Results 16,101-16,120 of 26,902 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: That is a matter of opinion.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I have a further question.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I put this question to the ESRI as well. We have had a discussion about possibly making a case to Europe or there was reference to discussions in Europe about distinguishing between capital and current expenditure, particularly where there might be a return and so on. Is it the council's understanding that currently there is provision for us to make that distinction which therefore would...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Statement: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (13 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Alan Barrett seemed to indicate there might be circumstances, and people have argued for this in some cases. Is it true, for example, that if money is spent during flood emergencies, such expenditure is different? Does the council know exactly what the rules are on this? Is there any flexibility or is it a matter of us making a political case for a change? I am thinking of housing in...
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Can I come in for 30 seconds?
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I do not want to get too involved in an historical debate but the "lessons" of 2008 have been referenced on a number of occasions, particularly the importance of having a sustainable tax base. I would like to point out that it was not just the collapse in the construction industry that was a factor, although the witnesses are absolutely correct...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I take that point. In a way, my critique is not directed at the ESRI. It is just a question and a critique of the mainstream discourse and narrative around what we do in budgets and what the point of budgets is. The question of wealth redistribution just does not come up. I take the-----
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Professor Barrett can go on.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I am sorry to cut across Professor Barrett. He says it is not the ESRI's job to give an opinion on wealth distribution and I accept the point that it tries to put together figures. However, when it becomes a macroeconomic problem and threat, does Professor Barrett accept the argument, which has been put forward by people on the left, most notably by Thomas Piketty, that it is the central...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: What about housing?
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Economic and Fiscal Position: Economic and Social Research Institute (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: That relates to my final question. If I understood Professor Barrett correctly, he stated that we should exploit a possible flexibility in the fiscal rules around capital investment in housing. I agree with that, as it is logical. Will Professor Barrett comment on what he believes is the situation? Are the rules open to that flexibility? Can we make an argument that would get a hearing...
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: This scandal over Apple's tax affairs and, as we have stressed in our motion, those of a small, select group of multinationals in this country reveals the true schism in Irish politics. We have witnessed it today in the Dáil. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party closed ranks to protect the interests of one of the wealthiest multinationals in the world which is engaged in...
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It might not fit the official definition.
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: The Deputy is at least three minutes over her time.
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: We have been calling for that for the past-----
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It is Saul on the road to Damascus.
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: How do we know that?
- Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It could be making up figures.
- Business of Dáil (7 Sep 2016)
Richard Boyd Barrett: While we will debate this in a minute, I want to say that we fundamentally object to the fact that we are having this debate when we do not have the Commission ruling.