. The Minister for Finance could have announced a significant amount of funding for services to be delivered to children and adults with autism, but it was not provided. Instead, he announced a sum of €2 million for a strategy that might or might...