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rate for the hospitality industry. On mature reflection, the Government might reverse this totally baseless and unbelievable decision. The State is proposing to gift millions of euro to a very small number of very large and very profitable businesses. I suggest that the Government fell for a fierce … food and beverage services. Of these, 99.8% employ fewer than 250 people, making up 85% of the turnover. What we have is the State subsidising a very small number of very large, very profitable businesses. To give a few examples: McDonald's, profits up 17% to €42.4 million

manifesto the promises he made during the campaign or indeed the commitment in the programme for Government. Fine Gael's manifesto clearly states that income tax would be adjusted each and every year. The Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, said that people needed to be honest that not adjusting … next year it gets worse. Next year, it will be €250 million and then €390 million the year after. Donohoe is the gift that keeps on giving, but to the developers and those at the top. Imagine being someone trying to get by on a disability payment

voices of our disabled citizens, act in their interests and recognise the actual cost of being and living as disabled person in this State. When disabled people turn 66 or they get a job, their primary condition and the costs associated with it do not disappear … disability payments at the age of 66. He got plenty of presents when he turned 66 but he did not get the gift of sight. He was disabled when he was 65 and 364 days and he woke up the next morning - happy birthday

will help the country meet the challenges down the road. When we desperately need to broaden our tax base, we are gifting hundreds of millions of euro in foregone VAT income to profitable restaurant chains. When we are desperately in need of land for housing, we are creating … public buildings, schools or nursing homes that so desperately has to be undertaken. I have a question that maybe the Minister of State or another Minister can come back to me on about the State's commitment to global climate finance. There is no mention of this

Fine Gael have bought into it hook, line and sinker. It seems incredible that it was only in February that the Minister stated, “What I am not going to do is reintroduce or propose the very tax reliefs that did such harm to our economy.” Yet, eight months … McDonalds and Starbucks. These are not small struggling cafés on the corner; they are global giants with billionaire shareholders. The Government has just gifted them a 4.5% VAT cut worth millions. McDonald’s alone is set to pocket €20 million next year on the back of this taxpayer

week when hundreds of millions of euro were gifted to burger barons and builders, although the Tánaiste may disagree with that characterisation, I will raise an example of the reality that many on the ground are encountering. I was contacted by the Furlong family in Duncormick in Wexford … even paid to travel from Belfast to Wexford to measure up for the mattress. When I raised this matter, the response I got stated that the assistant director of public health nursing presented the purchase of a mattress for Josh to the resource allocation group

entered into forward-funding agreements at the behest of the Government." As the Government knows, because it has turned its back on direct State construction at scale, a very large number of social housing units are delivered by private developers as turnkey projects when a local authority … Bill to give effect to this cut under the terms of the VAT directive. It is another wrong-headed policy, another gift for developers and another poorly thought-out measure, where there is very little evidence, if any at all, to suggest that additional homes would be brought

members of the Government do not usually appear on TV to slam the budget either. Last night, on Virgin Media, the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, said slashing the VAT rate for hospitality was "not what I would do if I were Minister for Finance”. Even Government … million a year, with no guarantee or even expectation that prices will come down because there are no affordability conditions attached to this gift. No one in government is demanding prices come down or rents become more affordable. Instead, it is being done with one express purpose: boosting

President and Áras an Uachtarán, and these institutions do not have the same level of transparency which applies to Government Departments and State agencies; and — the Constitution and the law set out the nomination process by Oireachtas members, County Councils, and the nomination by an incumbent, and these … would be a significant step forward for most people in the North of Ireland and indeed for the Irish nation as a whole.That gift is not in Westminster.It is not decided by Stormont.It is decided by this House and then by a referendum of the Irish people.Why