The government is keen to use all of the money from the sale of State assets in “one shape or another” to fund job creation initiatives but the Troika appears more focussed on reducing the debt.
The failings of Government to take simple steps to help mortgage holders has caused further damage – and the Insolvency Bill is by no means our saviour, writes David Hall.
However the volume of new mortgages is still down significantly when compared with the years 2005 and 2006 – and the future abolition of mortgage interest relief is causing anxiety.
Enda Kenny said that the personal insolvency legislation coming in next year would help those in mortgage distress as yesterday’s comments from the Central Bank’s Fiona Muldoon dominated proceedings in the Dáil.
Research released by the Central Bank today says that Ireland has the second lowest level of lending to small businesses in the euro area, behind Greece.
The Minister says speculation about a possible second bailout for Ireland was unhelpful – but concedes that Ireland’s position is “buffeted by external realities”.
Aggressive banks are making mortgage resolution impossible, writes David Hall of New Beginning – and suggests a way to restore trust between lenders and borrowers.
TheJournal.ie columnist nails his colours to the mast and says that a ‘Yes’ vote is the only message to send out if we want access to funds at the keenest rates possible.
The Finance Minister has said recommendations made by the Commission on Credit Unions will inform Government policy on credit unions for the “foreseeable future”.
AT A HIGH-profile US Senate meeting, technology giant Apple was accused of using Ireland as a ‘tax haven’.
The multinational firm, which employs 4,000 people in Ireland, reportedly avoided paying €34 billion in US taxes by negotiating a tax rate of less than 2 per cent with the Irish government – significantly lower than that nation’s 12.5 per cent statutory rate.
The Senate heard that American children are losing out on education because Apple is transferring profits to Irish subsidiaries.
However, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied that Ireland is a tax haven and rejected claims that authorities had negotiated deals with multi-national companies.
So, today we want to know, what do you think? Should Ireland be tougher on multi-national companies when it comes to tax?
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