Results 281-300 of 1,049,729 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett OR speaker:Denis Naughten)

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I will be able to set out on budget day the tax decisions that we take, the impact of those on workers in our economy and the cost-of-living-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: If one takes the combined income tax and cost-of-living package that we introduced last year and what I intend to progress this year, it will be highly progressive. We want to make sure average workers benefit-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: We brought in a highly progressive tax package last year which benefitted workers, particularly when one combines the income tax changes with the cost-of-living payments.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: When one takes the combined total of income tax deductions and cost-of-living payments last year, average workers benefitted by in or around that.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I can send the committee detailed figures on the numbers who have paid and what it has taken to date. I am happy to provide that information. What we have done here is taken the recommendation of €2.8 million and we are phasing that in from 2026 onwards, with an increase of €200,000, which addresses wage growth in that interim period. It also addresses a specific concern that...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: For 2025 it will not cost anything.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I will provide the committee with that information.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I know what the policy costs if we were to bring it to €2.8 million immediately.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I am happy to provide the committee with that information. By phasing this in over a number of years, it is a reduced cost vis-à-vis what the de Buitléir report recommended. I am happy to provide that information to the committee.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy will recall that the standard fund threshold was in excess of €5 million in previous years-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: What we are doing here is having a phased change to this over five years, which addresses specific retention issues and supports promotion to particular positions. First, it is not near what it was. Second, the Government is not changing the chargeable excess tax which was recommended. Third, we are trying to respond to the retention issues which have been well flagged. I am sure the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Moynihan very much. On his first question about the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, there will be €10 billion between the two funds by the year end, with €6 billion there at present and €4 billion which will be allocated in quarter 4. Next year, the plan is to have a further €6 billion split, with €4...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I mostly want to ask about the future, the budget and all the rest but, given the debate we had in the Dáil today and the Apple tax issue, I just want to ask a question. My question is for the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, in particular, because he was around then. Does he and the Government regret the fact it did not take on the views of some of us in the Opposition back in 2013 when we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----and should have allowed those representatives to be questioned about the company's tax affairs?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is not just any old taxpayer.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will certainly agree to disagree on that one.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I think most ordinary people in this country would say that if they were accused of taking money from the people that the people should have had, they would be chased down by the State for doing that. In some cases they might even end up in prison for doing it, such as for TV licences and so on. I think most people would find that pretty difficult to stomach. At the time, some of us said...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will agree to disagree.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister has answered it. I am amazed that the Government does not regret what has happened. If we had had that money, it might have made a difference. We could now possibly do with that money but it seems to me that it would have made a dramatic difference to the current housing crisis that we are facing had we had access to that money then and had the Government pursued it instead of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (18 Sep 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Let me put it to you-----