Results 11,761-11,780 of 26,208 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. O'Mahony.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: May I interject?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: Prior to that, 2,700 additional legacy cases came from the Revenue Commissioners. Staff were tied up across the country in the Revenue Commissioners' local tax offices working on these cases. These cases have effectively been shipped on to the Tax Appeals Commission. There is a staffing problem here. What was happening in reality was that an appeal was made, a telephone call was made by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have no doubt that in respect of that figure of 2,700 cases that came from the Revenue Commissioners, were one to look at individual tax districts some would have been highly efficient and some would not. Everything is now being processed through the same filter and the commission has a backlog of one year already. I have genuine concerns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Ms Donaghy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does that mean that 60% are?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: Some 50% to 60% of cases are represented by barristers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: Some 50% of cases being represented by barristers is far too high for me. That means it has become a legal process. That was not what the appeals process was set up to do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: It was set up to help the taxpayer and I have grave worries that it will end up becoming a legal process. The first advice any person who is appealing to the Tax Appeals Commission will get from their tax adviser or accountant will be to recommend that a barrister be present. If one does not have a barrister present, most other people will have. That is something that goes against the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am putting solicitors in the same category - I hope they will take this categorisation in the spirit that it is given - which is the legal profession.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: Ms Gallagher is including accountants in the legal profession. Would the Vice Chairman consider himself as a member of the legal profession?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I was asking about oral hearings.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (Tax Appeals) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: How many oral hearings are held? If one puts solicitors and barristers in one category and accountants in another, what is the percentage of legal people and accountants who appear?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome Mr. Kenny and Mr. Hedderly. Mr. Kenny knows me well as I have contacted him many times. I regularly travel to Dublin on the Limerick to Dublin railway line. I am a great believer in rail, which is my favourite mode of transport. I will begin with the positives. Irish Rail has improved through the years I have used it. Punctuality is exemplary; staff service is very good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is O2.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: It may seem simplistic, but, surely, the coverage on trains can be improved. In many cases, I know where mobile coverage will drop. If one is going through hills or valleys, it will disappear, but once one gets into an open area it is fine. If I have to make a phone call, I know where to make it to avoid being cut off. It is a hobby horse of mine because I passionately believe proper...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask that Irish Rail go further and engage with mobile operators on possible technical solutions. Can Mr. Kenny give me that commitment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is good to hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I do not need anything that fancy. I ask Mr. Kenny to send me the menu.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on Galway-Limerick Railway Line and Opportunities for Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2019)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept that. There are many positives. I am just pointing to some of the issues.