Results 18,461-18,480 of 35,756 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: There is no dispute between the Department and ISIF on that figure. The dispute is over the other figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Yes, but ISIF has told us that the actual amount that is captured by the definition of the €3.5 billion in pooled assets is €30 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I do not want to labour this point but we do need to get this matter resolved. Perhaps we could do that outside of the meeting, by way of correspondence. ISIF was very clear. It said that there was €36 million in terms of the global figure and €252 million, which adds up to €288 million. That is not disputed by the Department. In regard to the €3.5 billion of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that. The issue is one of definition in terms of how both ISIF and the Department are applying this. It would be helpful to have the full information. Is the position of the Government that it is going to vote against this legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Does that mean the Government will support its passage or vote against it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that. When ISIF representatives were before us, they told us they have no problem with legislation being passed that would prevent them from investing in a global portfolio including fossil fuel companies. Does the Government oppose that position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: First, it would be very helpful and a very strong statement if the Dáil spoke with one voice on this. It may not be possible. There is an issue in that ISIF is doing a certain amount of work anyway as a result of its divestment of its portfolio. Let us be clear: the divestment of the ISIF portfolio has nothing to do with fossil fuels. It is divesting from renewable energy. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Deputy Pringle's legislation matches the five-year term, which is agreed. We can nearly park that issue because ISIF is divesting anyway. It is the Government's stated objective that it happen. It is the objective within the legislation. The only question, then, is whether the Government wants a legislative block on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: What if the definition of "fossil fuel company" were altered to ensure that indirect providers, such as a plastics company, are not affected? We can blow these matters out of proportion. I do not know whether ISIF is investing in the company with the 12 employees to whose representatives the Minister of State was talking on the last day. We can talk about the Strategic Banking Corporation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: With regard to where those companies are involved in green energy, if the definition were altered to allow for continued investment by ISIF, in respect of which an arguable case has been made before this committee today, including by the promoter of the Bill, the issues can be dealt with. Where there is a will, there is a way. It is right to say the Government does not have a majority and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Hang on a minute. The figures speak for themselves. Over €300 million of Irish taxpayers' money is invested in global firms abroad that are fossil fuel companies. The Minister of State is arguing that those figures could be higher with all the unintended consequences. People are involved in coal extraction and other types of activity worth €300 million. The fact they have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Regardless of the current position and strategy of ISIF, does the Minister of State believe there should be no legislation to prevent the fund from investing in dirty industries that are dangerous to the environment and that add to the pressures on climate change? Does the Minister of State believe there should be no legislative change, which is what is at the core of this Bill?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 154. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the exemption from dividend withholding tax for European Economic Area, EEA, regulated funds regarding dividends paid by Irish real estate funds, IREFs; if his attention has been drawn to the large number of EEA funds that hold property here through IREFs, particularly British and German funds; the number of EEA funds with shareholding...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 155. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications that have been granted by the Central Bank under section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 for the provision of a new service or an increase in existing customer charges by each bank operating here since 1 October 2013; and the detail of each application granted. [29720/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stability and Growth Pact (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 157. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of quarters Ireland has been in compliance with the fiscal rules since entering into the preventive arm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29747/17]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 164. To ask the Minister for Finance the tax treatment regarding the distribution of the value of the fund to non-resident investors in the event of an Irish real estate fund being liquidated with assets valued at greater than the market value of their cost. [30041/17]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Data (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of insolvency proposals rejected by each bank in which the bank was the primary creditor in each of the past 15 months as a percentage of the total proposals made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29457/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 331. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons an application for the CLÁR programme 2017 submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal was not successful; if she will provide information regarding the score awarded to the aforementioned application as per the formal assessment and evaluation of applications; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (27 Jun 2017)

Pearse Doherty: 607. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by approved housing bodies in 2015. [29665/17]