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TDS ARE BACK in the Dáil after the Halloween break. The Taoiseach is back from his trip Stateside – but there are big problems back home – rental accommodation failings for one, which could be raised with Varadkar during Leaders’ Questions today.
While the Dáil has been off there has been a lot discussion about tax issues and the Paradise Papers, the inadequate apartments some people are living in (something Sinn Féin has a motion tabled for later today) and also issues of sexual harassment in some sectors, including politics:
Micheál Martin is on his feet and he raises the issue of the rail strike today which has seen some 150,000 inconvenienced today.
He criticises the Transport Minister Shane Ross and the government for underfunding the railways.
Martin says there is a lack of empathy from Ross – “the country is at stake now”.
He says rather than tweeting about Manchester United football team (which the minister did the night before the last rail strike) or setting up a visit to North Korea, he should be focusing on his portfolio.
The Taoiseach says the strike is regrettable – and says commuters have been discommoded and has resulted in businesses losing money.
He encourages both sides to go to the Work Relations Commission or the Labour Court to sort it out.
He says it is regrettable that with CIE it is “always necessary” to have two days of strike when other transport links do not result in that.
Martin says more investment is needed, but again hits out at Minister Ross for his lack of engagement.
He calls on the government to publish the latest rail review, which the Taoiseach says he can’t give a date for today.
The Taoiseach says there has been a 35% increase in subvention in the last three years. He says not a lot of semi-state bodies can say they got such an increase.
Gerry Adams says he the financially difficulty the company is now in is not the fault of the workers but by the government.
He asks will he hold Minister Ross to account for not intervening.
The Taoiseach, who is wearing a Remembrance Day poppy badge on his lapel, assures Adams he is in the country.
He says while there should be some sort of pay increase, the investment of money should go into services and infrastructure.
Adams referenced the pay increase coming to politicians in the new year.
The Taoiseach says ministers will not be taking the pay increase.
Mick Wallace is up now and he is talking about a particular case where a family needs respite care.
The Taoiseach says an autism working group has been set up and a report should be delivered in the coming weeks.
Wallace says a lot of the extra money allotted to this area are being swallowed up by large entities. He says families will be the first to tell the Taoiseach that private care providers to not offer value for money.
She says this mother has been looking for a plan for her son, but the HSE will not even communicate with her.
“The HSE are a problem for them not a solution for them,” he said.
Varadkar says all children should have the opportunity to grow up to be the best adults that they can be. There will always be more work to be done in this area – and he admits that money might not be spent in the best way it could, both publicly and private.
He says personalised budgets is where they want to go.
Social Democrat’s Róisín Shorthall is now talking about the Paradise Papers and the revelations that have been released this week.
Bono is referenced in them and he has released a statement today on the issue:
Talking about the Apple tax issue, she says they went on a “jurisdiction shopping spree” after the double Irish was shut down.
Was our capital allowance changed to allow stateless assets to remain untaxed?
How much have they benefited from this change and how much has the State lost?
Varadkar says “no – or not to his knowledge” though he says she might want to ask the Finance Minister.
He says we need an international solution to ensure companies pay their fair share in tax.
The Taoiseach says Ireland, according to the OECD, is one of only a handful of companies, which is fully tax compliant.
The double Irish is gone and Stateless companies are gone, he says, adding that he does not accept that Apple was given a special case.
“I think that is a cop out,” she replies to the Taoiseach. She says the government here need to close the loopholes.
She said the victims are small enterprises and the taxpayers here in Ireland who are denied adequate funding for public services.
“You are answerable to this and answerable to what your government has done,” she says.
He says it is not a cop out to say an international solution is needed, stating that two loopholes have been
“It is very much a case of cat and mouse,” he said, stating that there are very smart tax lawyers out there that look at legislation to find the loopholes. He says they will have to work to continue to fight them.
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Alot he fking knows…theyre on another planet the lot of them..whats the alternative to oil, gas or coal without extortionate expenses to fit solar or the next energy source..they’ve jumped the gun with this one and offered no incentive to switch to cleaner energy sources…and yes I know there are grants in place but its not enough…if they want to make an impression, then don’t take money off people to justify it saving the planet.. Build a proper program outlining the options for people, a cost effective solution instead of take take take.
@Craig Clancy: People simply cannot afford grants, costs to much to upgrade systems. Initial outlaw is to much,
@Craig Clancy: Grants are part of the give. Green energy such as wind is subsidised. What’s your great plan to reduce pollution without hitting people’s pockets?
@Dave Barrett: I would love to go solar or any other viable resource but as you pointed out it’s too expensive even with the grant..how much was it for all those water meters that are due to need upgrading soon? Surely they could of put that money towards a nationwide energy campaign..biggest tax take last year and still the roads are in $hite, homelessness is rampant still, hospitals over run and understaffed but yet they still suck us dry of every extra cent we try use to survive…its going to hit a boiling point soon and some one will take matters in to their own hands.
@Mickety Dee: how about stop taking more and more money off people and give them a chance to actually switch over or upgrade..they ran this way too quick and gave no viable plan for anyone, absolutely no incentive to switch over..literally said here are your options off you go now hurry before we start taking just that little squeeze more off you…how is it our fault that they’re are not other things in place…start by fixing the appalling public transport, focus more on helping people change over to solar rather than punish them for not having it, work with the people..thats the problem they are so detached from reality its frightening.
@Craig Clancy: Irish people lack back bone. Yellow vests needed.
@Craig Clancy: need to take vat off renewables!
@Aidan Conway: alot more than take the vat off.
@Dave Barrett: well anyone who protests is called an extremist or anti vaxer or a crazy person by the media, or protesting is made illegal like the truckers one in Canada. Not much the normal person can do anymore to oppose anything.
The main reason for cost of living rises is we dont have a regulator to question why everything is on the rise
Oh wait a minute we do have a regulator .
He must have fallen asleep like Eamonn and everything went up when his eyes were closed.
@Stephen Carslake: That’s not the reason for increases. Read the media of any country in the world and you’ll see that.
The Irish energy regulator does not influence prices in the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Turkey, France, Italy etc etc
Our energy regulator may make dubious calls but they are not the sole reason for the price increases.
@Lee King Buckett: they’re allowing energy companies raise standing charges, which are nothing to do with global energy supplies. The bill increases can be excused for global rises, but there’s no reason for raising standing charges other than opportunistic greed which is where the regulator should step in .. but doesn’t!
@Rob Gale: Agreed but as per the original comment that’s not ‘the main reason’ for price increases.
The main reason is a global energy crisis, the standing charge increase is gouging but not major.
@Lee King Buckett: I’m not sure about the gas suppliers, but:
ESB Networks are managing/maintaining the whole electricity infrastructure and (most/a lot of) the production.
I would guess, that’s covered with the standing charges, or at least the major chunk of it? IF they increased the charges to Energia, Airtricity, or whoever, they will only pass the charges on to the customer, I guess?
You have to laugh that the Green Party under Eamonn Ryan seemingly sacrificed all of their principles in government on areas like greyhound racing, hare coursing, neutrality, direct provision etc in exchange for this carbon tax that would ultimately become redundant through global events and fudged away from making a difference.
Brilliant stuff Green TDs, you’ve achieved nothing in government other than providing the necessary numbers for FF & FG to implement their policies. Bravo.
This is literally bizzare, as in really really bizzare, one of the main exporters of oil/gas IE Russia is all but closing its supply to Europe, causing massive price increases across the board. I am no expert here at all, but Eamonn do you think I would be paying over the odds if I had an alterative way to get said energy? There is no alteratives even remotely ready to take over. Even if I installed a 10kW solar system with battery, it still needs subbing from the grid, which is again, gas powered for the most part. Also, in saying that, I am just talking about household energy useage. I have no idea about farms, but what I do know is all that farm machinary is fuel based, what alternatives have been given to farmers, that’s just one industry. Also, yet again, moving everything to electric based is putting massive pressure on the national grid, which again is still massively gas based on the back end and is nearly keeling over with 15/20 odd data centres in the mix and Eamonn and co think this same grid is ready to handle the entire country going fully electric. Seriously, what plannet is this lad on.
@Dave.: Also, I just want to add. Seriously, when are the Irish people actually going to get up and march on the Dail, this is not right. How can it be, as one poster pointed out, fuel prices have increased so much that its has actually bettered any increase the Carbon Tax would yeild, yet goverment still continue to push for more increases. Are we really as a nation going to sit down and take this no problem?
@Dave.: Russia has not reduced gas or oil supplies to Europe at all. Ireland gets its gas from Scotland.
The war in Ukraine has resulted in speculative increases in oil but gas has reduced in price in the last 5 weeks. The causes of energy price spikes predate the war in Ukraine.
Other than that, you’re correct about the lack of alternatives and the fact that a carbon tax won’t reduce usage at all.
They will put the Tax on To Keep Ryan on Board and then give it Back some other Way What Load of Bollicks
The whole point of a carbon tax is to disincentivise (or in our case more likely to avoid EU fines). For gas and oil, the price has already risen high enough to disincentivise. Adding any more money is just making poor people poorer.
Also, how can Irish people be disincentivised to use a car when we have the worst public transport infrastructure in Western Europe? We have very few safe bike lanes (and those that we have abruptly end for no reason). Even in Dublin.
Its just a load of virtue signalling and kicking the can down the road. Like the paper straws, none of this is going to make any sort of meaningful difference. What we need is major investments in renewables, investment in our public transport and cycling infrastructure, and much more. Not a bunch of new taxes.
@Tomo: Avoid EU fines ??? This State pay the EU fines every year because they are charging the Irish motorists VRT which is outlawed by the EU .. so they know exactly what they are doing.. Instead of taxing the public Carbon Tax, they should be heavily investing in the ESB to help them build multiple wind farms…and not giving out subsidies to private companies
Where are all the FF/FG/GP middle leg huggers today? Very quiet…surely it’s hitting home to them on the failure of their parties?
Az if things were not expensive enough, soon enough a car owner wont be able to afforx to fuel a car pay for home heating.surely the government can off put this raise.
The easiest way to offset the burden of the tax is not to introduce it due to the current circumstances. But they will go on and on with all kinds of waffle just to keep the Greens on board. Personally I have lost all faith in FF and FG.
I wonder what the US multinationals are paying for electricity for all the data centers that are gobbling up loads of out electricity. I’d bet they pay seriously less that the average person. All new data centers and other non essential type IT should be paused until this is under control. Our citizens can’t afford food or electricity but we have many times redundancy in our data storage incase of a few mins outage on watching netflix. Great priorities we have in the 21st century.
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