Results 261-280 of 33,712 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: This is in relation to the benefit-in-kind, BIK, exemption for employer contributions to PRSA legislation that was introduced in the Finance Act 2022. It appears to me that this is facilitating aggressive tax planning. It also appears to me that the Department was warned this was happening, probably on more than one occasion. It was also warned prior to its introduction that it would or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: This is a massive tax loophole that was created by his predecessor as Minister, Deputy Donohoe. It remains in our tax code despite it being pointed out to Ministers. Limiting the amount that can be contributed to a pension with full tax relief in a single year is crucial to ensure equity in our tax system, to control revenue and to prevent abuse. The changes made by the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Does the Minister accept this represents a radical departure from pension policy and creates a significant loophole in our tax code?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister claims this was done on the recommendation of the interdepartmental group on pensions and tax reform but it is a clear misunderstanding of the reading of the group's recommendation, which was to abolish the differential treatment of the PRSA for funding purposes compared to occupational schemes. That was not done. Occupational schemes are benefit-limited. The changes made to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: 7. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update regarding the issue of mortgageability as it relates to homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks, including his Department's engagement with the Department of Finance and the proposal of bridging finance products by the banking sector under the enhanced defective concrete block scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: I raise again the serious, pressing and critical issue of homeowners affected by the defective concrete block crisis in my own county and elsewhere. The Minister and his Department are centrally involved with this and have responsibility for key issues, including the issue of future mortgageability of remediated homes. I ask the Minister again to update the Dáil on his engagement with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: This is only one part of the problem. As I said, this scheme was introduced and announced by the Government in November 2021. It is now 2024 and there are 1,300 people coming up to Inishowen to say it is not working for them. We had people telling us that they were demolishing their homes and it would cost them €100,000 out of their own pocket to rebuild them because the scheme is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: In budget 2024, the Minister introduced this tax credit and that was, as I said, after sustained calls from Sinn Féin for the introduction of mortgage interest relief for households that had seen their mortgage rates spiral, but there are serious problems with the tax credit, as I told him at the time. I have raised the fact that 138,000 mortgage holders who have their seen their...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: People are claiming. That woman whose mortgage costs have increased by €5,000 cannot get it. She has been refused because the Minister made a balls of the design of this legislation.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: With respect, the Minister made a mess of it. That is the reality. A total of €125 million was allocated to this. Only €14 million has been drawn down so far, or about 11%. The Minister stated 14,000 people have claimed the credit. We are in the month of April. There are 707,000 mortgages and only 14,000 people have claimed the credit. It is clear the tax credit is not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Not true.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Sanctions (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: 2. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has engaged or will engage with fellow members of Economic and Financial Affairs Council, ECOFIN, to secure financial and economic sanctions against the State of Israel in response to flagrant violations of international law committed by the State of Israel in Gaza and the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Sanctions (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: In the past six months, we have witnessed, before our very eyes and in very real time, an unfolding genocide against the people of Gaza perpetrated by the State of Israel and its war machine. What engagement has the Minister, as a member of ECOFIN, had with colleagues in the European Union to implement a comprehensive suite of financial and economic sanctions against the State of Israel? If...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Sanctions (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: At this moment, the State of Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. Its depraved action is provoking famine and every person, man, woman and child is a target of this assault on human life. Israel has targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. It has decimated homes, hospitals and schools across Gaza. It has laid waste to Gaza, including its land, infrastructure and people,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Sanctions (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: As the Minister said, in the past we have seen how ECOFIN and the Eurogroup have acted swiftly in playing their roles when they saw fit to hold countries to account for their acts of aggression. A package of financial and economic sanctions against Russia being introduced and renewed several times was a clear example of this. However, as well as accountability there needs to be consistency....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: 4. To ask the Minister for Finance the value of money disbursed under the mortgage interest tax credit to date, together with the number of successful applicants; the number of applicants who have received a partial credit; the number of applicants who were rejected on the grounds that they had an insufficient income tax liability; and if he will consider amending the credit to ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: In the past two years, mortgage interest costs for households have risen by more than 65%. For over a year, Sinn Féin has called for the introduction of targeted mortgage interest relief for households struggling with rising interest rates. The Government opposed those calls for months, but it then performed a U-turn, another example of where the Government has seen the sense in what...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister should be honest. This is not just about restoration and he knows that. He is not planning just to put it up as he did last week and as he will do again in August; he plans to put it up in October again, which is actually going further than what the amount involved was before the excise was reduced. I pointed out to him the pressure that this puts on ordinary individuals and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Thank you. I am so disappointed that the Minister for Finance would not address the issue I raised in respect of 390 business people.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Prices (10 Apr 2024)

Pearse Doherty: I am on question No. 2. There are 390 business people and you would not answer the question as to what they are going to do when petrol and diesel are 20 cent cheaper across the Border.