Results 14,641-14,660 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (10 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: 277. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a particular medicine (details supplied) is not included in the general medical services scheme or the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34371/16]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: May I speak to section 1?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I will speak just for a moment. It would be helpful at the outset of this debate on the Finance Bill, which enacts the budget, if the Minister could briefly comment on the current economic backdrop. There seems to be a lot of uncertainty at the moment. There is the most recent report from his Department and the ESRI on the impact of Brexit, whether it be a hard or soft Brexit; the public...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: There are projections underpinning this budget related to economic growth, specifically 3.5% in gross domestic product and 3.3% in gross national product next year, as well as all the other fiscal projections. Does the Department and Minister still stand over those projections for 2017? Could we have that confirmation before we embark on this process? Will the Minister address the issue of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: To give the Fianna Fáil perspective on this issue, I disagree with Deputy Doherty's assessment. It is important to point out the cost in 2017 of the USC reductions is €335 million and is more in a full year, but the cost to taxpayers of not indexing the income tax system in 2017 is €385 million. If we were to do nothing whatsoever in respect of income tax reductions in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I am in absolutely no rush and I want to respond to a point by Deputy Doherty. We can keep going over and back, if Deputies wish, or we can try to get through our business. The point I make about non-indexation is correct. If the universal social charge, USC, reduction was not in the Finance Bill and we did not provide for the indexation of the system, the Exchequer would have more than...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: Could the Minister clarify the figures on the cost of the USC changes on which we just voted? Different figures have been put forward. The budget day booklet stated that the 2017 cost would be €335 million, whereas the answer I received to a parliamentary question stated the full year cost would be €390 million. Could the Minister clarify whether those are the figures or...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: It was the cost of the USC measures in the budget.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: Fianna Fáil welcomes that there is further progress on the equalisation of the income tax system in terms of the self-employed. We would like to have seen the full part two - the additional €550 - provided this year and for it to be fully equalised next year. I assume it came down to an affordability issue in the end but this improvement has to be seen alongside the partial...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: That is what I am asking. Does anyone fully understand the rule? Amendments Nos. 6, 7, and 8 increase the cost to the Exchequer so I assumed-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: -----they would have been ruled out of order but they have not been.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 10:In page 7, to delete lines 37 and 38. This relates to the new tax credit for fishers which I welcome and which follows the marine taxation review conducted by Indecon consultants and submitted to the Department in October 2015. There is a sunset clause, running to 2022. What is the basis and reasoning for this? Is it possible to remove it?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: On the basis of the Minister's reply, on the reason for inserting the year 2022, is it is consistent with the policy of conducting a review of new tax expenditures after a five-year period? The measure, as currently drafted, is a blunt ending of the credit come 2022. I do not think that is the intention or what the Minister is seeking to do. Therefore, if the Minister was willing to remove...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 11:In page 7, after line 40, to insert the following:“(3) The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the Department of Finance’s response to the recommendations set out in the Marine Taxation Review dated 8 October 2015.”. This relates to the marine taxation review completed by...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: Yes, I can see why the Minister would not necessarily want this in the legislation. The important issue is to have a response from the Department as this is a serious report on a potentially important area of economic development around the coastline. I welcome the commitment given by the Minister and withdraw the amendment.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: What is the origin of this change? How was demand for it identified? Did lobbying occur in respect of it? What specific issue is being rectified by the measure?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the scheme's extension. The key measure of its success is whether it results in works being done that would not otherwise have happened. Undoubtedly, that has been the case. To take Deputy Doherty's point, any form of home improvement is welcome because it improves the living environment. Changing doors and windows can help with energy efficiency, for example, and these works...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I wish to give the Minister feedback on the point made by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government that knowing that a tenant had a certain lump sum or savings available could impact on the calculation of his or her rent. Certainly, under the differential rent schemes that I am aware of in both local authorities in Cork, it is based on income. One can argue that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: We made our views on this known during the budget debate and I will not repeat them at length. Our view is this is not the right intervention. It is a supply problem primarily and to stimulate supply, the Minister faces a few choices aside from the bottleneck issues of land availability, zoning, serviced land and so forth. The fundamental choice is to increase prices or to reduce the cost...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McGrath: I wish to respond to some of the remarks made by Deputy Doherty. Fianna Fáil supports the amendment, which is an improvement on the current position. The property market in Dublin is crazy, with people buying homes of less than 1,500 sq. ft. at prices of up to €500,000, or higher in some cases depending on location. The position is different in Cork, Donegal and other areas...