Results 19,761-19,780 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: In his opening remarks, Mr. McDonald said he had no doubt that there has been corruption elsewhere outside of County Dublin which was examined in the tribunal, otherwise decisions made by elected representatives, against the advice of planning officials, are inexplicable. There is an inference there that where councillors go against the advice of planners there is at least the possibility of...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: I would put the point to Mr. McDonald that professional planners are not infallible gods either.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: They can make mistakes.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Very often they may have their own personal agenda or personal vision and can be quite dogged about its implementation. That can seem quite inexplicable at times. Does Mr. McDonald accept that in the interests of proper planning and development, there are many occasions where elected members are right to overrule the professional planners?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Is this about the zoning of land?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Mr. McDonald believes therefore that that practice was quite widespread and that the decisions to zone land were, on many occasions, influenced by such payments. Is that his claim?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Would Mr. McDonald care to put a percentage on, for example, the zoning decisions he believes may have been tainted by corrupt payments?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Is Mr. McDonald saying it was widespread or common?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Does Mr. McDonald believe that the vast majority of elected councillors were and are honest, and are acting in good faith and in the public interest?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Mr. McDonald made the point in his statement that this was, in a sense, inevitable because of the way decisions were made. In that context, has anything changed?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: The zoning of land is absolutely vital but the second element is the granting of planning permission. Does Mr. McDonald have any comment to make on the extent of cases where planners would have been overruled by their own management, for example, on cases where An Bord Pleanála would have reversed the decisions of the planners of local authorities and on cases where An Bord...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: I would like to ask Mr. McDonald about the issue of pre-planning consultations between builders-developers and planners in local authorities. He referred to this on page 6 of his book. Does Mr. McDonald believe there was, and is, adequate disclosure of the engagement between planners and prospective applicants, for example? Does he believe there were occasions when the nod was given,...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: In the preface to his book on page 15, Mr. McDonald comments that the Financial Regulator appears to have been asleep at the wheel. I know this is not his area of expertise but he made the observation. Does Mr. McDonald want to expand on that?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: On the issue of property-based tax incentives, which Mr. McDonald highlighted in his statement, will he clarify the incentives he believes the committee should be exploring? He names a number of them, including the section 23 hotels, seaside resorts, multi-storey carparks, student housing and Shannon rural renewal schemes. Will he give us his view as to exactly what the committee should be...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Recruitment (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 51. To ask the Minister for Finance when a new chief executive of Allied Irish Banks will be appointed; the steps that have been taken to date in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10610/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services Regulation (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 52. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the period of time non-executive directors may serve on the board of the Central Bank of Ireland's regulated institutions has been extended beyond the previous limit of nine years as set out in the Corporate Governance Code for Credit Institutions and Insurance Undertakings 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10611/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Meetings (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 53. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 17 February 2015, if he will indicate which of the meetings listed he was personally in attendance at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10614/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Meetings (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 54. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 17 February 2015, if he will provide similar information for 2013, and which of these meetings he was personally in attendance at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10615/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ministerial Meetings (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 55. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the meetings he, or officials of his Department, have had in 2013, 2014, and to date in 2015, with representatives of advocacy on behalf of distressed mortgage holders and persons whose mortgages have been or may be sold to third parties; if he will indicate those meeting in which he was personally in attendance; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (11 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 59. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of extending, to the self-employed, an earned income tax credit equivalent to the Pay-As-You-Earn tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10646/15]