Results 1,701-1,720 of 34,585 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his recent appointment. I know he will do an excellent job in the Seanad for whatever great number of years we have ahead of us.I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad today on the Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020. The Bill seeks to update the operation of the Investment Limited Partnerships Act, as outlined in the...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senators for their contributions and we can have a more detailed discussion on Committee Stage and Report Stage. I want to deal with some of the specific issues raised. Some Members raised similar issues but came at them from a different perspective. Senator D’Arcy referred to the important issue of sustainable finance. This fund will help raise funds for sustainable...

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: There are ten minutes left.

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: Or almost ten minutes.

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: I fell behind earlier on.

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I wish her luck in her position as well. I acknowledge the kind remarks from Deputies on my appointment as Minister of State. I am standing in today for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I thank the proposers of this motion and all those who have contributed to this important and timely debate on an important issue. I...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is very straightforward. The people of Ireland elected 160 Deputies to Dáil Éireann some months ago. Every one of us comes in with an equal mandate. Can the democratically elected Members please be allowed to vote?

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Acting Chairman. I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Financial Provisions (Covid-19) No. 2 Bill 2020 to the House this afternoon. The Bill provides the legislative basis to introduce the tax measures the Government announced as part of the €7.2 billion July jobs stimulus last week. The plan is the next stage in our response to the Covid-19 crisis and will...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I welcome the contributions from 14 Senators on Second Stage. I will make some general comments and we can then discuss the Bill on a section-by-section basis on Committee Stage. A number of issues were raised. I welcome the generally positive tone and support for this legislation. Some people have highlighted issues that could be but are not...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: Senator Bacik can make the case here on Committee Stage. Reference was also made to farmers and the cycle-to-work scheme.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: They are not specifically included in that. I think the reason is that the self-employed are not included. The reason generally is that the cycle-to-work scheme is administered through the employer, through the PAYE system, so it is really suitable for people who have an employer and can work through the PAYE system. The self-employed are not in that category. I do not suggest it will...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I understand what is being said. As I indicated, we are not proceeding on a sector-by-sector basis. The July stimulus includes a suite of measures covering approximately 50 items, eight or ten of which are included here. We will discuss legislation covering other matters tomorrow, and we already discussed a number of matters earlier in the week. Some of the Government measures take the...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: There are two aspects to this. We do not want to give the Minister too much power to decree through a statutory instrument a measure which should take the form of legislation. Such measures must be debated here. There is also a practical administrative reason related to the Revenue database on specific sectors. Many businesses could be in similar sectors or could be involved in multiple...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I understand what Senator Bacik is saying and the issues she raises, which are very valid. They cannot, however, be accommodated in this legislation. The recommendation seeks to restrict the hiring practices of employers who want to access the TWSS, the EWSS or the special warehousing and interest provisions already contained in the Bill. It proposes that entry to such schemes would mean...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: The Senator will appreciate that I am here today to deal only with this particular Covid-related legislation. This scheme is solely administered by the Revenue Commissioners. Everybody understands that we do not want the tax office adjudicating on matters of labour law or the rights of people to seek representation through trade unions. I am aware that the intentions are good, but I...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I understand the principle behind the recommendation and the spirit in which it is proposed. I have outlined the particular difficulties we have in asking Revenue to get into dealing with employment law. The Senator correctly noted that there is already provision in the legislation to address a situation where an employer might let somebody go and then hire two new people. She is correct...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: We have had a good debate on this. Everyone accepts, and I accept, the position of proprietary directors. They were included in the TWSS and there is a change in this legislation. I am not sure of the rationale as to why they were included previously but are excluded now. However, generally, the Senator has highlighted that a special measure relating to proprietary directors is not unique...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I note what the Senators have said. This is a particularly excellent section of the legislation that encourages first-time buyers to save and accumulate a deposit, difficult as that is. The State is standing by them by helping them to buy their first home. What could be wrong with that? It is a good scheme from beginning to end. It helps first-time buyers and it helps to increase the...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: We discussed this earlier. The VAT changes in the Bill are economy wide. We did not pick a particular sector to reinstate the 9% rate. There are a number of other elements in the stimulus package that can help businesses in the hospitality sector. This is just one aspect of the overall July stimulus package we are dealing with. The approach was to give this VAT reduction across the board...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator for bringing up this matter. We have had a discussion on it. I want to clarify one or two issues and respond to the general point made by the Senator.I assume the intention of the Senator's recommendation is to propose consideration of restricting corporation tax loss reliefs for banks to a maximum of 50% of their profits each year. That was the position at the time of...