Results 261-280 of 32,060 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: It has increased by approximately 8%.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Between 2002 and 2004?
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: In 1997.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: The period since the general election in 2002 has not been a period of bonanza. If one examines the figures, it is clear that the tax take has increased dramatically relative to income in that period. The increase may not be clear on the income tax side because there were increases in VAT, stealth taxes and local authority charges such as bin charges. The increases may have taken place...
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: I have seen the figures quoted by the Minister.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: He has said that a person on the average industrial wage pays â¬300 less tax than he or she paid in 1997. I am sure the Minister is right, but one should consider the extra VAT, vehicle registration tax, stamp duty, bin taxes, utility development charges and utility bills being paid by that person.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Yes.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: The pretence that tax is decreasing can be sustained only by looking selectively at income tax. The Minister is not willing to examine in the same way the VAT and VRT, for example, being paid by the average family.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: He will not examine all the other taxes that make up the bulk of what people pay. It is a selective view. If one examines the aggregate tax take, one will find that it has increased by â¬11 billion since 2002. It has increased by that amount in just three years.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: I do.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Absolutely. However, the Minister will note from the figures that since 2002, tax as a proportion of GNP has increased substantially. It has increased in absolute terms and as a proportion of income. I am not making that up; it is the truth. The statistic indicates that although we have enjoyed exceptional growth, we are increasing taxes. If we were achieving value in terms of public...
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Considering that it is not delivering on the spending side, it must continue to seek more contributions, particularly through VAT and stealth taxes, from the ordinary family which is struggling financially. These taxes are not based on equity contributions but simply on the fact that they are easy to collect. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform does not even see these taxes on...
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: There is an increased burden on companies that are trying to create jobs and maintain incomes.
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: It is strange to hear the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decide without any concern that companies ought to bear taxes. It is crucial that we address the quality of our public spending and the fairness of our tax code. We have lost sight of both these goals through an exclusive focus on tax rates, which the Minister for Finance's predecessor regarded as the absolute pinnacle of...
- Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage. (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: We will have plenty of time to discuss this further. I was very concerned at the information released to Deputy Burton that the queries from the European Union about stallion tax relief were not passed to the Minister. It seems an extraordinary lapse in procedures when there was a deadline of one month. Does this have implications for other elements of the tax code? For example, there are...
- Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to provide a supply of natural gas to the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3567/05]
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the policy directives he has given to the communications regulator in regard to targets relating to the provision of broadband services throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3689/05]
- Written Answers — Consumer Expenditure: Consumer Expenditure (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Question 167: To ask the Taoiseach his estimate of the number of persons in dental practice and the value of private consumer spending on their services. [3512/05]
- Written Answers — Consumer Expenditure: Consumer Expenditure (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Question 168: To ask the Taoiseach his estimate of the number of persons in medical practice and the value of private consumer spending on their services. [3513/05]
- Written Answers — Consumer Expenditure: Consumer Expenditure (8 Feb 2005)
Richard Bruton: Question 169: To ask the Taoiseach his estimate of private consumer spending on third level education. [3514/05]