Search Results for 'Minister for Finance'

The introduction of a carbon tax in the December Budget will have a dramatically negative impact on rural Ireland, the Fine Gael spokesperson on community, rural, and Gaeltacht affairs, Deputy Michael Ring, has claimed.

The Government seems to be under the illusion that the child benefit payment is spent on luxuries but the reality is this payment goes towards ensuring children have their essential needs met.

A former Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council has called on the Minister for the Environment to fill the position of county manager from within the ranks of the council. According to Councillor Joe Mellett this will save the council €100,000 annually.

The Government’s 2010 Budget will be presented by the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD on Wednesday, December 9. In response to this, BNI Atlantic Chapter in association with Westport Lions Club will host a breakfast briefing that will outline the key issues arising from this Budget.

The most anticipated budget has finally been delivered with miserly news from Scrooge Lenihan casting a shadow of gloom over the festive season for many householders. The harshest of cuts are once again impacting on the most vulnerable, with social welfare recipients and public service workers to bear the brunt of the €4 billion savings in expenditure.

Budget 2010 was claimed to be the toughest one ever and now that it is done and dusted, was it as bad as we were expecting? Many proposals were leaked in advance to prepare the public for what to expect, with the major emphasis on cost cutting as distinct from the usual focus on tax-raising measures. Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan announced on Wednesday evening that there would be a reduction in the rate of excise duty on alcohol, and a reduced rate on VAT. The latter is now 21 per cent down from 21.5 per cent. This is what some of the local business people who will be affected by this change had to say:

Speaking on the Social Welfare Pensions Bill which would implement the Budget cuts, Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath Senator, Nicky McFadden, said the most vulnerable people in Ireland have been forced to take the hit while the administration costs of running the State remain untouched and social welfare fraud is also left unchecked.

Mountbellew Agriculture College will be kept open for another two years but the public service recruitment embargo means retiring teachers cannot be replaced.

Kilkenny Fianna Fail Deputy John McGuinness has laid down the gauntlet and called for an enquiry into banking in Ireland to take place sooner rather than later.

Following a lengthy debate, with plenty of cross table and cross party swipes at policies and abilities, the elected members of Castlebar Town Council voted by eight votes to one to back a motion by Independent Councillor Frank Durcan which said: “The members of Castlebar Town Council call on the Government to indict for the act of treason, the politicians and bankers who were grossly responsible for the undermining of the economy over the past 10 years”.