Results 19,481-19,500 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for all the work they have put into their submissions, which are very helpful in informing our views for the upcoming budget. My first question is addressed particularly to SJI - I congratulate it on all its detailed work on these matters. While I agree with much of it, I am concerned that SJI includes the €500 million to be garnered...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I understand the complications of budget submissions but do the witnesses think water charges infringe people’s right to water?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I take that point, which is a fair one but there was a major campaign across Europe about the right to water. If there was a line one could not cross that prevented water being used to generate revenue because people must have it, governments would have to find the money elsewhere, through corporate tax, financial transaction tax or tax on high incomes. Perhaps SJI does not wish to state...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will agree to disagree slightly on that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Chairman will have to wait till the right to water campaign takes off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Even when these allowances are given initially they tend to disappear. That has been the experience. There is a big danger of opening the door to a punitive tax. I shall ask three or four questions and hope to get one reply from each of the relevant people. A minimum effective corporate tax rate is something that we have championed quite significantly, and figures of 6% and 9% have been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 39. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will intervene to protect the future of Sweny's pharmacy, 1 Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, which has such an important place in the literary history and heritage of Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31217/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 142. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider designating the Poolbeg chimneys a heritage site and if she will work with the ESB to find funding for their upkeep; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31991/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 158. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider designating the Poolbeg chimneys a heritage site; if she will work with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the ESB to find funding for their upkeep; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31990/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason consumer gas and electric bills have not fallen, in view of the fact that the latest wholesale market report from Irish energy supplier Vaya claims there has been a 30% drop in Irish wholesale gas prices year on year and in view of the fact that a new EUROSTAT report shows that Ireland has the fourth most...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 175. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the following information regarding Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which has not been made available by the chief executive of the said council despite the request being made by an elected councillor via a council question to the CEO at the council meeting of 7 July, the number of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 176. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of properties that were offered to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council by the National Asset Management Agency that were accepted; the number refused; the reason these properties were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31954/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Semi-State Bodies (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 311. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 19 December 2013, if the mentioned legal action has been completed; if the outstanding moneys have been returned to the Harbour Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31950/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 11. To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform has met. [26751/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Mr. Cribben is making a distinction between the plight of the on-trade and independent off-trade as against the big multiples. Would it not make sense to have a progressive corporation tax rate on the multiples in this regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: An issue about which I am concerned and have flagged at the last two budgets is the attitude to the property sector, particularly real estate investment trusts, REITs. These are contributing to what is now an increasing speculation and pumping up of the property area. Mr. Talbot made a distinction between incentivising active as against passive investment. REITs are a classic example of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When I hear the positions of Chambers Ireland, IBEC and industry as against that of TASC which would come more from the left in terms of its general perspective, I wonder if there is a false dichotomy in that Dr. O'Connor, on the one hand, argues that this is a low tax economy - the implication is that we should increase the overall proportion of tax to fund public services - while the other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Possibly, yes. Is there not sometimes a false dichotomy in this regard? With regard to business, Ms Burke seems to be hinting at a more progressive rates system. I am in favour of a more progressive rates system that distinguishes between the small and medium enterprise and the big multinational or in parking charges, which are regressive. I agree with her on these points, but I do not...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 23. To ask the Taoiseach if he discussed the worsening situation in Ukraine in his recent meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24236/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (15 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 82. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the discretion that is available to community welfare officers in the area of rent allowance and rent caps in view of the fact that a crisis is developing as a result of dramatically increasing rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30932/14]